Search Results (496)

Background/Objectives: Pharmacogenetic variability plays a crucial role in determining both the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers. However, data on allele frequencies and their clinical relevance in Russian populations remain scarce. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of 412 patients with gastrointestinal malignancies between 2020 and 2023. Pharmacogenetic testing was performed prior to the initiation of chemotherapy using real-time allele-specific PCR and microarray hybridization technology. Polymorphisms in the DPYD, UGT1A1, CYP2C8, CYP3A5, GSTP1, ERCC1, XPC, CDA, MTHFR, TYMS, and SLC31A1 genes were analyzed. Results: The frequency of most variants was consistent with those reported in European populations, reflecting the ethnic proximity of the studied cohort. Several clinically relevant variants were identified: DPYD rs2297595 occurred more frequently than in European cohorts, and UGT1A1 rs8175347 was observed at a higher prevalence, underscoring the potential risk of irinotecan-related neutropenia and diarrhea. CYP2C8 rs10509681 was present at frequencies comparable to European populations and is associated with an increased risk of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy. Other markers (GSTP1, ERCC1, CDA, SLC31A1, MTHFR, TYMS) demonstrated variable associations with chemotherapy efficacy and toxicity, consistent with findings from previous international studies. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive description of pharmacogenetic polymorphisms in a Russian cohort of patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Our findings confirm the clinical importance of DPYD and UGT1A1 testing and highlight additional variants of potential interest. Full article

Domoic acid (DA), produced by Pseudo-nitzschia diatoms, is the one of the major toxin threats from harmful algal blooms (HABs) on the west coast of the United States. DA events vary in magnitude, timing, and duration, and elucidating drivers for individual events is a persistent challenge. Monterey Bay experiences near-annual DA events and hosts long-term HAB monitoring at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf (SCW). Here we characterize two toxin events, occurring in May 2023 and March 2024. The events were similar in magnitude and duration, but an exploration of physical, biological, and chemical dynamics revealed distinct environmental drivers. These differences resulted in a significant deviation in cellular DA (cDA) within the same species of Pseudo-nitzschia. In addition, opportunistic solid-phase adsorption toxin tracking (SPATT) was used for environmental metabolomics. The novel application of SPATT revealed 159 metabolites that were strongly correlated with DA in both events and produced a spectral match to a new marine natural product using Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS). This work takes a multivariable approach to understanding toxin drivers and lends proof of concept for the integration of environmental metabolomics in HAB monitoring. Full article

Chitin deacetylases (CDAs), which catalyze the deacetylation of chitin to produce chitosan, have garnered significant interest due to their environmental compatibility and ability to control product quality. However, the low conversion efficiency resulting from chitin’s high molecular weight and crystallinity, as well as structural limitations of CDAs, has impeded their industrial application. In this study, we present the integrated approach combining bioinformatics and computational tools (adaptive Poisson–Boltzmann solver, Fpocket, and ProteinPlus) to systematically analyze sequence features and variations in active pocket properties among CDAs from diverse origins. Experimental evaluation of the deacetylation activity of AnCDA, AsCDA, BaCDA, and ScCDA, each with distinct pocket characteristics, on chitin substrates with varying molecular parameters revealed that CDAs with high hydrophobicity scores and low surface-to-volume ratios exhibited superior efficiency in converting high-molecular-weight chitin. These findings guide the rational selection and engineering of CDAs for industrial biocatalysis. Full article

Wearable and skin-mounted electronics demand encapsulation designs that simultaneously provide strong barrier performance, mechanical reliability, and transferability under ultrathin conditions. In this study, a residual stress-balanced transferable encapsulation platform was developed by integrating a urethane-based copolymer superstrate [p(IEM-co-HEMA)] with inorganic thin films. The polymer, deposited via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), offered over 90% optical transmittance, low RMS roughness (1–3 nm), and excellent solvent resistance, providing a stable base for inorganic barrier integration. An ALD Al₂O₃/ZnO nano-stratified barrier initially delivered effective moisture blocking, but tensile stress accumulation imposed a critical thickness of 30 nm, where the WVTR plateaued at ~2.5 × 10⁻⁴ g/m²/day. To overcome this limitation, a 40 nm e-beam SiO₂ capping layer was added, introducing compressive stress via atomic peening and stabilizing Al₂O₃ interfaces through Si–O–Al bonding. This stress-balanced design doubled the critical thickness to 60 nm and reduced the WVTR to 3.75 × 10⁻⁵ g/m²/day, representing an order-of-magnitude improvement. OLEDs fabricated on this ultrathin platform preserved J–V–L characteristics and efficiency (~4.5–5.0 cd/A) after water-assisted transfer and on-skin deformation, while maintaining LT80 lifetimes of 140–190 h at 400 cd/m² and stable emission for over 20 days in ambient storage. These results demonstrate that the stress-balanced encapsulation platform provides a practical route to meet the durability and reliability requirements of next-generation wearable optoelectronic devices. Full article

This study explores the evolving role of architecture centers in the digital age by analyzing the case of Casa da Arquitectura (CdA) in Matosinhos, Portugal, a hybrid institution that functions as both archive and museum. Positioned within the broader context of museum digitization and liminality theory, the research investigates how CdA navigates the spatial, social, and procedural shifts inherent in digital transformation. Drawing on qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with key personnel and on-site observations, the study examines the institution’s strategies in acquisition, curation, and exhibition design. The findings highlight CdA’s innovative approach to archival visibility, the creation of a multipurpose digital platform (“edifício digital”), and the integration of archival acquisitions with exhibition practices. These practices illustrate a condition of triple liminality of the digital museum concerning its process, position, and place. The study also discusses how digitization reconfigures the museum’s organizational model in terms of accessibility and curatorial complexity. By analyzing CdA’s operational and curatorial choices, the paper discusses how digital museums can act as speculative, process-oriented spaces that challenge traditional boundaries between archive and exhibition, physical and virtual, institutional and public. Full article

Portfolio management (PM) facilitates optimal investing decisions and enables organizations to control risks and achieve stable financial growth. Advances in machine learning, mostly through supervised learning, are drastically changing the way in which PM is conducted. More recently, unsupervised learning is also emerging as a paradigm that can support the creation of diversified and profitable portfolios through stock clustering. In the corresponding literature, there is significant evidence that cluster-informed methods can outperform both traditional and supervised approaches to PM. However, these works are few and have not considered state-of-the-art deep learning approaches for clustering, while stock allocation is often limited to equally weighted portfolios or mean-variance optimization (MVO). To address these issues, we propose a cluster-informed PM method based on deep temporal clustering (DTC) along with our recommended parameters for training convergence, combined with the conditional drawdown at risk (CDaR) portfolio allocation method. Unlike MVO, CDaR considers tail risk and can minimize extreme price drawdowns. Cluster validity metrics reveal that DTC outperforms previously proposed stock clustering methods. Furthermore, DTC enhanced by CDaR achieves a higher expected Sortino ratio (1.1) compared to previous works in clustering-based PM. Additional Brinson attribution and maximum drawdown analyses further confirm the robustness of our method. Full article

Introduction: Cervical disc disease is a common cause of disability worldwide. Two surgical options for refractory CDD are anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). While ACDF is well established, CDA offers motion preservation and has shown promising outcomes. This study compared utilization trends, patient characteristics, and hospitalization outcomes of ACDF and CDA using a large national dataset. Methods: We analyzed patients in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2016–2019) undergoing ACDF or CDA, identified using ICD-10 codes. After exclusions, 97,999 patients were included. Propensity score matching yielded 11,415 pairs, enabling balanced comparisons of demographics, comorbidities, complications, length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges. Results: CDA utilization increased during the study period. Compared with ACDF, CDA patients were younger and more likely to have private insurance. Following matching, both groups were demographically similar. CDA was associated with a slightly shorter LOS (1.32 vs. 1.39 days) but significantly higher charges (USD 82,431 vs. USD 58,472). In terms of complications, dysphagia was more frequent after ACDF, whereas cervical spinal cord injury and urinary tract infections were slightly more common after CDA, though rare overall. Conclusions: CDA is increasingly adopted in younger, privately insured patients and demonstrates comparable safety with ACDF. Its advantages include motion preservation, shorter hospitalization, and lower dysphagia rates, though at the expense of higher costs. These findings support the selective use of CDA as a viable alternative to ACDF in appropriately chosen patients. Full article

Mining activities caused heavy metal enrichment in mine soils. Sixty-six soil samplings of 26 mines in the central Tianshan Mountains of China were conducted to reveal heavy metal pollution for the single-factor (P_i), Nemerow comprehensive pollution (P_N), geo-accumulation (I_geo), potential ecological risk (E_i), and health risks. The results indicate that mines in Bayingolin and Aksu exhibit the most severe pollution (P_N = 26.64 and 25.28), characterized by Cd (P_i = 115.18) and As (P_i = 67.20), forming a Cd-As compound pattern. While Ili mines show Ni-Cu co-exceedance, and Turpan mines have lower overall pollution but localized Cd enrichment. Additionally, Cd is identified as the most severe by I_geo, with moderate or higher pollution levels observed in 61.00% of samplings. The E_i assessment revealed that Cd posed the greatest threat, with 100%, 53.80%, and 30.70% of samplings indicating slight, high, and extremely high ecological risk levels, respectively. Health risk assessment indicated that non-carcinogenic risks were dominated by Cr (affecting 19.20% of samplings), while carcinogenic risks were primarily from As (7.70%) and Cd (11.50% of samplings), with Cr exhibiting the highest carcinogenic risk. Furthermore, comparative analysis showed that underground mines led to higher pollution levels (I_geo) for Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn compared to open-pit mines, and metal mines incurred greater heavy metal(loid) contamination than non-metal mines. These findings could provide data for mine soil pollution remediation in the central Tianshan Mountains. Full article

Developing a highly efficient leveler in acid copper electroplating solution is one of the primary tasks necessary for achieving superconformal filling of microvias and interconnections in printed circuit boards (PCBs). Two triethylenediamine-based Gemini levelers, both with terminal quaternary ammonium groups, are synthesized and named as GL1 (C8) after reaction of triethylenediamine with 1,8-dichlorooctane and GL2 (C6 with two C–O linkages) after triethylenediamine with 1,2-bis(2-chloroethoxy) ethane. Electrochemical experiments indicate that at 100 rpm and 1000 rpm GL2 combines with a suppressor and accelerator to exhibit greater potential difference of 23 mV than GL1 in 9 mV for Cu²⁺ reduction, demonstrating that GL2 has a stronger synergistic convection-dependent adsorption (CDA) effect. Microvias copper electroplating experiments confirm that acid copper electroplating solution containing GL2 achieve more effective superconformal void-free filling as it results in FP = 96.1%, while the solution containing GL1 results in FP = 70%. Theoretical calculations indicate that adsorption energy of GL2 is −1037.54 kJ·mol⁻¹, which is lower than GL1 (−1019.06 kJ·mol⁻¹). GL2 displays lower electron density compared to GL1, which facilitates its displacement by accelerator at the bottom. The lower adsorption energy of GL2 suggests the weaker adsorption ability and the stronger CDA behavior. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals underscores the need for novel, naturally derived plant growth regulators (PGRs) with high specificity and minimal environmental impact. In this study, we propose agavenin (AG), a steroidal saponin from Agave species, as a promising candidate and evaluate its potential role in plant growth regulation through a comprehensive in silico approach. Using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, ADME profiling, and FTIR spectroscopy, we analyzed the interaction of AG with three key protein receptors (KPRs) that regulate major hormonal pathways: GA3Ox2 (gibberellin), IAA7 (auxin), and BRI1 (brassinosteroid). AG showed strong and stable binding to GA3Ox2 and IAA7, with affinities comparable to their endogenous ligands, while exhibiting low interaction with BRI1—suggesting receptor selectivity. Molecular dynamics confirmed the stability of AG–GA3Ox2 and AG–IAA7 complexes over 100 ns, and ADME profiling highlighted favorable properties for bioavailability and transport. Collectively, these findings indicate that AG could function as a selective, receptor-targeted modulator of gibberellin and auxin signaling pathways. Beyond demonstrating the molecular basis of AG’s bioactivity, this work establishes a computational foundation for its future experimental validation and potential development as a sustainable, naturally derived growth regulator for plant biotechnology and agriculture. Full article

Graphical analogical reasoning ability is crucial for the cognitive development of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there are currently no methods available to enhance its analogical reasoning potential. This study aims to explore whether computerized dynamic assessment (CDA) can tap into the potential of children with ASD in graphical analogical reasoning, and simultaneously analyze the influence of the initial abilities of children with autism on their analogical reasoning potential. A total of 71 children with ASD were selected for the study and randomly divided into two groups: (1) the experimental group, namely the computerized dynamic assessment group; (2) the control group, namely the non-computerized dynamic assessment group. Both groups went through three stages: pretest, intervention, and posttest. The research results (including performance, time taken, and eye-tracking analysis) show that compared with non-DA, CDA enables more children to reach medium and high levels of learning potential score. CDA can effectively improve the figural analogical reasoning ability of autistic children in the short term, enhance their attention to learning materials, and boost their answering efficiency. However, this promotion effect is difficult to sustain in the long term. Autistic children with the same initial ability levels show significant differences in learning potential after computerized dynamic assessment because everyone has personalized characteristics. Among children with different initial ability levels, those with lower initial abilities benefit more significantly from dynamic assessment. Full article

Background: Child Development Accounts (CDAs) were introduced in the 1990s as a long-term asset-building policy aimed at supporting families in accumulating assets to achieve life goals for their children, including higher education, homeownership, and long-term economic security. Beyond their financial benefits, CDAs have been theorized to strengthen family relationships and improve children’s well-being by fostering a future-oriented mindset and increasing parental involvement in educational activities. Objective: This study investigates the impact of CDAs on parent–child educational engagement and children’s sense of hope for the future, contributing to the growing body of research on the multidimensional benefits of asset-based policies for children’s development. Methods: Data were drawn from the third wave of the SEED for Oklahoma Kids (SEED OK) study, a rigorous, longitudinal, randomized policy experiment in the United States. The analytic sample comprised 1425 families. Dependent variables were parent–child educational engagement and children’s hope. The independent variable was participation in the SEED OK CDA policy experiment. Baseline sociodemographic variables related to children, mothers, and households were controlled for in the analysis. Multivariate linear regressions and path analysis techniques were employed to assess direct and indirect effects. Results: Participation in CDAs was found to improve parent–child educational interactions and enhance children’s hope significantly in the pre-COVID-19 sample. The study’s rigorous design and consistent implementation allowed for establishing causal relationships and long-term developmental benefits. Conclusions: CDAs offer not only financial advantages but also contribute meaningfully to strengthening family dynamics and promoting positive psychosocial outcomes for children, supporting their inclusion in comprehensive social policy frameworks. Full article

Cytidine deaminase (CDA) and deoxycytidine monophosphate deaminase (DCTD) play crucial roles in pyrimidine metabolism, affecting DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression, and the efficacy of numerous nucleoside analog-based chemotherapeutics. Given their significance, accurate and sensitive measurement of their enzymatic activity is paramount for both fundamental biochemical research and clinical applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the methodologies used to assess CDA and DCTD activity, both established and emerging. We systematically categorize and discuss various approaches, including spectrophotometric, fluorimetric, liquid chromatography-based (Ultraviolet-Visible, fluorescence, and mass spectrometry), radiometric, and cell-based assays. For each method, we present its underlying principles, advantages, and limitations. Furthermore, we draw comparisons across the techniques to highlight their suitability for specific research questions. Full article

This paper examines a prospect scenario of adopting Child Development Accounts (CDAs) as a social welfare innovation in Jordan. CDAs are considered as an asset-building policy aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and socio-economic well-being. This paper discovers the feasibility of CDAs that have proven successful in several countries, as their potential in Middle Eastern countries, particularly in Jordan, remains unexplored. The application of CDAs in the social welfare system aims to support sustainable asset accumulation and improve the living standards of diverse segments in Jordan by integrating CDAs within the efforts made by Jordan to achieve financial inclusion, alleviate poverty, and supplement household income through asset development. There are opportunities to implement the program in Jordan, including expanding the scope of microfinance, public–private partnerships, and targeted programs for women, youth, and refugees. However, several challenges may hinder its application, including limited financial literacy, high unemployment rates, income inequality, regulatory obstacles, and difficulties in implementing social reforms. The paper contributes to the debate on social welfare policies adopted in developing countries by providing solutions based on global practices in CDA execution and has implications and recommendations for decision makers to achieve economic development. Future research in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries should target pilot projects and comparative studies to refine CDA strategies. Full article

Theory and empirical examination have shown ways in which households’ asset building for children may affect child well-being, including behavioral and emotional health. Previous research found that Child Development Accounts (CDAs), a universal and lifelong asset-building policy designed to encourage society and families to accumulate assets for children, have positive effects on social-emotional development at around 4 years of age. Using data from a unique longitudinal experiment of the CDA policy in the United States, this study examined the impacts of CDAs on adolescent behavior problems. Adolescent behavior problems were indicated by eight items from a 28-item Behavior Problems Index, focusing on children’s anxiety and disobedience. In the pre-COVID sample (n = 676), results from the regression analysis show that the sum score of child behavior problems is about 0.12 standard deviations higher than that of counterparts in the control group, indicating less frequent behavior problems among children in the treatment group. Regression analyses on two latent measures of anxiety and disobedience showed that CDAs primarily affected children’s anxiety. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the full sample (N = 1712); this could be related to the data-collection disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic. This study provides the first longitudinal follow-up evidence on the effects of CDAs on adolescent behavior problems. The findings show that universal asset building for adolescents reduces behavior problems. Policy implications are discussed. Full article