Search Results (16,855)

Background/Objectives: Dual stimulation starting in the follicular phase allows retrieval of more oocytes than single follicular-phase controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). However, dual stimulation excludes fresh embryo transfer (ET), forcing us to postpone the first ET. If dual stimulation is performed in a reverse way (“reverse”-dual stimulation, R-DS), fresh ET can be performed, potentially reducing the time to pregnancy. The aim of the present study is to investigate reproductive outcomes of R-DS compared to two consecutive COS starting in the follicular phase (2FP-COS). Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 146 poor responders matching Bologna criteria, among which 45 underwent R-DS and 101 received 2FP-COS. In the R-DS group, the first COS began 5 days after ovulation and the second 5 days after oocyte retrieval. The primary outcome was the time to pregnancy. Results: In R-DS, stimulation length, retrieved oocytes, and blastocyst formation rate were comparable in the luteal and follicular COS rounds. Circulating progesterone was always <1.0 ng/mL at ovulation trigger, and fresh ET was performed with a mean endometrial thickness of 9.27 ± 2.28 mm. Comparing R-DS and 2FP-COS, no differences were found in terms of retrieved oocytes and cumulative live birth rate; however, the R-DS group showed significantly shorter time to pregnancy (52.9 ± 11.6 vs. 103.2 ± 23.2 days, p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study suggests that R-DS is not inferior to two consecutive COS starting in the follicular phase in terms of oocytes retrieved and cumulative live birth rate. R-DS allows immediate fresh ET and can significantly shorten the time to pregnancy, a relevant issue for poor responders’ patients. Full article

Background: Coffin–Siris syndrome 12 (CSS12) is a recently described neurodevelopmental disorder caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants in BICRA, a gene encoding a core subunit of the non-canonical BAF (ncBAF) chromatin-remodeling complex. The condition is characterized by developmental delay, hypotonia, hypertrichosis, and joint laxity. However, long-term data remain limited, and systemic manifestations are incompletely defined. Case Description: We report a 22-year-old male with a de novo BICRA frameshift variant, c.2479_2480delinsA (p.Ala827Thrfs*15), previously included in the original cohort reported by Barish et al. Longitudinal follow-up revealed an expanded phenotype extending beyond neurodevelopmental features. Early findings included global developmental delay, growth hormone deficiency, short stature, and joint hypermobility. In adolescence and adulthood, he developed severe intestinal dysmotility requiring total colectomy, recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces from bilateral apical bullous disease, and portal-vein thrombosis, representing visceral and vascular complications not previously emphasized in BICRA-related disorders. The identified BICRA variant truncates the coiled-coil domain critical for BRD9/BRD4 interaction, consistent with a loss-of-function mechanism. The patient’s systemic features suggest that BICRA haploinsufficiency affects not only neurodevelopmental pathways but also smooth-muscle and connective-tissue integrity. Conclusions: This case expands the phenotypic spectrum of BICRA-related CSS12, demonstrating that visceral and vascular involvement can occur alongside neurodevelopmental and connective-tissue features. Recognition of these broader manifestations underscores the need for lifelong multidisciplinary surveillance and contributes to understanding the diverse biological roles of the ncBAF complex in human development. Full article

Background: Sarcopenia is a recognized adverse prognostic factor in many cancers and can be reliably assessed using computed tomography (CT) scans. Its prognostic value in bladder cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess sarcopenia’s impact on survival and compare different measurement thresholds. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study including patients with invasive urothelial carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cystectomy between 2015 and 2021. Sarcopenia was assessed by measuring the Skeletal Muscle Index on CT scans before chemotherapy (BC) and prior to surgery (BS). The primary endpoint was overall survival. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), pathological complete response (pCR), and treatment-related complications. Results: Seventy-four patients were included, the majority receiving the MVAC regimen (71.7%). Forty percent of patients achieved a pCR, 35% experienced disease recurrence, and the median PFS was 25 months. Sarcopenia was observed in 27% of patients BC and in 39% BS. Sarcopenia was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality: BC according to the definition by Martin et al. (HR 3.38; 95% CI [1.25–9.12]; p = 0.016) and Fearon et al. (HR 4.03; 95% CI [1.13–14.3]; p = 0.031); and BS according to Martin et al. (HR 3.7; 95% CI [1.12–12.2]; p = 0.032) and Fearon et al. (HR 6.08; 95% CI [1.48–24.9]; p = 0.012). Sarcopenia was an independent risk factor of shorter PFS. Conclusions: Sarcopenia represent an independent and reproducible prognostic factor for mortality in patients with bladder cancer. The study is the first study to compare threshold values at different time points. Full article

Coastal shipping plays a critical role in meeting maritime decarbonization targets under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS); however, operators currently lack robust tools to forecast route-specific carbon intensity and evaluate the causal benefits of fuel switching. This study developed a distribution-free causal forecasting framework for voyage-level Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) intensity using an enriched panel of 1440 real-world voyages across four Nigerian coastal routes (2022–2024). We employed a physics-informed monotonic Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) model trained under a strict leave-one-route-out (LORO) protocol, integrated with split-conformal prediction for uncertainty quantification and Causal Forests for estimating heterogeneous treatment effects. The model predicted emission intensity on completely unseen corridors with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 40.7 kg CO₂/nm, while 90% conformal prediction intervals achieved 100% empirical coverage. While the global average effect of switching from heavy fuel oil to diesel was negligible (≈−0.07 kg CO₂/nm), Causal Forests revealed significant heterogeneity, with effects ranging from −74 g to +29 g CO₂/nm depending on route conditions. Economically, targeted diesel use becomes viable only when carbon prices exceed ~100 USD/tCO₂. These findings demonstrate that effective coastal decarbonization requires moving beyond static baselines to uncertainty-aware planning and targeted, route-specific fuel strategies rather than uniform fleet-wide policies. Full article

Chronotype, an individual’s preferred timing of sleep and activity within a 24 h cycle, significantly influences metabolic health, muscle function, and body composition. This review explores the interplay between circadian rhythms, hormonal fluctuations, and behavioral patterns—such as nutrition timing, physical activity and sleep quality—and their impact on muscle mass, strength, and quality. Evening chronotypes (ETs) are consistently associated with poorer sleep, irregular eating habits, reduced physical activity, and increased risk of obesity, sarcopenia and metabolic disorders compared to morning types (MTs). At the molecular level, disruptions in circadian clock gene expression (e.g., BMAL1, PER2, CRY1) affect protein synthesis, insulin sensitivity, and energy metabolism, contributing to muscle degradation and impaired recovery. The review highlights critical components—targeting chrono-nutrition, sleep quality, and exercise timing—to align lifestyle behaviors with circadian biology, thereby preserving muscle health and improving overall metabolic outcomes. Full article

In the present study, ten type-V natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were synthesized and comprehensively characterized, based on urea as a hydrogen-bond acceptor and three different groups of donors—glycerol, organic carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates. Their physicochemical parameters, spectral characteristics (FTIR), surface tension, and solvatochromic properties were determined using Nile Red, betaine 30, and Kamlet–Taft parameters. The densities of the systems (1.243–1.361 g/cm³) and the high values of molar refraction and polarizability indicate the formation of highly organized hydrogen-bonded networks, with the incorporated carboxyl and hydroxyl groups enhancing the structural compactness of the NADES. Surface tension varied significantly (46.9–80.3 mN/m), defining systems with low, medium, and high polarity. Solvatochromic analysis revealed high E_NR, E_T(30), and E_T^N values, positioning all NADES as highly polar media, comparable or close to water, but with distinguishable H-bond donating/accepting ability depending on the third component. The normalized Kamlet–Taft parameters show that the NADES cover a broad solvent spectrum—from highly H-bond accepting to strongly H-bond donating or dipolar systems—highlighting the potential for fine-tuning the solvent according to target applications. The obtained results highlight the applicability of these NADESs as green, tunable media for the extraction and solvation of bioactive compounds. Full article

Benthic marine diatoms are speciose but vastly underexplored eukaryotic microbes. Diatoms are identified by their intricately ornamented silica cell walls known as frustules, following removal of all organic matter with acid or strong oxidants. When living samples of diatom communities are examined, it is impossible to detect all the species present, as rare ones are easily obscured among the other materials present, and taxonomic identification of living diatoms can be uncertain or impossible, even with isolated cells. These features of diatom taxonomy have important consequences for biogeography, which we illustrate and discuss using new observations from two species. Despite being the mainstay for diatom descriptions, species described by light microscopy (LM) alone may conflate two species or (as in the case presented) lead to spurious new species; both need ultrastructural study to ascertain taxonomic and geographical boundaries. The species studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) over the last 45 years by Stephens & Gibson, Pennesi et al., and Lobban under the name of Mastogloia hustedtii is shown to be synonymous with M. grunovii. The former became known in the SEM era to bear both pseudoconopea (longitudinal flaps parallel to the sternum, invisible in LM) and silica plaques on the inner margins of the partecta (chambers on the valvocopulae), with the latter supposedly bearing neither, but there is a single, pantropical/Mediterranean species encompassed in the original description of M. grunovii. A new ultrastructural feature for the genus is reported from this species: marginal chambers formed by laminae over the mantle areolae and the first 2–3 areolae on the valve face. The second species studied, M. meisteri, had been reported a few times from one region based on very rare frustules, which do not meet the first criterion for biogeography: where did they live? Although we, too, did not observe living cells, the number of specimens present is evidence for a living population epiphytic on a Virgin Islands coral reef. The ultrastructure of this species is also shown for the first time. Because absence of evidence is overwhelming in microbial biogeography, the best we can say is that this species is potentially a regional endemic. Full article

This study examines how Empowering (EL), Responsible (RL), and Ethical Leadership (EtL) relate to employees’ perceptions of Decent Work (DW) in a Portuguese public university, using the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) framework. DW, defined by dignity, equity, and security, was assessed across seven dimensions. A total of 226 faculty, researchers, and staff completed validated measures of EL, RL, EtL, and DW. Results showed moderate to strong positive correlations between leadership styles and DW, especially for Fundamental Principles and Values at Work (DW1), Fulfilling and Productive Work (DW3), and Health and Safety (DW7). EL displayed the strongest associations with fairness, inclusion, and psychological safety, while RL and EtL were more closely linked to accountability and ethical climate. Analyses by role and education revealed systematic asymmetries, with leaders and highly educated employees reporting more favorable experiences. High intercorrelations among leadership styles (r ≈ 0.87–0.90) suggest an integrated values-based leadership pattern. In contrast, weaker associations with structural dimensions such as workload and social protection highlight the limits of leadership influence on DW. These findings advance research on DW in higher education and underscore leadership development as a lever for institutional justice and well-being. Full article

This work explores a novel and efficient synthetic approach to a new class of boron cluster derivatives via the nucleophilic addition of stabilized phosphorus ylides, Ph₃P=CHR² (R² = COOEt, CN), to a series of nitrilium salts of the closo-decaborate anion, [2-B₁₀H₉NCR¹]⁻ (R¹ = Me, Et, ⁿPr, ⁱPr, Ph). The reaction proceeds regio- and stereospecifically, affording a diverse range of iminoacyl phosphorane derivatives, [2-B₁₀H₉NH=C(R¹)C(PPh₃)R²]⁻, in high isolated yields (up to 95%). The obtained compounds (10 examples) were isolated as tetrabutylammonium or tetraphenylphosphonium salts and thoroughly characterized by multinuclear NMR (¹¹B, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P), high-resolution mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The reaction feasibility was found to be strongly influenced by the steric hindrance of the R¹ group. Furthermore, the practical utility of these novel hybrids was demonstrated by employing the [2-B₁₀H₉NH=C(CH₃)C(COOC₂H₅)=PPh₃]⁻ anion as a highly effective membrane-active component in ion-selective electrodes. The developed tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺) sensor exhibited a near-Nernstian response, a low detection limit of 3 × 10⁻⁸ M, and excellent selectivity over a range of common inorganic and organic cations, showcasing the potential of closo-borate-based ionophores in analytical chemistry. Full article

This systematic review maps and compares experimental strategies for estimating residual expansion in concrete elements affected by internal expansive reactions (IER), with emphasis on cores extracted from in-service structures. It adopts an operational taxonomy distinguishing achieved expansion (deformation already occurred, inferred through DRI/SDT or back-analysis), potential expansion (upper limit under free conditions), and residual expansion (remaining portion estimated under controlled temperature, T, and relative humidity, RH), in addition to the free vs. restrained condition and the diagnostic vs. prognostic purpose. Seventy-eight papers were included (PRISMA), of which 14 tested cores. The limited number of core-based studies is itself a key outcome of the review, revealing that most residual expansion assessments rely on adaptations of laboratory ASR/DEF protocols rather than on standardized methods specifically developed for concrete cores extracted from in-service structures. ASR predominated, with emphasis on accelerated free tests ASTM/CSA/CPT (often at 38 °C and high RH) for reactivity characterization, and on Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (LCPC) No. 44 and No. 67 protocols or Concrete Prism Test (CPT) adaptations to estimate residual expansion in cores. Significant heterogeneity was observed in temperature, humidity, test media, specimen dimensions, and alkali leaching treatment, as well as discrepancies between free and restrained conditions, limiting comparability and lab-to-field transferability. A minimum reporting checklist is proposed (type of IER; element history; restraint condition; T/RH/medium; anti-leaching strategy; schedule; instrumentation; uncertainty; decision criteria; raw data) and priority gaps are highlighted: standardization of core protocols, leaching control, greater use of simulated restraint, and integration of DRI/SDT–expansion curves to anchor risk estimates and guide rehabilitation decisions in real structures. Full article