Search Results (1,958)

Regional green development requires balancing anthropogenic carbon emissions (CEs) with vegetation carbon sequestration (VCS). Using the CASA model and plant photosynthesis equation, we estimated VCS from net primary productivity (NPP) and proposed a Carbon Balance Pressure Index (CBPI) to quantify the imbalance between carbon sources and sinks. Spatial analysis and a geographic detector were applied to examine influencing factors of CBPI across Sichuan–Chongqing from 2001 to 2017. Results show that CE increased by 178%, while VCS rose by 27%. Regional CBPI thus enhanced from 0.35 to 0.76, aligning with CE trends. The CBPI presented a clear west-low (0–0.2, except Panzhihua), center-high (peak 3.1 in Chengdu), moderate-east (0.1–0.8) pattern. Geographic detector reveals that economic development and urbanization accounted for 80% of CBPI heterogeneity, followed by transportation (65%). Energy-intensive industries dominated developed areas, while construction-land expansion prevailed in developing regions. This study underscores region-specific emission-sink pathways and provides an empirical basis for differentiated low-carbon strategies in similar rapidly urbanizing regions in China. Full article

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is increasingly understood as a precision-oriented neuromodulation therapy capable of influencing distributed basal ganglia–thalamo–cortical and cerebellothalamic networks. Although its symptomatic benefits in Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia are well established, the extent to which DBS supports motor learning, adaptive plasticity, and participation in rehabilitation remains insufficiently defined. Traditional interpretations of DBS as a focal or lesion-like intervention are being challenged by electrophysiological and imaging evidence demonstrating multiscale modulation of circuit dynamics. Objectives and methods: DBS may enhance rehabilitation outcomes by stabilizing pathological oscillations and reducing moment-to-moment variability in motor performance, thereby enabling more consistent task execution and more effective physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech–language interventions. However, direct comparative evidence demonstrating additive or synergistic effects of DBS combined with rehabilitation remains limited. As a result, this potential is not fully realized in clinical practice due to interindividual variability, limited insight into how individual circuit architecture shapes therapeutic response, and the limited specificity of current connectomic biomarkers for predicting functional gains. Results: Technological advances such as tractography-guided targeting, directional leads, sensing-enabled devices, and adaptive stimulation are expanding opportunities to align neuromodulation with individualized circuit dysfunction. Despite these developments, major conceptual and empirical gaps persist. Few controlled studies directly compare outcomes with versus without structured rehabilitation following DBS. Heterogeneity in therapeutic response and rehabilitation access further complicates the interpretation of outcomes. Clarifying these relationships is essential for developing precision-informed frameworks that integrate DBS with rehabilitative strategies, recognizing that current connectomic and physiological biomarkers remain incompletely validated for predicting functional outcomes. Conclusions: This review synthesizes mechanistic, imaging, and technological evidence to outline a network-informed perspective of DBS as a potential facilitator of rehabilitation-driven functional improvement and identifies priorities for future research aimed at optimizing durable functional restoration. Full article

Background: Evidence on non-restrictive MIND pattern interventions in Alzheimer’s (ALZ) disease remains limited. Methods: In an observational case–control study, 60 participants (ALZ, n = 30; cognitively healthy controls, n = 30) completed baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1) after structured MIND counseling. Adherence was assessed via the MEDAS questionnaire. Stool samples (16S rRNA profiling) were taken and anthropometry and cognitive/functional measures were recorded at T0/T1. Results: In the ALZ group, MEDAS improved as adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased (increasing the use of vegetables ≥ 2/day, p < 0.01; and lowering butter adoption ≤ 1/day, p = 0.02), with a shift from low to moderate/high adherence; in controls, baseline Mediterranean diet adherence was already high, and changes in MEDAS categories were modest (low adherence from 13.8% to 3.6%, high adherence from 37.9% to 50.0%), with no statistically significant overall change (p = 0.39). Regarding gut microbiota (GM), in the ALZ group, alpha diversity increased significantly and Bray–Curtis PCoA separated T0 from T1. Species-level analysis showed increases in SCFA-linked taxa (e.g., Anaerobutyricum hallii, Blautia luti, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes) and reductions in dysbiosis/mucin-degrading taxa (e.g., Mediterraneibacter torques, M. gnavus, Agathobacter rectalis). Between-group Δ(T1 − T0) comparisons at the genus level indicated larger positive shifts in ALZ for Anaerobutyricum, Oscillibacter, Faecalicatena, Romboutsia, Mediterraneibacter, and Blautia, and more negative Δ for Gemmiger, Subdoligranulum, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, and Collinsella. sPLS-DA showed partial separation (first two components ≈ 9% variance). Conclusions: A structured, non-restrictive MIND intervention was feasible, improved dietary adherence, and accompanied higher diversity and compositional remodeling of the GM in ALZ’s disease. Larger randomized mechanistic studies are warranted. Full article

The maturation and motility of epididymal sperm (ES) cells are largely driven by changes in protein expression. This study aimed to analyze the proteomic profile of canine (Canis lupus familiaris) ES across groups characterized by different progressive motility (PMOT) values to identify motility-related sperm proteins (MRSPs). ES were obtained from the epididymal semen of 19 dogs. The motility and movement parameters of ejaculated sperm (ES) were evaluated using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Samples were classified into two groups: good sperm motility (GSM), defined as PMOT% ≥ 55%, and poor sperm motility (PSM), defined as PMOT < 55%. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the first two components could explain 88.1% of the total variance between the GSM and PSM groups. Protein profiling of ES was performed using NanoUPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Significant statistical differences were demonstrated between the GSM and PSM groups for the TMOT (p = 0.039) and PMOT (p < 0.001). For five common proteins, their abundance was estimated to be higher in the GSM group than in the PSM group: ACTB (p = 0.2732), CRISP2 (p = 0.1558), LTF (p = 0.2661) and significantly higher: ce10 (p = 0.009) and NPC2 (p < 0.0044). These findings may be used to develop diagnostic MRSP-based tests related to ES quality in assisted reproduction techniques in dogs. Full article

Background: Children can be removed from their home if allegations of abuse or neglect are substantiated. The preference is to place them with family members. In the most extreme cases, a child may be placed in a congregate care setting. A child with diabetes should only be placed in such a facility if the staff have been appropriately trained. Otherwise, the consequences can be devastating. In 2022 and 2024, two children were placed into congregate care facilities in Arizona and died of diabetic ketoacidosis due to a lack of appropriate employee training. Study Objective: We aim to inform providers of the legal processes and laws that can result in a child being placed into a congregate care setting. We analyze what went wrong in the care of these two children. We present alternative pathways that might ensure the safety of children before they are placed in such facilities. Methodology: We reviewed public information for cases of morbidity and mortality in children with diabetes in congregate care. We reviewed the California Welfare and Institution legal codes and applicable laws in the Federal Register. We obtained information regarding children with diabetes mellitus who were in the care of child welfare on PubMed. Results and Conclusions: While there are legal safeguards for children with diabetes who are placed in congregate care, these safeguards are ineffective if staff are inappropriately trained. We present programs and recommendations to prevent a child who is placed in a congregate care facility from suffering medical complications or death. Full article

As artificial intelligence (AI) agents become deeply integrated into fitness systems, trustworthy human–AI agent interaction has become pivotal for user engagement in smart home fitness (SHF) e-commerce platforms. Grounded in the Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) framework, this study empirically investigates how, acting as AI fitness coaches, AI agents’ technical and social features shape users’ active engagement in the in-home social e-commerce context. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining computational text mining of 17,582 user reviews from fitness e-commerce platforms with a survey (N = 599) of Chinese consumers. The results show that (1) the technical–social features of AI agents serving as AI fitness coaches include visibility, gamification, interactivity, humanness, and sociability; (2) these five technical–social features of AI agents positively influence user compliance via both cognitive and emotional trust in AI agents; (3) these five technical–social features of AI agents serving as AI fitness coaches positively impact active engagement via both cognitive and emotional trust in AI agents. This study extends the CASA framework to the domain of AI coaching by demonstrating the parallel roles of cognitive and emotional trust in AI agents. For designers and managers in the fitness e-commerce industries, this study offers actionable insights for designing AI agents integrating functional and social features that foster trust and drive behavioral outcomes. Full article

The increasing availability and affordability of RPA have led to a rapid expansion in their commercial demand. However, this growth has raised concerns due to rising RPA-involved safety incidents, which could negatively impact public acceptance. To address these concerns, this study empirically examines the factors influencing public acceptance of RPA operations. A survey was conducted to collect data on public acceptance across RPA operations within a popular hotspot—Sydney Harbour, Australia. Results reveal varied levels of public acceptance, with environmental monitoring receiving the highest support, followed by commercial filming. Several factors, including self-identified gender, previous RPA experience, and risk–benefit perceptions, significantly influence RPA acceptance. Trust in the RPA pilot is the strongest predictor of acceptance, while privacy risk is significantly more important than mid-air collision and ground impact safety risk. This study adds value by including all three risk types and factors identified in the literature within a single model, providing a statistically robust insight into the factors influencing public acceptance of RPA operations. Full article

Magnesium (Mg²⁺) has garnered the attention of oncologists due to its wide range of biological functions and frequent use as a complementary or integrative agent. In this study, a concise narrative review of the complex relationships between Mg²⁺ and immunotherapy for human malignancies is presented, in addition to a possible future therapeutic scenario. Pertinent full-text articles were thoroughly examined, and the most relevant ones were selected for inclusion in this review. A significant body of preclinical studies highlights the role of Mg²⁺ in regulating immune function, particularly in cytotoxic effector cells, underscoring the importance of maintaining adequate Mg²⁺ homeostasis mainly when immune-modulating agents are used in clinical practice. Whether serum Mg²⁺ levels influence the clinical outcomes of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint blocker treatment remains to be fully elucidated. However, over the last decade, an increasing amount of data suggests that maintaining normal or slightly elevated serum levels of Mg²⁺ may enhance the response to immune therapy and even improve survival outcomes. New potential modulators of the tumor microenvironment and response to immunotherapy, such as injectable gels and metal-based biomaterials, are discussed. Full article

Cognitive disorders present significant medical and social challenges nowadays, due to their high prevalence, progressive course and a lack of effective methods for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and comorbid pathologies. An important area of research is the identification of molecular biomarkers that reflect early pathophysiological changes and facilitate a more accurate biological characterization of cognitive impairment. This study provides an overview of the most relevant signaling molecules for diagnosing cognitive disorders. It presents data on the effectiveness of using comprehensive panels of molecular biomarkers in clinical practice, including β-amyloid, CD34, claudin, DRP1, endothelin-1, NF-kB, PINK1, RAGE, S100, α-synuclein, and tau protein, in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). The study results demonstrate that cumulative changes in the expression of signaling molecules reflect various neurodegenerative and vascular-associated biological processes. The data obtained are comparative in nature and require further validation before potential clinical application. Full article

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIC (MPS IIIC) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the HGSNAT gene. Data from large patient cohorts remain scarce, particularly in Latin America. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical, biochemical, and genetic data from patients diagnosed with MPS IIIC through the MPS Brazil Network. Diagnosis was based on reduced activity of acetyl-CoA:α-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase (HGSNAT), elevated urinary glycosaminoglycans (uGAGs), and/or molecular genetics tests. Results: A total of 101 patients were confirmed with MPS IIIC, representing one of the largest cohorts worldwide. Females accounted for 60% of cases. The mean age at symptom onset was 5.4 ± 3.9 years, while the mean age at diagnosis was 11.7 ± 6.9 years, reflecting a 6-year diagnostic delay. Most patients initially presented with developmental delay (82%) and facial dysmorphism (80%), whereas behavioral manifestations were less frequently identified (25%), suggesting a milder phenotype than previously reported. Genetic information was available for 28% of patients, showing recurrent alleles (c.372-2A>G, c.252dupT) and several novel mutations, which expand the mutational spectrum of the disease. Genotype–phenotype similarities with Portuguese, Italian, and Chinese cases suggest shared ancestry contributions. Regional differences included earlier diagnoses in the North of Brazil and high consanguinity rates in the Northeast region. Conclusions: This study describes the largest Brazilian cohort of MPS IIIC, documenting novel variants and regional heterogeneity. Findings highlight diagnostic delays, ancestry influences, and the urgent need for disease-modifying therapies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Litsea glaucescens Kunth, commonly known as “laurel,” is a tree native to Mexico. The Codex Cruz-Badiano, from 1552, described it as the main ingredient of a topical anti-inflammatory recipe. This study aims to determine whether L. glaucescens leaf extract can reduce experimental inflammation, supporting its use in Aztec medicine. Methods: Methanolic extracts and fractions from the leaves of L. glaucescens were analyzed using techniques such as normal and reverse-phase TLC, 1H-NMR, HPLC-UV, MS, and GC-MS. The anti-inflammatory systemic activity of this methanolic extract was evaluated in mice using carrageenan-induced paw inflammation and TPA-induced ear topical inflammation models. Myeloperoxidase activity, DPPH, and TBARS assays were performed. L. guatemalensis, a closely related species, served as a positive control, as its biological activity has been demonstrated. Results: Thin-layer chromatography analysis reveals flavonoid-type compounds in the methanolic extract of L. glaucescens leaves, and when it was fractionated, pinocembrin and quercitrin were the main compounds found. L. glaucescens in mice significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw swelling and TPA-induced ear inflammation. A decrease in myeloperoxidase activity and an increase in antioxidant activity were observed. Conclusions: Methanolic extract from L. glaucescens, administered systematically, produced significant in vivo anti-edematous effects and in vitro, antioxidant and anti-infiltrative/anti-neutrophilic activities, qualitatively like those of L. guatemalensis. Quercitrin and pinocembrin could contribute to these actions. It is unclear which of the two plant species was used in pre-Columbian times; However, our results show that both species contain phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that the Aztecs recognized this medicinal property. Full article

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of azacitidine (AZA) under clinical storage conditions (room temperature vs. refrigeration) to identify practical protocols that minimize waste and improve cost-effectiveness. Methods: AZA solutions (1 mg/mL) were stored at 23 ± 2 °C or 4 °C. Stability was assessed using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Hypersil ODS C₁₈ column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) using an isocratic mobile phase of 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0)-acetonitrile (98:2, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, with UV detection at 245 nm and a 20 μL injection volume. The method demonstrated specificity for AZA and its main degradation product (DP), with LOD and LOQ of 12.56 μg/mL and 62.8 μg/mL, respectively. Linearity (R² = 0.9928), precision (RSD% < 5 for mid/high levels), and accuracy (mean recovery 96%) were established. Results: Azacitidine degraded rapidly at room temperature, with >85% loss within 24 h. In contrast, refrigeration at 4 °C significantly delayed degradation, with only ~26% loss observed over the same 24 h period. Chromatographic analysis confirmed the formation of a primary degradation product (tentatively identified as the open-ring hydrolytic species N-(formylamidino)-N′-β-D-ribofuranosylurea based on its chromatographic behavior and literature data), consistent with the known hydrolytic pathway. The applied HPLC-UV method offered an optimal balance of specificity and practicality for monitoring this main degradation trend under clinical storage conditions, distinguishing it from more complex techniques used primarily for structural elucidation. Conclusions: The pronounced instability of reconstituted AZA underscores the critical importance of strict adherence to immediate-use protocols. Refrigeration provides only a limited stability window. Based on our kinetic data, maintaining the reconstituted solution within an acceptable degradation limit (e.g., ≤10% loss) at 4 °C would require administration within a very short timeframe, supporting current handling guidelines to ensure therapeutic efficacy and minimize economic waste. Full article

Cryopreservation is a key tool in assisted reproduction, but it often compromises post-thaw sperm quality due to cryodamage. Optimizing the initial cooling phase, specifically from room temperature to 5 °C, is a critical determinant of successful outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different pre-freeze cooling rates on stallion sperm quality using a novel, precision cooling device. Semen samples from five healthy stallions were divided into three groups and cooled at distinct rates: Slow (0.3 °C/min), Moderate (1 °C/min), and Fast (approximately 30 °C/min). Sperm motility parameters were assessed using a Computer-Assisted Sperm Analyzer (CASA) before freezing and after thawing. Additionally, sperm integrity and physiological parameters, including viability, acrosomal integrity, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) expression, and mitochondrial membrane potential, were assessed by flow cytometry post-thaw. The analysis of post-thaw kinematics revealed a significant interaction between the cooling rate and processing stage (post-cooling vs. post-thaw). The Fast-cooling protocol resulted in higher post-thaw total motility (51.8%) compared to the Slow protocol (45.01%). Crucially, no significant differences were detected among cooling rates for the critical parameter of progressive motility or curvilinear velocity (VCL). Circle motility had higher values in the Fast-cooling group compared to the Slow group. Cell viability demonstrated a tendency (p = 0.08), where the Slow cooling group exhibited higher mean values (65.59%) compared to the Fast group (61.67%). Comprehensive flow cytometry assessments of other cellular integrity markers, including acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial function (MMP), and ROS expression, were statistically equivalent across all cooling rates (p > 0.05). The results confirm that this fast pre-freeze cooling rate, integrated within the highly controlled environment of Directional Freezing technology, successfully preserved essential sperm function and structure. Critically, the demonstrated functional equivalence in progressive motility validates the Fast protocol as an efficacious strategy to increase the efficiency and adaptability of equine semen cryopreservation protocols for commercial utilization. Full article

Ricotta cheese whey (RCW) is a by-product with nutritional potential, but its use in the human diet is limited due to its high salinity. Chlorella vulgaris can use RCW as a substrate to enhance biomass productivity. The aim of this work was to evaluate different conditions for C. vulgaris growth in RCW, during scaling-up analysis. After preliminary assays to select growth conditions, two systems were prepared as follows: 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks (control-system) and a 3 L Bioreactor. Microfiltrated RCW was used as a substrate for C. vulgaris LPMA39 production. Biomass was measured and productivity at 96 h, cell growth kinetics behaviour, biomass biochemical characterisation, and the efficiency of nutrient removal were determined. Both systems presented the same biomass concentration at 96 h (2.2–2.8 g·L⁻¹) and productivity (0.021–0.027 g·L⁻¹·h⁻¹). Nevertheless, 11 h lag-period for cell adaptation to the 3 L Bioreactor was required; thereafter, cells grew faster (µ_max: 0.32 ± 0.08 h⁻¹) than control-system. Finally, slight but significantly lower C_max: 2.14 ± 0.08 was obtained when comparing it to control-system. Lipids, proteins, and pigment contents decreased by the scaling-up; meanwhile, higher reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus, and total nitrogen were recorded in the 3 L Bioreactor. Identifying the operating conditions that improve C. vulgaris performance in non-diluted RCW remains a challenge from a sustainability standpoint. Full article

Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are widely used in soft-tissue reconstruction, yet the optimal timing for split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) remains unsettled. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study (January 2023–August 2025) of adults undergoing ADM-based reconstruction with Integra^® Double Layer (IDL), Integra^® Single Layer (ISL), or Nevelia^®. Primary endpoints included length of stay (LOS), STSG requirement and timing, and in-hospital complications; secondary endpoints included spontaneous epithelialization. Prespecified adjusted analyses (linear/logistic models) controlled for age, sex, etiology, anatomical site, diabetes/PAOD, smoking, wound size (when available), wound contamination, and matrix type. Histology and immunohistochemistry (H&E, Masson trichrome, CD105, D2-40) assessed matrix integration and vascular/lymphatic maturation. Seventy-five patients were included (IDL n = 40; ISL n = 20; Nevelia n = 15). On multivariable analysis, matrix type was not an independent predictor of LOS (ISL vs. IDL β = +2.84 days, 95% CI −17.34 to +23.02; Nevelia vs. IDL β = −4.49 days, 95% CI −16.24 to +7.26). Complications were infrequent (6/75, 8.0%) and comparable across matrices; spontaneous epithelialization occurred in 3/75 patients (4.0%). A day-14 grafting strategy, applied only after documented clinical integration, was feasible in 30/75 (40.0%) patients without excess complications. Histology/IHC at 3–4 weeks demonstrated CD105-positive, perfused capillary networks with abundant collagen; at 4–6 weeks, D2-40-positive lymphatic structures confirmed progressive neo-dermis maturation, supporting the biological plausibility of earlier grafting once integration criteria are met. In this cohort, outcomes were broadly similar across matrices after adjustment. A criteria-based early STSG approach (~day 14) appears safe and operationally advantageous when integration is confirmed, while a minority of defects may heal without grafting. Prospective multicenter studies with standardized scar/functional measures and cost analyses are needed to refine patient selection and graft timing strategies. Full article