Search Results (491)

Straw burning is a major source of regional air pollution. However, its reliable remote sensing detection faces problems in distinguishing agricultural fires from non-agricultural thermal anomalies, adequately leveraging burning seasonality, and overcoming the scarcity of pixel-level annotations. To comprehensively address these issues, this study proposes an end-to-end framework for straw burning identification that integrates spatio-temporal weighting and semi-supervised learning. The framework introduces a data-driven spatial weight optimization method to automatically learn discriminative weights for diverse land cover types (e.g., farmland, industry), replacing subjective empirical settings. Furthermore, a temporal weighting model, developed using Kernel Density Estimation, dynamically adjusts classification confidence according to historical burning seasonality, enhancing recall during peak seasons while suppressing off-season false positives. Finally, an adapted Dual-Backbone Dynamic Mutual Training (DB-DMT) strategy collaboratively leverages both limited labeled (24.5%) and abundant unlabeled (75.5%) high-resolution imagery, significantly improving model generalization in label-scarce scenarios. Validation across five representative regions of China demonstrated the framework’s superior performance, achieving a semantic segmentation mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) improvement of 3.33% (to 71.92%) and increasing precision in Henan from 95.21% to 97.71%. Crucially, the framework effectively reduced the off-season false positive rate (FPR) from 5.14% to a mere 0.23% in highly industrialized regions like Tianjin. By systematically mitigating both spatial geolocation bias and seasonal phenology confusion, our approach offers a robust and scalable solution for straw burning monitoring and a transferable paradigm for other environmental remote sensing applications. Full article

Chronic osteoarthritis (COA) is a progressive and degenerative condition that causes joint inflammation and pain, often requiring long-term pharmacological management. Conventional treatments may lead to adverse effects, tolerance, and limited analgesic efficacy. This randomized, double-blind clinical trial evaluated the analgesic potential of a full-spectrum Cannabis sativa oil extract administered orally twice daily over six weeks in dogs with COA. Subjects were assigned to three groups: Cannabis, Placebo, and Control. Pain was assessed using the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) and the Canine Osteoarthritis Staging Tool (COAST), which ranges from 0 to 4. The Cannabis extract (46.4 mg/mL) total cannabinoids: Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), and Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), were administered using a cautious dose escalation protocol. Treatment began at ~0.1 mg/kg every 12 h, increasing by one drop (1.16 mg) every 72 h. This gradual titration continued until reaching the maximum tolerated dose (2 mg/kg every 12 h), which was maintained for the final two weeks. The protocol was designed to minimize adverse effects and allow close monitoring, especially in geriatric or clinically fragile dogs. By day 28, when the DMT was reached, the Cannabis group showed a 39.6% reduction in CBPI scores, compared to 24.7% in the Placebo group and a 1.6% increase in the Control group. COAST scores improved from level 4 to level 3 in 55.5% of dogs in the Cannabis group, with no changes observed in the other groups. We hypothesize that the co-administration of carprofen, meloxicam, or pregabalin with a full-spectrum Cannabis sativa extract—rich in acidic cannabinoids and terpenes—enhances pain relief and mobility in dogs with COA more effectively than conventional therapies alone. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an oily full-spectrum Cannabis sativa extract as an adjunctive treatment to NSAIDs in twenty-seven dogs diagnosed with COA, and to compare pain intensity across three treatments groups. Full article

Chronic exposure to heavy metals poses significant health risks. This study analyzed the concentrations of toxic (Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni) and essential (Cu, Zn, Se, Mn) elements in autopsy samples (the frontal pole area of the brain, the 6th intercostal space of the liver, and lungs (average of left and right lung samples) from 45 residents of South-Eastern Poland using ICP-MS. The aim was to determine the average body burden and organ-specific accumulation in a moderately industrialized region. HDBSCAN clustering revealed highly homogeneous elemental profiles, suggesting a unifying influence of local environmental factors. The liver acted as a metabolic hub, showing preferential sequestration (p < 0.0001) of essential elements (Zn, Se, Mn, Cu) regulated by homeostatic mechanisms. Toxic metals exhibited ‘metabolic trap’ patterns, particularly Cd and Pb in the liver and Cr in the lungs, due to their long biological half-lives. Strong positive correlations (Se–Zn, Se–Cu) indicated integrated antioxidant responses, while toxic pairs (Cr–Ni, Pb–Cd) suggested shared exposure pathways and molecular mimicry via transporters such as DMT1. Results confirmed long-term bioaccumulation, with toxic elements in the brain remaining below 0.25 µg/g. In the lungs, the accumulation hierarchy (Pb > Mn > Cd > Cr) reflected inhalation exposure. These findings emphasize the role of organ-specific sequestration in assessing long-term environmental exposure. Full article

In the intelligent operation and maintenance of industrial equipment, labeling failure data remains a challenging task due to its high cost and low efficiency. Although incorporating a large amount of unlabeled data alongside limited labeled samples can partially alleviate this “labeling bottleneck,” the performance and robustness of models still heavily depend on the scale and quality of annotated data, which often leads to generalization issues in real industrial scenarios. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an unsupervised fault diagnosis method based on an efficient domain adaptation model named E-DANNMK. This approach reduces reliance on manually labeled fault data, thereby mitigating annotation-related issues such as high cost and potential bias. The E-DANNMK model integrates residual networks, an efficient channel attention mechanism, and domain adversarial neural networks to improve both feature discriminability and cross-domain adaptability. To validate its effectiveness, experiments were conducted on two major bearing fault datasets. The results demonstrate that the proposed E-DANNMK model achieves an average diagnostic accuracy of 94.21%, outperforming mainstream domain adaptation methods—including CDAN, CORAL, DANN, CNN-Transformer, DMT and DANN-MK—by a margin ranging from 3.12% to 7.15%. Full article

Background: Oral iron supplementation or food fortification is essential for managing or preventing iron deficiency but often causes gastrointestinal side effects. While solubility has traditionally been considered a requirement for iron uptake via the DMT1 transporter, recent evidence shows that insoluble iron can also be absorbed through endocytosis, raising questions about particle size and epithelial responses. Methods: Human intestinal cell lines (Hutu-80 and Caco-2) were exposed to physiologically relevant but elevated iron levels (0.5 mM Fe, 48 h) as ferric pyrophosphate, ferrous fumarate (both prone to precipitation), and soluble ferric EDTA. Cell survival and COX-2 protein were quantified by ELISA, solubility by ICP-OES, and particle size in cell culture medium by dynamic light scattering analyses. Results: Ferric pyrophosphate (0.62–3.8 μm) markedly increased COX-2 expression in Hutu-80 cells (254% ± 37%, n = 3, p = 4.11 × 10⁻⁵) and in Caco-2 cells (78% ± 8%, n = 3, p = 0.01) compared to the control. Ferrous fumarate (237–866 nm) also induced COX-2, but only in Hutu-80 cells (62% ± 11%, n = 3, p = 0.04), whereas ferric EDTA showed no effect in either cell line. COX-2 induction was associated with larger particles in the medium (≥237 nm), whereas smaller particles (<146 nm) were not. Conclusions: Particle size appears to be a critical determinant of cell survival and iron-induced epithelial COX-2 expression. Iron compounds that present as both soluble and particulate forms may optimize bioavailability, but controlling aggregate size (<146 nm) could reduce inflammatory signaling. These findings may have important implications for cell culture systems and warrant in vivo validation in iron supplemental studies. Full article

In recent years, psychopharmacology has experienced a significant challenge, highlighting a renewed and strong scientific interest in psychedelics as breakthrough therapies for mental disorders. Psychedelics can influence cognitive and emotional processes, showing solid therapeutic potential, particularly in treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. Amongst the most promising compounds, ayahuasca and its main psychoactive component, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), have received considerable attention. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally prepared from the liana Banisteriopsis caapi and the leaves of Psychotria viridis. Its psychoactive properties derive mainly from DMT, while β-carbolines, which act as monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitors, prevent the metabolic degradation of DMT, enhancing its bioavailability and allowing oral administration. In contrast, in monotherapy, DMT or its analog 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is generally administered via alternative routes, like inhalation, intranasal, or intravenous delivery. DMT is primarily a serotonin (5-HT)2A receptor partial agonist, whereas 5-MeO-DMT has a higher affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor compared to 5-HT2A, though other receptor targets are engaged, fostering neuroplasticity and a reorganization of brain networks involved in perception, cognition, and mood regulation. Despite limited clinical trials, current evidence offers an optimistic outlook on DMT and 5-MeO-DMT efficacy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), whereas evidence for other mental disorders studies is still preliminary. There are four phase II studies with 5-MeO-DMT and one with DMT for TRD, while there are two phase II studies with DMT fumarate for MDD. Beyond their therapeutic potential, psychedelics also represent powerful tools for exploring the human mind, offering valuable insights into brain function and mental health. Full article

Glaucoma is increasingly recognized as an ischemic neurodegenerative disorder that extends beyond elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) to involve complex vascular, metabolic, and inflammatory mechanisms. Retinal ganglion cells are particularly vulnerable to ischemia–reperfusion injury, oxidative stress, and chronic neuroinflammation, leading to progressive disconnection from central visual pathways. Current therapies primarily target IOP reduction but fail to address ischemia-driven neurodegeneration or to restore lost neuronal connectivity. Ischemia triggers excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and a maladaptive inflammatory response involving activated microglia and astrocytes, perpetuating neuronal injury and suppressing intrinsic regenerative capacity. Thus, restoring neural plasticity and mitigating neuroinflammation represent key unmet therapeutic needs. Psychoplastogens are a class of compounds capable of rapidly enhancing structural and functional neuroplasticity and have recently emerged as promising multitarget agents. Compounds such as ketamine, psilocybin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and some newly synthesized non-hallucinogenic analogs act through convergent signaling pathways involving BDNF–TrkB–mTOR, promoting dendritic growth, synaptogenesis, and glial modulation. Beyond their neurotrophic effects, psychoplastogens seem to exert potent immunomodulatory actions. In this review we will explore the interplay between ischemia, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and impaired plasticity in glaucoma, integrating mechanistic insights from cerebral ischemia. We discuss emerging preclinical evidence supporting psychoplastogens as neurorestorative and anti-inflammatory agents, propose their potential application in ocular ischemic neurodegeneration, and outline translational challenges for future studies. Full article

Background: Creative Expressive Therapies, including Art Therapy and Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT), are increasingly integrated as adjunctive interventions in the treatment of complex psychiatric conditions. However, comparative evidence regarding their differential effects across diagnostic groups remains limited. Methods: This exploratory quasi-experimental 2 × 2 factorial study compared Art Therapy and DMT, delivered as adjuncts to treatment as usual, in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and eating disorders (EDs) (N = 36). Participants received ten weekly group sessions. Changes in perceived well-being, emotional tension regulation, and physical tension regulation were assessed at baseline and post-intervention using self-report measures. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and linear mixed-effects models. Results: Significant pre–post improvements were observed across all outcome domains, indicating a transdiagnostic effect of Creative Expressive Therapies. Differential response patterns emerged according to clinical profile and therapeutic modality. DMT was associated with relatively greater improvements in physical tension regulation in patients with EDs, whereas Art Therapy showed relatively greater effects on emotional tension regulation in patients with FEP. Conclusions: Within the limitations of an exploratory, non-randomized design and the use of non-validated outcome measures, the findings suggest modality-specific patterns of response to Creative Expressive Therapies. These results should be considered hypothesis-generating and support further investigation through adequately powered randomized controlled trials employing validated clinical and neurobiological outcomes. Full article

Post-COVID syndrome comprises persistent neuropsychiatric manifestations for more than 12 weeks after recovery from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet its underlying pathophysiology is unclear. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death with three hallmarks, iron dysregulation, antioxidant failure, and lipid peroxidation, seems to be involved in COVID-19/post-COVID-19 pathophysiology. Here, we administered the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 subunit intranasally to K18-hACE2 transgenic mice and quantified ferroptotic marker protein expression in four brain regions (hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and olfactory bulb) at 2, 6, and 12 weeks post-administration, alongside ultrastructural assessment by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) that was limited to the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Two-way ANOVA revealed region- and time-dependent modulation of iron-handling, antioxidant, and lipid peroxidation markers. In the hippocampus, FPN1 was significantly increased at 2 weeks, while TFR1 showed a time-dependent pattern without significant week-specific differences. In the prefrontal cortex, DMT1 significantly increased at 2 weeks, and GPx4 showed an overall treatment effect with a trend of increase at 6 weeks. The cerebellum exhibited early increases in FPN1 and GPx4 and a delayed increase in MDA-conjugated proteins. In the olfactory bulb, FPN1 increased at 12 weeks, with GPx4 showing an overall treatment effect and an early trend of decrease. TEM identified ferroptosis-consistent features in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex at all time points. These findings suggest that spike protein exposure may be associated with time-dependent and brain-region-specific alterations of ferroptosis-related markers. These preliminary findings are based on a limited sample size, which needs further research to elucidate the clinical implication and to study the mechanism in more depth as well as future validation with pharmacological inhibitors. Full article

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of dietary cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) supplementation on diarrhea, growth performance, and intestinal development in post-weaning piglets. Twenty-six piglets weaned at 21 days of age (d 21) with similar body weights were randomly assigned to three treatments: a control group (n = 10), a low-dose CoCl₂ group (1 mg/kg of diet; n = 8) and a high dose CoCl₂ group (2 mg/kg of diet, n = 8). Piglets were housed individually and fed the experimental diets for 28 days, with a dietary transition at day 15. During the early post-weaning period (d0 to d14), dietary CoCl₂ supplementation was associated with favorable trends in growth performance parameters, including ADG (average daily gain: linear, 0.05 < p < 0.1) and gain to feed ratio (linear, p < 0.05), as well as reduced fecal scores (Linear, p < 0.05). However, during the later post-weaning period (d15 to d28), increasing dietary CoCl₂ levels were unfavorable trends in feed intake (Linear, p < 0.05) and ADG (Linear, 0.05 < p < 0.1). At the intestinal level, CoCl₂ supplementation was associated with dose-related changes in intestinal morphology, epithelial cell differentiation, and luminal pH. Alterations were observed in duodenal crypt depth (CD) and ileal villus height (VH), and duodenal VH/CD (Linear, p < 0.05), without significant effects on ileal epithelial proliferation and apoptosis (p > 0.1). Changes in the numbers of goblet cells in villi (Quadratic, p < 0.05) and crypt (Linear, p < 0.05), and enteroendocrine cells (Quadratic, p < 0.05) in crypt exhibited dose-dependent trends. In addition, with the increase in the CoCl₂ concentration, the expressions of genes related to nutrient transporters (DMT1, GLUT2, and SGLT1) and metabolism (HIF-1α, FBP1, and FBP2), as well as those related to the NOTCH signaling pathway (LGR5, ATOH1, HES1, and NOTCH2), showed a linear decrease (Liner, p < 0.05). This was the case except for LDHA and DLL4 (Liner, p < 0.05). The expression of the former was the lowest in the high-dose group, while that of the latter was the lowest in the low-dose group. In vitro, CoCl₂ exposure was associated with reduced organoid budding rates (Quadratic, p < 0.01), the budding numbers (Linear, p < 0.05) per organoid, and altered gene expression of SGLT1 and CHGA (Linear, p < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with CoCl₂ exhibited dose- and time-dependent trends in weaned piglets. CoCl₂ supplementation during the early post-weaning period (two weeks after weaning) was associated with favorable trends in growth performance and diarrhea, whereas prolonged supplementation (4 weeks after weaning) or higher dietary level (2 mg/kg of diet) were associated with unfavorable trends in growth performance and intestinal development. These findings suggest that CoCl₂ may have potential as a short-term (two weeks after weaning), low-level (below 2 mg/kg diet) nutritional supplement, while caution is warranted regarding long-term supplementation or higher dietary inclusion levels. Full article

Background: Environmental factors are known to influence the clinical presentation of patients with multiple sclerosis. This study aims to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis patients treated at two diverse geographical settings. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational cohort study was conducted in two MS centers: the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center (DMSC) in Copenhagen, Denmark and the Regional MS Center in Târgu Mureș, Romania. We compared patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics between MS centers, including sex distribution, current age, MS onset age, latest EDSS scores, symptomatology at disease onset, MS phenotype and type of ongoing DMT. Results: In both cohorts, sex distribution was similar, with females constituting 69.2% in DMSC, and 65.7% in Târgu Mureș. Pyramidal symptoms at MS onset were predominant among Targu Mures patients (32.7%), while sensory symptoms were more frequent among DMSC patients (33%). Progressive forms of MS were more prevalent in Târgu Mureș (22.6%) compared to DMSC (9.9%). High-efficacy DMTs were on use by 58.3% patients in DMSC and only by 29.4% patients in Târgu Mureș, who were mostly on low-efficacy DMTs (54.4% vs. 12.4% in DMSC). Conclusions: The study highlights both shared and distinct characteristics of MS patients treated in these two centers. These findings underscore the importance of regional considerations in the management and treatment of MS. Full article

The treatment of central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune diseases has evolved from broad immunosuppression toward targeted disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). While current DMTs effectively control inflammatory activity in many patients, unmet needs remain, including persistent compartmentalised CNS pathology, limited tissue penetration, and the cumulative burden of chronic therapy. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a novel “living” immunotherapy capable of antigen-specific cellular depletion. Although currently approved only for B-cell malignancies, CAR T-cells are increasingly being explored in CNS autoimmunity leveraging their capacity for autonomous cytotoxicity and expected access to immune cells within protected CNS niches following a potentially single intervention. In this review, we examine CAR T-cells in the context of CNS-autoimmunity, we outline principles derived from oncologic applications, assess current DMTs, their limitations and side effects, and define parameters where CAR T-cells may offer added value. We discuss biological and practical requirements for broader clinical application, as currently they are investigated only for the very severe and refractory cases where all alternative treatments have failed. We further review the plasticity of CAR constructs, distinguishing clinically advanced platforms from early proof-of-concept approaches. Finally, we summarise clinical experience from 15 patients with CNS autoimmunity treated with CAR T-cells and review ongoing or planned trials that include such patients. We conclude that CAR T-cell therapy remains investigational for severe, treatment-refractory disease, with future applicability dependent on demonstrable efficacy, safety, cost, and feasibility beyond existing DMTs. Full article

Understanding mechanisms of asphalt in the process of natural aging is crucial for predicting its long-term durability and optimizing performance under diverse environmental conditions. Despite its importance, the microstructural and micromechanical changes induced by natural aging remain poorly understood, particularly under varying climatic influences. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the effects of natural aging on asphalt’s microscopic properties and identifying key indicators that govern its degradation. Asphalt samples were subjected to natural aging across five climatically distinct regions over 6, 12, and 18 months. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to characterize surface roughness, adhesion forces, and DMT modulus, while correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to identify relationships among micromechanical indicators and streamline the dataset. The results reveal that natural aging induces irreversible transformations in asphalt’s microstructure, driven by the combined effects of temperature, UV radiation, humidity, and oxygen. These processes promote the evolution of “Bee structures,” increase surface roughness, and accelerate phase separation, alongside chemical modifications such as oxidation and polymerization, leading to progressive material hardening and stiffness. Significant regional and temporal variations in adhesion forces and DMT modulus were observed, reflecting the cumulative impact of environmental factors on asphalt’s aging dynamics. Correlation analysis demonstrated strong associations between surface roughness and “Bee structure” area, while mechanical properties such as stiffness and adhesion were largely decoupled from morphological features. Environmental factors interact in complex ways to drive asphalt aging. Humidity enhances adhesion and stiffness via water-induced capillary forces, while temperature reduces surface roughness and adhesion through molecular reorganization. UV radiation accelerates oxidative degradation, promoting surface erosion and stiffness loss, while altitude modulates these dynamics by influencing temperature and UV exposure. Full article

Iron deficiency anemia remains a global nutritional challenge due to the low bioavailability and side effects of conventional inorganic iron supplements. A novel organic iron supplement, oyster peptide ferrous chelate (OP-Fe), was prepared using oyster peptides as ligands. Its preparation process was optimized via single-factor experiments and statistical methods with the optimal conditions identified as 1% peptide concentration, 35 °C chelation temperature, 3.91:1 peptide-to-iron ratio, 1.49% ascorbic acid concentration and pH 6.05. Under these conditions, the chelate’s iron content reached 15.44 ± 0.18 g/kg. Multi-dimensional characterization confirmed that Fe²⁺ formed stable complexes with oyster peptides through carboxyl, amino, and imidazole groups. In vitro Caco-2 cell experiments showed OP-Fe achieved a maximum iron absorption rate of 76.07%, significantly higher than ferrous sulfate (52.39%). In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in mice demonstrated higher iron accumulation in serum and small intestine for OP-Fe. Key iron transport-related genes (PEPT1, TFR1, DMT1) were upregulated, contributing to enhanced absorption. OP-Fe exhibits favorable structural stability and bioavailability, holding potential as an efficient iron supplement. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), are becoming more prevalent and still lack effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). However, translational efficiency remains critically low. For example, a ClinicalTrials.gov analysis of AD programs (2002–2012) estimated ~99.6% attrition, while PD programs (1999–2019) achieved an overall success rate of ~14.9%. In vitro platforms are assessed, ranging from immortalized neuronal lines and primary cultures to human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons/glia, neuron–glia co-cultures (including neuroinflammation paradigms), 3D spheroids, organoids, and blood–brain barrier (BBB)-on-chip systems. Complementary in vivo toxin, pharmacological, and genetic models are discussed for systems-level validation and central nervous system (CNS) exposure realism. The therapeutic synthesis focuses on AD, covering symptomatic drugs, anti-amyloid immunotherapies, tau-directed approaches, and repurposed drug classes that target metabolism, neuroinflammation, and network dysfunction. This review links experimental models to translational decision-making, focusing primarily on AD and providing a brief comparative context from other NDDs. It also covers emerging targeted protein degradation (PROTACs). Key priorities include neuroimmune/neurovascular human models, biomarker-anchored adaptive trials, mechanism-guided combination DMTs, and CNS PK/PD-driven development for brain-directed degraders. Full article