Search Results (349)

Countries like Saudi Arabia receive abundant sunshine with exceptionally high solar irradiance. High temperatures in desert regions and the sunray angle dependence of solar modules are some of the key challenges of conventional solar cells. Dye-sensitized solar cells present a compelling alternative with the simple cell design and use of non-toxic materials without angle dependence, but their performance hinges on the solid redox mediators used for dye regeneration. These mediators must have an electrical conductivity (σ_25°C) of more than 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ with an activation energy of less than 0.3 eV for device application. Our work focused on novel solid Co(II/III) redox mediators using cobalt complexes and LiClO₄ in different matrices: pure PEO (an abbreviation for poly(ethylene oxide) with its redox mediator as M1), a [PEO–SN] blend (M2A and M2B with ethylene oxide to lithium ions molar ratio of 112.9 and 225.8, respectively), and pure SN (an abbreviation for succinonitrile with its redox mediator as M3). Impedance spectroscopy was the key technique, showing M1 and M2 behave like a mediator explainable with an (R₁–C)-type circuit, while M3 is explainable with an (R₁ − [R₂‖C])-type circuit. M3 achieved the highest value of σ_25°C with 2 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹, while M1 had the lowest σ_25°C, 3 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹. M2 achieved an optimal balance with σ_25°C of 4 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ (M2A) and 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ (M2B). M2 exhibited a remarkably low pseudo-activation energy of 0.042 eV and a Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher behavior ideal for consistent performance across temperatures. In contrast, M1 and M3 showed higher Arrhenius-type activation energies (>0.74 eV) in their solid states. These results correlated with those of the XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, XPS, SEM, DSC, and TGA analyses. Ultimately, the [PEO–SN] blend emerges as a robust matrix, enabling the combination of high conductivity and low activation energy needed for a durable device in harsh environments. Full article

Cedrus atlantica wood tar (CAWT) is traditionally used as a medicinal product, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Despite its traditional use, scientific support for its efficacy remains limited. This study evaluated the biological properties of CAWT using an integrated approach that combined qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis, disc diffusion and microdilution tests for antimicrobial assays (disc diffusion and microdilution), antioxidant activity (DPPH and ferric-reducing power assays), in silico ADMET/toxicity, docking, and MD/MMGBSA and provided a balanced comparison with reference antioxidants. This study demonstrated that CAWT is rich in secondary metabolites linked to biological activity, including polyphenols (307.39 ± 58.45 mg GAE/g), tannins (124.42 ± 6.14 mg TAE/g), and flavonoids (15.62 ± 2.53 mg QE/g). For free radical scavenging, CAWT inhibited DPPH with an IC50 of 19.781 ± 2.51 µg/mL and showed ferric-reducing activity with an IC50 of 83.7 ± 2.88 µg/mL for its antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; inhibition zones reached 35.66 ± 0.58 mm. In silico analysis, Swiss ADMET and pkCSM predicted ≥94% intestinal absorption, no cytochrome P450 liabilities, and low acute toxicity for six dominant terpenoids. Docking pinpointed trans-cadina-1(6),4-diene and α/β-himachalene as high-affinity ligands of LasR and gyrase B (ΔG ≈ −8 kcal mol⁻¹). A 100 ns GROMACS run confirmed stable hydrophobic locking of the lead LasR complex (RMSD 0.22 nm), while MM/GBSA calculated a dispersion-dominated binding free energy of −37 kcal mol⁻¹. Overall, CAWT showed in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH and ferric-reducing assays) and inhibitory effects in disc diffusion assays, while in silico predictions for major terpenoids suggested favorable oral absorption and low acute toxicity. However, chemical composition analysis and bio-guided fractionation are necessary to confirm the antimicrobial activity and to validate the compounds responsible for the observed effects. Full article

Cervical cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality among women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. High-throughput technologies, such as microarrays, have facilitated the comprehensive analysis of gene expression profiles in cervical cancer, enabling the identification of key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in its pathogenesis. The publicly available microarray datasets, including GSE39001, GSE9750, GSE7803, GSE6791, GSE63514, and GSE52903 in combination with bioinformatics database predictions, were used to identify differential expression genes, potential biomarkers, and therapeutic targets for cervical cancer; additionally, we undertook bioinformatic analysis to determine gene ontology and possible miRNA targets related to our DEGs. Our analysis revealed several DEGs significantly associated with cervical cancer progression, such as cell death, regulation of DNA replication, protein binding processes, and transcription factors. The most relevant transcription factors (TFs) identified were SP1, ELF3, E2F1, TP53, RELA, HDAC, and FOXM1. Importantly, the DEGs with more important changes were 11 coding genes that were upregulated (KIF4A, MCM5, RFC4, PLOD2, MMP12, PRC1, TOP2A, MCM2, RAD51AP1, KIF20A, AIM2) and 14 that were downregulated (CXCL14, KRT1, KRT13, MAL, SPINK5, EMP1, CRISP3, ALOX12, CRNN, SPRR3, PPP1R3C, IVL, CFD, CRCT1), which were associated with cervical cancer. Interestingly, hub proteins KIF4A, NUSAP1, BUB1B, CEP55, DLGAP5, NCAPG, CDK1, MELK, KIF11, and KIF20A were found to be potentially regulated by several miRNAs, including miR-107, miR-124-3p, miR-147a, miR-16-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-34c-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-10b-5p, miR-23b-3p, miR-200b-3p, miR-138-5p, miR-203a-3p, miR-214-3p, and let-7b-5p. The relationship between these genes highlights their potential as candidate biomarkers for further research in treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third leading cause of mortality among cancer patients in developed countries. Each new study in this field can contribute to better detection, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease. Our study aimed to assess transcriptional activity of genes associated with the biotransformation of xenobiotics and endobiotics in all three phases in the CRC adenocarcinoma, including correlations between them, as well as the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathways. Based on transcriptome analysis (1252 mRNAs) of the CRC tissue and healthy colon, the upregulation or downregulation of 46 significant mRNAs was presented. The study also revealed the downregulation of AKR7A2 and upregulation of SLC5A6 and SLC29A2, previously undistinguished and potentially therapeutically valuable in CRC. The diagnostic potential of ADH1C, GGT5, NQO2, and SLC25A5 was demonstrated. It was stated that the AHR, EPHX1, GSTP1, and SLC25A32 did not correlate in healthy intestinal tissue whereas AHCY, ALDH1A1, NNMT, GSTM4, UGT2B17, and SLCO1B3 did not correlate in CRC. The disturbed transcriptional activity of genes related to the biotransformation process at all stages of CRC suggests that this may be the cause of its occurrence; the genes ought to be taken into account in preventive strategies and the treatment of patients. Full article

Many countries around the world repeatedly suffer from natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and hurricanes due to geographical factors, including plate boundaries, tropical cyclone zones, and coastal regions. Representative examples include Hurricane Katrina, which struck the United States in 2005, and the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Both were large-scale disasters that occurred in developed countries and caused enormous human and economic losses regardless of disaster type or location. As the occurrence of such catastrophic events remains inevitable, establishing effective preparedness and rapid response systems for large-scale disasters has become an urgent global challenge. One of the critical issues in disaster response is the rapid estimation of the number of affected individuals required for effective rescue operations. During large-scale disasters, terrestrial communication infrastructure is often rendered unusable, which severely hampers the collection of situational information. If the population within a disaster-affected area can be estimated without relying on ground-based communication networks, rescue resources can be more appropriately allocated based on the estimated number of people in need, thereby accelerating rescue operations and potentially reducing casualties. In this study, we propose a population-estimation system that remotely senses radio signals emitted from smartphones in disaster areas using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Through numerical analysis conducted in MATLAB R2023b, the feasibility of the proposed system is examined. The numerical results demonstrate that, under ideal conditions, the proposed system can estimate the number of smartphones within the observation area with an average error of 2.254 devices. Furthermore, an additional evaluation incorporating a 3D urban model demonstrates that the proposed system can estimate the number of smartphones with an average error of 19.03 devices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to estimate post-disaster population using wireless LAN signals sensed by LEO satellites, offering a novel remote-sensing-based approach for rapid disaster response. Full article

Background: Global immunization against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) has expanded with Gavi support. We estimated health, economic benefits, equity and cost-effectiveness in 159 countries (1990–2021), and projected effects of future introduction in China. Methods: We used a random forest model to simulate counterfactual scenarios without Hib vaccine introduction in 159 countries (1990–2021) and to project effects of Hib vaccine introduction in China over the next decade. Ten variables were sourced from the World Bank and WHO; Hib disease burden estimates were from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. We compared counterfactual and actual results to quantify benefits, equity, and cost-effectiveness. Extensive uncertainty analyses were performed. Results: Between 1990 and 2021, Hib immunization averted an estimated 1,321,123 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 32,034–2,723,304) deaths and 90,973,504 (95% UI 3,573,718–197,099,799) disability-adjusted life-years globally. Greatest health and economic gains occurred in Africa and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Deaths averted decreased with later vaccine introduction (Pearson’s r = −0.56). Vaccination did not improve health equity, and access remains limited in Africa and LMICs. Hib immunization was cost-saving in all countries. In China, introduction at any point in the next decade would provide health and economic benefits and be cost-effective, with earlier introduction yielding greater gains. Conclusions: Hib immunization provide substantial, cost-effective health and economic benefits globally. Persistent inequities in vaccine access for LMICs require targeted solutions. Policymakers in China should consider these findings for future vaccine introduction. Full article

Background/Objectives: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death primarily in patients over 65 years old, with an increasing incidence, especially in Eastern European countries. Primary and secondary prevention protocols are based on a large number of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, but low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) remains the main treatment target and one of the central determinants of CV risk. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is the main structural protein in all atherogenic lipoproteins, and, unlike LDL-C, which only reflects the cholesterol content of LDL, apoB directly quantifies the total number of all circulating atherogenic particles. Over the past decade, a growing amount of data has supported the utility of apoB for CV risk assessment; however, its superiority over LDL-C remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the predictive value of apoB for both the presence and the severity of CAD in a statin-treated cohort from an Eastern European hospital and to compare it with standard lipid biomarkers. Methods: A total of 121 statin-treated patients, who were evaluated using coronary angiography, were consecutively enrolled and subdivided into three groups: 52 patients with significant coronary artery disease (S-CAD), 36 patients with non-significant coronary artery disease (NS-CAD), and 33 patients without coronary atherosclerosis (N-CAD). Apolipoprotein B was measured at the moment of enrollment using the immunoturbidimetric assay. Results: The mean values of LDL-C, TC, non-HDL-C, and apoB increased progressively across the three studied groups. Unlike traditional lipid biomarkers, apoB levels differed significantly not only between N-CAD and S-CAD, but also between N-CAD and NS-CAD. The diagnostic superiority of apoB extended beyond group mean differences, as it also demonstrated the strongest correlation with CAD severity. ApoB showed a moderate correlation with the Gensini score (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), which was markedly higher compared to LDL-C, TC, or non-HDL-C, all of which presented only a weak correlation (r = 0.26, r = 0.23, and r = 0.28, respectively). Additionally, in a logistic regression analysis, apoB demonstrated the highest predictive power for the presence of significant CAD (per SD increase: OR 2.386, 95% CI 1.52–3.75, p = 0.000), and it was the only biomarker able to predict left main disease (per SD increase: OR 2.433, 95% CI 1.38–4.30, p = 0.002) and three vessel disease (per SD increase: OR 1.639, 95% CI 1.012–2.654, p = 0.044). Residual apoB was also calculated and remained significantly associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. Conclusions: ApoB proved to be a reliable predictor for CAD, independent of LDL-C. Compared to standard lipid biomarkers, apoB was superior in detecting NS-CAD and showed a better correlation with the severity of CAD. Additionally, in our study, only apoB was significantly correlated with left main disease and three vessel disease. Full article

Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops in Costa Rica, where favorable environmental conditions enabled year-round production but also promote bacterial diseases. In recent years, pith necrosis has been frequently observed; nevertheless, the causal agents remain unidentified in the country. This study evaluated bacteria associated with symptomatic plants collected in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. From 32 plants, 61 bacterial isolates were obtained, described morphologically, and characterized through basic biochemical tests. Partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed diverse bacterial taxa, predominantly belonging to the genus Pseudomonas. Thirteen isolates were selected for pathogenicity assays, which confirmed variable virulence levels. Multilocus sequence analysis based on concatenated sequences of the 16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoD, and rpoB genes identified Pseudomonas alliivorans LTM 13.1.2, P. flavescens LTM 14.2.2, and P. capsici LTM 78.3.2 as causal agents of pith necrosis. Additionally, P. straminea LTM 78.2.1 and Cedecea sp. LTM 72.2.1 caused tissue discoloration. Whole-genome sequencing of the two most virulent isolates (LTM 13.1.2 and LTM 78.3.2) supported their taxonomic classification and revealed virulence-associated genes and biosynthetic clusters. This study represents the first report of these Pseudomonas species as tomato pathogens in Costa Rica and expands their known distribution and host ranges. Full article

Bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are major pests of agricultural and forest systems and include some species which attack hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) as well. Although hazelnut cultivation is increasingly threatened by insect and mite pests, yet little is known about how management practices can reduce infestations. This study investigated bark and ambrosia beetles in hazelnut orchards from two highly productive areas: Viterbo district (central Italy) and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region (Republic of Georgia). Three phytosanitary management strategies were compared across 2023–2024: Integrated Pest Management, organic farming, and renaturalised orchards. Monitoring also evaluated three ethanol-baited trap designs: three designs in Italy (handmade red funnel [BR] and bottle [TT] and commercial multi-funnel [MF]) and only TT in Georgia. Anisandrus dispar, Hypothenemus eruditus, Xyleborinus saxesenii, and Xylosandrus germanus were detected in both countries, while Xyleborus monographus occurred only in Italy. Xyleborinus saxesenii was the dominant species in both regions. Beetle populations differed among management strategies, being lowest in organic orchards and highest in integrated and renaturalised systems. Trap performance also varied, with BR consistently outperforming commercial MF. These findings highlight the influence of management and monitoring tools on scolytine populations, offering practical insights for sustainable hazelnut production. Full article

Capsaicinoids (CPCs) are regarded as a typical marker of waste oil, which has emerged as a serious food safety issue in developing countries, necessitating the development of rapid, sensitive, and specific detection methods. In this study, a novel hapten was synthesized to generate a high-affinity monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting CPCs. Subsequently, aggregation-induced emission fluorescent microspheres (AIEFMs), known for their superior fluorescence intensity, were utilized as an enhanced probe to develop a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) based on mAb 8B4 for CPC detection. For comparison, a traditional gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-LFIA was also constructed using the corresponding mAb. The AIEFM-LFIA demonstrated a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.33 µg/kg for CPCs in edible oil samples, which is 4.21 times lower than the LOD of 1.39 µg/kg achieved by the AuNP-LFIA. And the assay effectively identified three additional CPCs, with LODs ranging from 0.26 to 0.99 µg/kg, while exhibiting minimal cross-reactivity with CPC analogs, indicating high specificity. The recovery rates of the AIEFM-LFIA in oil samples ranged from 75.0% to 106.0%, with coefficients of variation ≤ 8.3%, exhibiting excellent accuracy and precision. Furthermore, the results of the AIEFM-LFIA demonstrated a strong degree of correlation with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.978. Consequently, the developed AIEFM-LFIA shows significant promise as a rapid, sensitive, specific, and reliable method for detecting CPCs in oil samples. Full article

Background: Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) is a qualitative method that standardizes resistance and reactance relative to stature (R/H and Xc/H) and plots them as vectors on an R-Xc graph. This equation-free approach assesses body composition, allowing for the evaluation of hydration status and cellular integrity through tolerance ellipses. This study aimed to systematically map BIVA reference ellipses across general, pediatric, pathological, and athletic populations. Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases were searched. Extracted data included (a) sample characteristics (sample size, age, sex, BMI, country, ethnicity), (b) population type, (c) analyzer specifications, and (d) R/H and Xc/H means, standard deviations, and correlation values. Results: A total of 53 studies published between 1994 and July 2025 were included. From these, 508 tolerance ellipses were identified: 281 for the general population (18–92 years), 133 for children/adolescents (0–18 years), 49 for athletes, and 45 for pathological groups. Studies were primarily conducted in Europe and the Americas, using 11 analyzers with variations in measurement protocols, including body side, posture, and electrode placement. Conclusions: This scoping review categorizes the existing BIVA tolerance ellipses by population type, sex, age, BMI, device used, and measurement protocol. The structured presentation is intended to guide researchers, clinicians, nutritionists, and sports professionals in selecting appropriate reference ellipses tailored to specific populations and contexts. Full article

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging cause of viral hepatitis in Europe, with increasing recognition in immunocompromised patients. While genotype 3 (HEV-3) is most prevalent in the region, molecular epidemiology data from Hungary have been limited. HEV strains from 118 RNA-positive patients diagnosed between 2018 and 2025 were genotyped. Next-generation sequencing yielded near-complete HEV genomes for 76 samples. HEV-3 was dominant (98.3%). Subtype 3a was the most common (34.7%), followed by 3c, 3f, and 3e. Rare subtypes (3g, 3h, 3i, 3m, 3ra) and HEV-4b were detected for the first time in Hungary. Among immunocompromised patients, 41.6% developed chronic infection. Ribavirin resistance-associated mutations G1634R and V1479I were frequently detected. In silico analysis of potential multiple infections indicated the presence of at least two HEV strains of distinct origin in six patients. Our surveillance revealed extensive genetic diversity of HEV in Hungary. The detection of rare HEV-3 subtypes and the first documented occurrence of HEV-4b in the country highlight likely viral introductions linked to the increasing international trade. Ongoing surveillance is essential in protecting high-risk groups and limiting HEV transmission in a globalized food system. Full article

In recent years, the cultivated area of hazelnuts in Chile has increased significantly. Along with this rapid expansion, biotic constraints that affect the optimal development of the crop have been identified. Among these, bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. corylina has been particularly relevant. This pathogen has a global distribution and is present in all hazelnut-producing countries. In the spring of 2023, hazelnut orchards were sampled from the Maule to Biobío Regions of Chile. The Chilean isolates recovered from hazelnut tissues showing symptoms of bacterial blight were characterized by their ability to grow on different semi-selective media, their carbohydrate utilization profiles, hypersensitivity response in tobacco plants, and biochemical tests. Additionally, the isolates were identified based on the 16S rRNA gene and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) on the rpoD, gyrB, and atpD genes. The results showed that the X. arboricola pv. corylina Chilean isolates differed from previously reported isolates in other geographic areas as they are capable of metabolizing sorbitol and mannitol. Using MLSA and average nucleotide identity (ANI) comparison, these isolates were grouped into four and five phylogenetic clades, respectively, representing a significant difference from what has been reported in similar international studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Subjective well-being (SWB) in pre-adolescents declines with age due to rising school-related stress and boredom. Outdoor physical activity (PA) may mitigate these effects, yet age-specific associations remain understudied. This study investigated age differences in relationships between outdoor PA and school emotional well-being (stress and arguments) using multinational data. Methods: Cross-sectional secondary analysis of the International Survey of Children’s Well-Being (ISCWeB) third wave (2017–2019) involved 128,184 pre-adolescents (mean age 10.24 years, SD 1.70; 49.56% boys) from 35 countries, stratified by age (8, 10, 12 years). Outdoor PA was assessed on a 0–6 frequency scale; stress and arguments on 0–10 scales, with 8-year-olds’ responses harmonized from 5-point emoticons. Descriptive statistics and stratified Spearman correlations were calculated (p < 0.05). Results: Outdoor PA peaked at age 10 (mean 3.17, SD 1.62), while stress varied with age (mean 3.99, SD 0.50 at 8 years; 4.20, SD 2.50 at 12 years). Very small associations emerged: Weak negative stress correlations (r = −0.02 to −0.07, p ≤ 0.045; r² < 0.005) across ages, alongside positive argument associations (r = 0.03–0.08, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Outdoor PA modestly associates with lower stress in older pre-adolescents but may be associated with elevated peer conflicts. This dual effect adds nuance to interventions, highlighting supervision needs. Age-tailored, supervised school interventions could optimize emotional benefits during late pre-adolescence. Full article

Background/Objectives: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a significant cause of perinatal infection in neonates and infants. Complications could include neonatal sepsis and meningitis, preterm birth, stillbirth, or death. Though no GBS vaccine is currently licensed, maternal immunization is expected to be a highly effective strategy to address invasive GBS disease—particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the disease burden is the greatest and access to existing interventions is limited. In this study, we present a novel hexavalent GBS vaccine candidate with a unique combination of serotypes (ST)—Ia, Ib, II, III, V, and VII—that could be an efficacious and cost-effective intervention, with the broadest coverage of 99% against circulating serotypes globally. Methods: The 6-valent conjugate vaccine candidate, GBS-06, is developed using a novel approach by linking the six polysaccharides (PS) to recombinant cross-reactive material 197 (rCRM197) carrier protein derivatized with a hydrazide-polyethylene glycol-hydrazide (HZ-PEG-HZ) linker. A repeat-dose GLP toxicology study with GBS-06 was conducted at the highest clinical dose of 20 µg in rabbits with saline as the placebo control. Results: The results reveal induction of robust anti-capsular polysaccharide-specific IgG responses against each of the six serotypes after each dose with the highest antibody GMCs at Day 49 following the third dose. Conclusions: Hence, this work is the first demonstration of strong immunogenicity achieved using a linker (HZ-PEG-HZ) for GBS glycoconjugate vaccine development. The positive data from the study have strong implications in the advancement of the candidate for evaluation in clinical trials and provide a licensure pathway for maternal immunization. Full article