Search Results (1,719)

Digital transformation has fundamentally altered how individuals manage their finances. The expansion of financial technologies and the digitalization of banking services underscore the need for digital financial literacy, defined as the ability to safely use financial applications and make informed decisions within virtual environments. This study examined the perceptions of financial application use across age groups and their corresponding level of digital financial literacy. This exploratory study used a convenience sample of 41 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2025. The data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. The findings indicated that most participants prioritized digital apps over traditional channels and expressed confidence in their use, although concerns about data security remained. Participants identified key advantages, including convenience, efficiency, and centralized access, yet few used apps for financial planning. Most respondents demonstrated an intermediate level of digital knowledge, with limited proficiency in executing complex financial tasks. Perceptions revealed both optimism and apprehension: while participants valued the practicality of digital tools, they also recognized risks such as fraud, exclusion of vulnerable groups, and technological dependence. The limited and non-representative sample limits generalization, suggesting the need for broader surveys. Enhanced public policies promoting digital financial education in Brazil are recommended. Full article

Lactate is a key metabolite with applications ranging from monitoring training efficiency to early sepsis detection and monitoring the metabolic state of cell cultures. In this study, a paper-based lactate sensor utilizing a fluorescent readout was developed. Unlike common lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-based methods, these sensors use a green fluorescent protein (GFP) or mApple-coupled lactate binding domain, which provides a fluorescent readout upon lactate binding. We demonstrate that immobilizing these proteins on paper does not affect their ability to bind lactate and produce a fluorescent readout, by monitoring lactate levels in the cell culture supernatant applying different cell culture conditions. Full article

Cancer is a complex disease characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and progression toward metastasis. The activation and maintenance of these processes demand increased energy production. Traditional cancer therapies often target broad energy-generating mechanisms to inhibit cancer growth. However, the field of oncology is increasingly shifting toward more potent, precise, and personalized treatment strategies. This shift has fueled interest in novel cancer metabolic pathway targets. This review focuses on proline metabolism, an amino acid pathway that has been observed to be altered across various cancer subtypes. Proline has emerged as one of the most consistently deregulated non-essential amino acids in cancer biology. Proline metabolism is intimately linked to mitochondria function and energy regulation through mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species, ATP production, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. Due to its dichotomous nature, proline metabolism functions are highly context dependent, varying across cancer subtypes. While this provides a potential novel therapeutic target, it also presents unique challenges and knowledge gaps. Full article

Background/Objectives: Whilst adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T (CAR-T) cells represents an efficient approach for the treatment of patients suffering from several hematological malignancies, solid tumors have been shown to be far more challenging to tackle, mainly due to the hostile tumor microenvironment that inhibits optimal T cell functionality. As proven by the broad clinical success of immune checkpoint inhibitors, blocking the interaction of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressed on tumor cells and the checkpoint receptor programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) expressed on activated T cells allows an intrinsic T cell-mediated anti-tumor response to be unleashed. We developed a cellular product (MDG1015) consisting of New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-1 (NY-ESO-1)/L antigen family member 1a (LAGE-1a)-specific CD8+ T cell receptor-transduced (TCR-)T cells co-expressing the costimulatory switch protein (CSP) PD1-41BB, which turns an inhibitory signal mediated by the PD-1:PD-L1 axis into positive T cell costimulation. Methods: In vitro co-cultures of MDG1015 and PD-L1-positive or -negative target cells were used to analyze TCR-T cell functionality, such as TCR-T (poly-)cytokine release, the killing of target cells, and TCR-T proliferation. The safety of MDG1015 was evaluated via different panels of antigen-negative cell lines or primary cells expressing or lacking PD-L1. Results: Preclinical analyses demonstrated TCR-gated activation of the CSP, leading to enhanced functionality of MDG1015 against antigen-expressing, PD-L1-positive tumor cells without any impact on antigen-negative target cells. Conclusions: The favorable, preclinical functionality and safety profile qualifies MDG1015 as a promising cellular therapy for explorative clinical testing in hard-to-treat solid tumor indications. Full article

Background: To reduce work-related illnesses among teachers, various types of programs were implemented. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 12-week multicomponent program on mental disorders, biochemical parameters, and immunological markers in female teachers with overweight. Methods: A total of 33 women who were basic education teachers with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 16), which did not participate in the program, or an intervention group (n = 17), which underwent the multicomponent intervention. The program included physical exercise (three sessions per week), cognitive–behavioral therapy delivered monthly across three modules, and nutritional education consisting of both general and specific guidance. Assessments were conducted at baseline and after 12 weeks and included measurements of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; fasting glucose; total cholesterol; LDL cholesterol; HDL cholesterol; VLDL cholesterol; triglycerides; and concentrations of immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, and IgM. Results: After 12 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.05), as well as in fasting glucose, triglycerides, and VLDL cholesterol levels compared to the control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the levels of immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, or IgM (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The multicomponent program improved mental health and reduced the risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in female teachers with overweight. Full article

Background/Objectives: DNA2 is a conserved nuclease–helicase that plays a crucial role in DNA replication and repair by responding to replication stress. Previous studies have established the role of DNA2 in Okazaki fragment processing, the recovery of stalled replication forks, and double-strand break repair. This study investigates the role of Drosophila melanogaster Dna2 in response to exogenous DNA damage and replication stress as well as during developmental stages involving intensive DNA replication. Methods: We used the Drosophila mutant alleles, Dna2^D1 and Dna2^D2, which differ in the presence of the helicase 1A domain, to assess sensitivity to mutagens that cause various types of replication stress and DNA damage. We examined reproductive fitness through Mendelian ratio calculations, fecundity, egg viability assays, and assessed DNA damage via immunostaining of ovarian germaria. Lifespan assays were also conducted to examine adult survival. Results: Dna2 mutants demonstrated significant sensitivity to replication stress induced by MMS, hydroxyurea, topotecan, and nitrogen mustard. Dna2^lS/S1 mutants exhibited higher survival than Dna2^lS/D2 upon exposure to topotecan and bleomycin, suggesting a possible helicase-specific role in damage response. Mutants exhibited decreased fecundity, reduced egg viability, and elevated DNA damage in mitotically active germline cells. Adult lifespan was not reduced in Dna2 mutants, implying potential compensatory stress-response mechanisms. Conclusions: Our findings support a requirement of Dna2 in managing replication stress during critical developmental phases in Drosophila. These insights clarify the nuanced contributions of the nuclease and helicase domains of DNA2, suggesting potential domain-specific functions in genomic stability and repair mechanisms. This work provides a foundation that will enable future researchers to further dissect the complex roles of DNA2 in replication and repair pathways. Full article

Dystrophinopathies, including Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD and BMD), are inherited neuromuscular disorders frequently complicated by progressive cardiac involvement, ultimately leading to advanced heart failure. While heart transplantation and long-term left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy represent potential therapeutic options, their application in this population raises significant ethical challenges. This review explores the ethical implications surrounding the allocation of scarce medical resources, particularly in patients with limited life expectancy and multisystem disease, as in DMD. Decisions regarding eligibility for heart transplantation must balance individual benefit, considering the impact of excluding other potential recipients. LVAD therapy, although more accessible, still demands careful patient selection due to high perioperative risk and postoperative complications. The review emphasizes the need for transparent, multidisciplinary decision-making processes that respect patient autonomy while ensuring equitable and rational distribution of healthcare resources. Ultimately, while advanced therapies may be feasible in selected cases, particularly in BMD, ethical deliberation remains central to determining their appropriateness in the context of dystrophinopathies. Full article

Background/Objectives: A mandatory monitoring of the use of antibiotics in horses in the European Union will come into force from 2029 on. The aim of the study was to explore the potential implementation of a monitoring system and to provide an overview of antibiotic use in horses in Germany. Methods: Data on all consultations from 57 German practices between 2018 and 2023 were obtained. The dataset included basic data about the horse, free-text diagnoses (allocated to one of 20 categories), and treatments. Information on the administered or dispensed pharmaceutical product was recorded for antibiotic treatment consultations. Results: This study analyzed 225,622 consultations with more than 50,000 horses. Antibiotics were administered in around 7% of consultations, but practice-specific rates varied considerably. Treatment was most frequent in ophthalmology cases. The most commonly used drug classes were sulfonamides combined with trimethoprim and aminopenicillins. Horses receiving antibiotics required follow-up visits more often than untreated animals, and changes in antibiotic substance occurred occasionally. Conclusions: Routine practice data provide valuable insights into antibiotic use in equine medicine. While incomplete entries and imprecise details (e.g., missing concentrations or diagnoses) remain a limitation, the approach offers clear advantages: it is cost-effective, allows large-scale data collection, and supports continuous monitoring over time. Such systems can be used to evaluate the effects of upcoming EU regulations and to identify priorities for antibiotic stewardship in equine practice. Full article

Compared to shallow geothermal systems, coaxial medium-deep and deep borehole heat exchangers (MDBHE and DBHE) offer higher temperatures and heat extraction rates while requiring less surface area, making them attractive options for sustainable heat supply in combination with ground-source heat pumps (GSHP). However, existing simulation tools for such systems are often limited in computational efficiency or open-source availability. To address this gap, we propose a rapid modeling approach using the open-source Python package “pygfunction” (v2.3.0). Its workflow was adjusted to accept the fluid inlet temperature as input. The effective undisturbed ground temperature and ground thermophysical properties were weight-averaged considering stratified ground layers. Validation of the approach was conducted by comparing simulation results with 12 references, including established models and experimental data. The proposed method enables fast estimation of fluid temperatures and heat extraction rates for single boreholes and small-scale bore fields in both homogeneous and heterogeneous geological conditions at depths of 700–3000 m, thus supporting rapid assessments of the coefficient of performance (COP) of GSHP. The approach systematically underestimates fluid outlet temperatures by up to 2–3 °C, resulting in a maximum underestimation of COP of 4%. Under significant groundwater flow or extreme geothermal gradients, these errors may increase to 4 °C and 6%, respectively. Based on the available data, these discrepancies may result in errors in GSHP electric power estimation of approximately ±10%. The method offers practical value for GSHP performance evaluation, geothermal potential mapping, and district heating network planning, supporting geologists, engineers, planners, and decision-makers. Full article

A major fire occurred in the wildland–urban interface in southern Portugal, on 13 July 2022, becoming uncontrolled due to weather conditions. This study investigates how atmospheric dynamics increased fire danger in Mainland Portugal during early July 2022. The synoptic circulation from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) analysis and mesoscale conditions from Meso-NH model simulation at 1.5 km resolution revealed atmospheric conditions before and during the fire. Fire risk was assessed using the Fire Weather Index (FWI) from Meso-NH outputs. A blocking pattern was configured by an upper-level low-pressure system in early July, remaining semi-stationary west of Mainland Portugal until 18 July. The counter-clockwise circulation of the cut-off low resulted in dry, warm air advection from North Africa, enhancing fire danger over the Iberian Peninsula. In southern Portugal, a jet-like wind with strong east/southeasterly flow from Gibraltar Strait favored rapid fire spread. This circulation below 1 km altitude from the Mediterranean Sea enhanced fire danger through strong winds, independent of the large-scale blocking pattern. This study presents an atmospheric scenario for evaluating fire danger in Southern Portugal, important for pre-firefighting management that complemented previous studies for the region. Also, high-resolution FWI calculations using Meso-NH emphasized the importance of improved temporal and spatial resolution for fire danger assessment. Full article

The polar environment is one of the most extreme environments of our world. However, even in the cold deserts of Antarctica, life thrives, often in the form of biocrusts (biological soil crusts)—complex communities consisting of hundreds of organisms. The reaction to abiotic stress in members of these communities is often inferred from laboratory experiments on isolated species and single factors, without taking into consideration any mitigation effects by the communities or complex habitats. In this study, we aimed to infer the stress situation of the filamentous green alga Klebsormidium in Antarctic biocrusts in situ using metatranscriptomic data. Klebsormidium is ubiquitous in biocrusts and well studied with respect to abiotic factors, allowing the comparison of lab experiments with the in situ situation. In this study, we identified Klebsormidium flaccidum to be present in biocrusts from Livingston Island (Antarctica). Metatranscriptomic data for the biocrust were used to investigate the presence of cold and desiccation stress in situ. To this end, we identified consistently expressed and stress-regulated genes in published stress transcriptomes of Klebsormidium that could serve as markers for environmental stress levels. These “marker genes” were used to construct marker gene indices to assess stress states in biocrusts by comparing transcript expression ratios under different conditions—a novel framework for the assessment of microbial community responses to environmental stressors. However, many potential marker genes behaved quite differently in the laboratory and in the natural environment. In the end, rather than relying on indices based on individual marker genes, comparing the expression levels of whole stressor-regulated gene sets proved to be a more reliable approach to examining stress in situ. This study highlights the potential of marker genes for broader ecological and environmental monitoring using metatranscriptomic data. Full article

Background: A comprehensive rehabilitation program is recommended following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) to restore function, strength and lower limb stability. Despite advancements in surgical techniques, high reinjury rates highlight the need to refine rehabilitation strategies. This study investigates performance across various physically demanding tasks and compares outcomes between the injured and uninjured leg, using a modified Back in Action (BIA) test battery. It is hypothesized that due to test learning effects patients exhibit faster improvement in coordinatively demanding tasks compared to strength-related tasks. Methods: Thirty-two patients (aged 18–40) following primary unilateral ACLR participated in a prospective cross-sectional study within the context of a larger trial. Participants completed a modified BIA test battery, including stability, countermovement jump (CMJ), drop landing, speedy jumps, and quick-feet test (QFT). Each test was conducted in three sets, with three immediate repetitions. Self-reported outcomes were also collected. Results: Patients showed significant within-session improvements in coordinative tasks, with 32% in the injured and 26% in the uninjured limb during the speedy jumps [p < 0.05]. No significant learning effects were observed in strength-related tasks (drop landing, stability test, CMJ). Patients with lower baseline performance exhibited greater improvement than patients with higher performance level from baseline. Furthermore, a correlation between self-assessed abilities and actual performance was identified. Conclusions: This study showed that improvement of coordinative tasks after Return to Sport (RTS) testing of ACLR patients are rather affected by test learning effects. In contrast, this phenomenon is not seen in strength-related tasks. Rehabilitation programs should integrate both types of exercises while considering individual baseline abilities. Tailoring rehabilitation to individual needs, establishing sport-specific rehabilitation programs and incorporating self-assessment tools can enhance patient-centered care and reduce reinjury risks. Full article

Purpose: This review examines the recent literature on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) published in the Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology and Arthroscopy (KSSTA) journal in 2023. The aim was to identify key research themes, advancements, and global contributions to knee surgery research. Methods: Articles published in KSSTA in 2023 were identified through a structured database search using the term “knee OR TKA OR UKA”. Inclusion criteria focused on primary studies, reviews, and case reports in English related to TKA or UKA. Data were extracted and synthesized thematically to analyze research trends and gaps. Results: The search yielded to 75 articles, 63 focused on TKA and 12 on UKA. Most contributions originated from Europe, followed by Asia and North America. Robotic-assisted TKA emerged as a significant advancement, enhancing surgical precision but requiring further validation through extended follow-up studies. Personalized implants showed potential for improved outcomes, though cost-effectiveness remains a concern. In UKA, slight overcorrection during alignment was associated with better functional results. Conclusions: The literature in the 2023 KSSTA highlights journal-specific trends and innovations in knee surgery. While techniques like robotic TKA and personalized implants are promising, further research is essential to standardize protocols and evaluate long-term impacts, emphasizing the need for sustained research efforts in knee orthopedics. Full article

Future aero engine designs must address environmental challenges and meet noise and emissions regulations. To increase efficiency and reduce size, axial compressors require higher pressure ratios and a more compact design, leading to necessary modifications in the variable stator vanes, especially in the stator hub region. This study examines the impact of a variable cantilevered stator on the performance and aerodynamics of a 1.5-stage transonic compressor, representative of a high-pressure compressor front stage. Experimental tests at the transonic compressor test rig at Technical University of Darmstadt involved two variable stators with identical airfoil designs but different hub configurations, using the same inlet guide vane and rotor. Detailed aerodynamic analysis was conducted using steady and unsteady instrumentation. The cantilevered stator achieved a 2% increase in efficiency and a 1% increase in total pressure ratio, due to higher aerodynamic loading and reduced pressure losses. The primary performance gain comes from the reduction of the hub blockage area. The cantilevered stator also performed well at near stall conditions, unlike the shrouded stator. Time-resolved measurements indicated that loss mechanisms are closely linked to the rotor wake phase. Overall, variable cantilevered stators outperformed shrouded stators in this compressor stage. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite advances in minimally invasive procedures, anastomotic leakages (ALs) after esophageal resections mark the most feared complication. Its early detection can lead to quick interventional treatment with improved survival. Nonetheless, early detection remains challenging, and scores are imprecise and complex. Methods: In our study we analyzed mediastinal drainage fluid to find parameters suggesting AL even before it became clinically evident and correlated them to routine biomarkers. All patients with AL after robotically assisted esophageal resections were included and matched 1:1 with uneventful controls. Additionally, transhiatal distal esophageal resections operated during this period were included. Drainage fluid was collected on postoperative days (PODs) 1–4 with consecutive blood gas analysis. Test quality was determined by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: In total, 40 patients were included, with 17 developing AL. There were no significant differences in gender, age, BMI or oncological treatment. The 30-day morbidity rate was 65.0%. The study was restricted to events in the first 12 days. While lactate value in drainage fluid differed significantly from POD 3 onwards in the two groups, serum CRP remained without significant differences. We developed the LacCRP score (CRP/30 + lactate/2). The AUC on POD 3 was 0.96, with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 75%, respectively. An estimator of 1.08 was found in multivariate analysis: one-point increase in the LacCRP score increases AL probability by 8%. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that postoperative lactate determinations in drainage fluid can predict AL after esophageal resection, and its combination with serum CRP results in a reliable LacCRP score. Full article