Search Results (5,324)

Background: Driving requires the integration of visual search, attentional processing, cue, and response inhibition. Driving experience and regular driving exposure may influence these cognitive processes, but their relative effects across specific cognitive performance remain unclear. Methods: This cross-sectional inter-group comparative study included 47 subjects—23 experienced and 24 non-experienced drivers. Participants completed visual search, Posner cueing, and stop-signal paradigms using PsyToolkit. Group differences were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric tests, with correlations assessing associations between driving experience and cognitive performance. Results: Experienced drivers showed a lower mean SSRT than non-experienced drivers (226.9 ± 20.1 ms vs. 237.3 ± 10.9 ms; unadjusted p = 0.028), with the difference reduced after Holm correction (adjusted p = 0.056). Mean Go reaction times were similar between groups. In the cueing task, experienced drivers showed reduced reaction times for both valid (~410 ms) and invalid (~470 ms) trials (U = 125.5, p = 0.001), indicating more efficient attentional reorienting. Visual Search Time was also lower in experienced than non-experienced drivers (median 950 ms vs. 1050 ms; p = 0.238). Conclusion: Driving experience was associated with faster inhibitory responses and better attentional efficiency, with smaller differences in visual search performance. These findings suggest experience-related cognitive adaptation and support the inclusion of attention and response-inhibition training in non-experienced driver education. Full article

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder that may involve alterations in the brain–gut-microbiome (BGM) axis, a bidirectional network linking the brain, immune system, and gut microbiota. While animal studies suggest that disruption and restoration of the BGM axis influence TBI-related changes and recovery, respectively, human evidence remains fragmented. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched through 2025; Global Health was additionally searched for Aim 2. This study had two aims: (1) to assess gut microbiome changes following TBI and (2) to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation in TBI patients. Data were synthesized using random-effects meta-analyses, and risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa and Cochrane tools. Results: Five studies (Aim 1) and fifteen studies (Aim 2) met the inclusion criteria. TBI was associated with shifts in microbial composition, including reduced abundance of Prevotella (p < 0.001), and Parabacteroides merdae (p = 0.038), whereas overall alpha diversity did not differ significantly. Probiotic supplementation improved neurological outcomes [Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS): MD = 2.25, 95% CI 1.34–3.16, p < 0.001] and functional outcomes [Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS): MD = 1.40, 95% CI 1.12–1.69, p < 0.001], and reduced inflammatory markers, including TNF-α (p = 0.006), IL-6 (p < 0.001), procalcitonin (p < 0.001), and D-lactic acid levels (p < 0.001). High heterogeneity was observed across several outcomes, with the GOS showing moderate heterogeneity. Neurocognitive outcomes were evaluated qualitatively and were not pooled in a meta-analysis because of limited available data. Conclusions: The findings of this analysis suggest that TBI is associated with alterations in the gut microbiome and that microbiota-targeted therapies involving probiotics may improve inflammatory, gut-barrier, neurological, and functional outcomes. Although substantial heterogeneity was observed across several outcomes, particularly the GCS, the available evidence supports further investigation of microbiome-directed interventions as adjunctive strategies for TBI management. Standardized multicenter trials are warranted. PROSPERO: CRD420251135998. Full article

Objective: Cytokinin signaling plays an important role in plant growth and development, but cytokinin two-component signaling system (TCS) genes have not been comprehensively reported in conifers. We aimed to identify and analyze the TCS family in Pinus tabuliformis and explore their roles in drought response. Methods: PtTCS genes were identified by BLASTP using Arabidopsis TCS sequences and validated by conserved domain analysis. Phylogenetic, structural, cis-element, GO enrichment, and expression profiling under drought were performed, with qRT-PCR validation. Results: Twenty-two PtTCS genes were identified (three CHKs, four HPs, eight type-A RRs, seven type-B RRs). Most proteins retained canonical domains, though some key residue variations were noted. Five genes (PtCHK2, PtHP1, PtHP4, PtRR2, PtRR4) were significantly upregulated under drought, opposite to the pattern in angiosperms, and rewatering restored expression. Conclusions: The drought-induced upregulation in P. tabuliformis contrasts with angiosperm downregulation, suggesting a distinct cytokinin-mediated drought response in conifers. This study provides the first comprehensive TCS inventory in a conifer and a foundation for functional studies in gymnosperms. Full article

As part of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Galileo uses the NeQuick-G algorithm to provide ionospheric correction to single-frequency users. Within the framework of a research project, an improved Galileo single-frequency ionospheric correction approach has been proposed by incorporating regional ionospheric characteristics into the algorithm rather than relying solely on a global ionospheric model. The proposed algorithm that was designed to operate in long-term, short-term, and real-time mode has been evaluated over Cyprus and is going to be tested over a broader European region. The current study presents results from the real-time mode improvement of the algorithm over Nicosia, Cyprus. The real-time mode approach facilitates the local adjustment of Committee Consultative for Ionospheric Radiowave propagation (CCIR) files and the Az ionization level, which are crucial elements that control the ionospheric electron density profile in NeQuick-G. The Nicosia-specific CCIR maps are adjusted by using auto-scaled real time (every 5 min) foF2 and M(3000)F2 ionospheric characteristics from the Cyprus Ionosonde. The Az value is optimized using vertical total electron content (VTEC) measurements from a local GNSS receiver obtained from the previous day. This paper demonstrates the performance of this real-time improvement method, tested over Nicosia, Cyprus, using a retrospective dataset spanning 2014–2023. Results from the proposed real-time approach are in better agreement with the measured GNSS VTEC, compared to standard NeQuick-G operation, especially under high-solar-activity periods. Full article

To address the challenges of high ore loss and brittle splitting of natural pillars in gently dipping and horizontal thin-vein extraction using room-and-pillar mining, a continuous, pillar-free technology that replaces natural pillars with expandable prop group, designated the room and expandable prop mining method, is investigated. In this study, the ground pressure control mechanism exerted by the expandable prop group on the stope roof is theoretically framed. Employing Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC) numerical modeling in tandem with on-site trials, the deformation, load-bearing response, and ultimate failure of both natural pillars and expandable props, together with the progressive fracturing of the stope roof, during the extraction of gently dipping and horizontal thin veins are monitored. The novelty of this study lies in establishing a unified roof–support characteristic-curve framework for expandable prop groups, which links roof deformation, support resistance, and progressive fracture evolution and enables a direct mechanistic comparison between natural pillar groups and yielding expandable prop groups. Based on the evolution and intersections of the roof and support characteristic curves, the transition from load concentration and progressive failure of natural pillar groups to deformation accommodation and damage redistribution under expandable prop support is quantitatively characterized. The results demonstrate that expandable props permit controlled roof deformation while maintaining stable load-bearing capacity. In contrast to natural pillars, for which progressive damage develops into through-going fractures and domino-type failure, expandable prop groups redistribute roof damage toward the deeper roof and abutments, interrupt fracture coalescence, and effectively suppress progressive collapse. The revealed yielding-support mechanism provides a theoretical basis for expandable prop-group design and the implementation of continuous pillar-free mining. Full article

The escalating depletion of fossil fuels and the attendant environmental concerns have spurred the pursuit of advanced energy storage systems. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) stand out as promising candidates due to their inherent safety, cost-effectiveness, and abundant zinc resources. However, vanadium-based cathodes, a leading class of materials for AZIBs, are plagued by structural instability and inadequate electrical conductivity, which severely hamper their electrochemical performance. In this work, a one-step hydrothermal method was used to fabricate LaVO₄/rGO (denoted as LVG) composites, in which La³⁺ species act as interlayer pillars to suppress the dissolution of active materials, while the conductive rGO network promotes rapid electron migration, collectively leading to improved electrochemical performance. AZIBs assembled with the LVG-2 cathode (LaVO₄/rGO composite prepared with an initial GO loading of 80 mg) achieve a high specific capacity of 311 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹, accompanied by a maximum energy density of 249 Wh kg⁻¹ and a peak power density of 4000 W kg⁻¹. The LVG-2 electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 133 mAh g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹, with a capacity retention of 62%, owing to the rGO-enhanced conductivity and stable interlayer structure. Furthermore, flexible AZIBs incorporating the LVG-2 cathode exhibit stable performance under repeated bending. In addition, it can successfully power on a humidity meter and a warning light, which can serve as a warning for safe travel on the highway. Full article

Single crystals of different V(Sn, Sb)₂ phases were grown via the self-flux method by employing an excess of Sn and Sb. The obtained crystals were studied using X-ray diffraction and EDX spectroscopy, which revealed the existence of two new ternary phases and two solid solutions based on the binary VSn₂ to VSb₂ phases, showing peculiar multi-step structural evolution upon going from the VSn₂ side to the VSb₂ side of the system. The first novel phase τ₁ crystallizes in the monoclinic unit cell, while the second phase—τ₂—adopts an orthorhombic crystal structure. The discovered phases derive their structure from the parent phases VSn₂ and VSb₂ and are built from linear chains of fused V(Sn, Sb)₈ antiprisms. These chains are then coupled into layers, which are stacked either right on top of each other or with a 60° twist. The twists are supported by Sn atoms located at a boundary between the layers. Thus, upon going from VSn₂ to VSb₂, the number of twists per layer decreases from one in VSn₂ to 2/3 in τ₁, and to 1/2 in τ₂, ultimately ending at zero in VSb₂. While the Sn atoms have a larger radius compared to that of Sb, the volume per one atom decreases in the VSn_x′Sb_2−x′ solid solution with increasing Sn content before returning to the expected increase in the τ₁-τ₂-VSn_2−xSb_x sequence. The decrease in volume in the former is caused by the decrease in V-V distances inside the chains, which is caused by the change in character of the V-E interactions, where Sb atoms form two-center V-Sb bonds, while Sn atoms act as bridges forming three-center V-Sn-V bonds, as revealed by our DFT calculations. Full article

In next-generation wireless networks, communication systems are expected to go beyond simple data transmission and simultaneously provide high data rates, efficiency, and security. This requirement has motivated the extensive adoption of machine learning methods to develop intelligent and real-time network management frameworks, enabling the system to continuously monitor and react to channel variations and user behavior while maintaining efficient information delivery. In this context, the integration of machine learning with beamforming enables adaptive and data-driven beam direction selection, improving both the efficiency and security of wireless links. In this work, a 3GPP-based system model is first implemented under a no-attacker scenario, and an exhaustive search is employed as a reference to identify the best beamforming configurations. The proposed framework is then evaluated in the presence of an attacker and under different network scalability conditions. We demonstrate that the reinforcement learning-based approaches, namely Q-learning and State-Action-Reward-State-Action (SARSA), consistently outperform random selection in terms of total channel capacity, attacker-detection accuracy, and performance stability. Among the evaluated reinforcement learning methods, Q-learning achieves the best overall trade-off between detection accuracy and computational efficiency. Our results indicate that the proposed framework provides a stable, scalable, and effective solution for joint beamforming and security-aware decision-making in dynamic and adversarial wireless environments. Full article

Objectives: To extract and identify extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the traditional Chinese herb Euonymus alatus (EA), characterize their molecular profiles using multi-omics analysis, and assess their regulatory effects and potentially associated signaling pathways in an interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-stimulated inflammatory thyroid follicular cell model mimicking key inflammatory features of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Methods: Differential centrifugation combined with density gradient centrifugation was used to purify EA-derived EVs, and the isolates were characterized using a BCA protein assay, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and Western blotting (WB). Molecular constituents were examined via label-free proteomics and RNA-seq. Meanwhile, Nthy-ori-3-1 cells were exposed to IFN-γ to establish an inflammatory thyroid follicular cell model; these activated cells were subsequently treated with the purified EVs (EV group). The supernatants were collected and the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were determined by ELISA. Comparative transcriptomic and proteomic profiling was employed to identify differentially expressed molecules and related signaling pathways between the model and the EV group. Results: EA-derived EVs were successfully isolated and showed typical EV characteristics. Proteomics identified 3607 proteins enriched in metabolic, immune, and antioxidant processes, while RNA-seq generated 72.16 million clean reads and revealed genes enriched in metabolic and immune pathways. In the IFN-γ-stimulated Nthy-ori-3-1 cells, ELISA results showed that EV treatment significantly reduced the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 compared to the model group. EV intervention resulted in 138 differential proteins (42 upregulated, 96 downregulated) and 262 differential genes (81 upregulated, 181 downregulated). GO analysis revealed significant enrichment in terms related to inflammatory response, immune response, and regulation of oxidative stress. KEGG pathway analysis demonstrated enrichment in the IL-17, NOD-like receptor, and PPAR signaling pathways, as well as ferroptosis, and Wnt pathway (unique for upregulated genes). Conclusions: EA-derived EVs are rich in molecules that regulate metabolic pathways and immune responses. They may ameliorate inflammation in this inflammatory thyroid follicular cell model, with multi-omics analyses revealing correlative enrichment of multiple signaling pathways. These findings provide preliminary experimental evidence and novel candidate targets for AIT treatment. Full article

Background: Memory problems are amongst the most troublesome and least understood of the symptoms in functional cognitive disorder (FCD) and in persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS). Standard neuropsychological testing typically shows only minor objective deficits, which results in a clear mismatch between the level of subjective distress and the actual degree of impairment. Current explanations of this discrepancy either attribute it to undetected hippocampal storage failure or regard it as a non-specific functional overlay; we believe that both of these explanations are incomplete. Methods: This is a narrative review incorporating an integrative hypothesis, not a systematic review. The literature was found using searches of databases and by tracing citations, and the sources were chosen on the basis of their conceptual relevance rather than according to a comprehensive protocolMethods of Literature Selection. The following three types of claims are distinguished throughout: those findings which have been established empirically in humans, those which are based on animal studies, and the hypotheses put forward in this paper. Results: Current evidence shows that episodic memory is spread out over a hippocampal–entorhinal–prefrontal–anteromedial thalamic–cortical control system, with the anteromedial thalamus being responsible for deciding which traces are stabilised and the prefrontal areas providing support for retrieval and for metacognitive evaluation. We suggest that the memory symptoms in both cases are due to a malfunction of this control system rather than to a failure of storage. In the case of FCD, entry is thought to occur in a top-down manner via abnormally precise priors of cognitive failure, impaired global metacognition, hypervigilant self-monitoring and overfitting of the self-model. With regard to PPCS, entry is believed to take place in a bottom-up way as a result of a real neurometabolic and network injury, after which fatigue, sleep disruption and hypermonitoring keep the symptoms going; in susceptible individuals, a concussion may serve as a gateway to FCD. Maladaptive, use-dependent plasticity is proposed as the common underlying mechanism. Conclusions: A unified framework incorporating metacognitive and systems consolidation processes is able to explain the discrepancy and makes eight predictions that can be tested together with provisional criteria for the transition from a primary-FCD to an organic-PPCS. The framework is put forward for future testing rather than being presented as a fully established explanation. Full article

This study investigates the deposition of graphene oxide (GO) coatings on open-cell polyurethane foams through a soak-and-squeeze process for detergent removal. GO dispersions between 0.25 and 4 g/L were rheologically characterised to relate apparent viscosity to coating deposition. A first rationalisation of the squeeze-coating process was proposed by estimating the characteristic shear rates during squeezing, obtaining values of 12.2 s⁻¹ and 50.4 s⁻¹ for 20 and 60 PPI foams, respectively. Multiple deposition cycles were performed, achieving GO loads up to 12.7 wt% for both types of foam. The adsorption behaviour of GO powder toward a commercial detergent solution containing linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) was investigated at 25, 40 and 60 °C. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to monitor concentration changes, while conductivity analyses investigated the temperature-dependent aggregation behaviour of the detergent system. The adsorption kinetics were well described by the Elovich model, suggesting adsorption on heterogeneous GO surfaces. Filtration tests using GO-coated foams showed a decrease in conductivity during flow-through experiments, whereas UV-Vis measurements indicated limited LAS removal under dynamic conditions, likely due to insufficient contact time between the detergent and the coated surface. Static contact tests performed for 1 h at 25 °C showed a reproducible detergent concentration decrease of approximately 16–18%. This value was further increased up to 65% under optimised conditions by modifying the GO-to-detergent ratio and foam configuration. The results demonstrate that the soak-and-squeeze approach is a simple and effective method for producing reproducible GO coatings on open-cell foams, while indicating that sufficient contact time is required to promote detergent removal. Full article

Background/Objectives: Oligozoospermia is a common cause of male infertility, yet its genetic basis remains incompletely understood, particularly in underrepresented populations. This exploratory pooled-WGS study aimed to identify and prioritize candidate coding variants, genes, and biological pathways of potential relevance to oligozoospermia in Greek men. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was performed on genomic DNA from Greek normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men. Variants detected in the oligozoospermic group but not in the normozoospermic group within the present dataset were prioritized according to predicted functional impact, population allele frequency, evolutionary conservation, and multiple in silico pathogenicity prediction tools. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and STRING protein–protein interaction analyses were subsequently performed to investigate the biological significance of the prioritized genes. Results: A total of 717,374 variants were identified exclusively in oligozoospermic men. Following prioritization, 171 coding variants (54 high-impact and 117 moderate-impact) mapped to candidate genes of potential biological relevance to male infertility, including 22 variants not previously observed in the databases examined. Functional enrichment analyses consistently highlighted biological processes related to cytoskeletal organization, microtubule dynamics, axonemal assembly, and ciliary function. Several genes previously implicated in male infertility, including DNAH5, DNAH11, and DNAH12, were prioritized alongside promising candidate genes such as COL6A6 and LAPTM4B. Conclusions: This study provides one of the first whole-genome investigations of oligozoospermia in a Greek population and expands the limited genomic data available for Balkan populations. However, given the exploratory pooled-WGS design and limited cohort size, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and require validation in larger, individually sequenced cohorts. Full article

Wastewater treatment has stimulated researchers to develop highly efficient catalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants. The present work focuses on the design and investigation of a titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-based photocatalytic system with improved catalytic ability under visible light. TiO₂/reduced graphene oxide (TiO₂/rGO) and squaraine dye (SQ) sensitized TiO₂/rGO (TiO₂/rGO/SQ) composites were synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. The incorporation of SQ aims to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized composites and extend their activity by utilizing the visible-light spectrum. The composite materials were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The synthesized composites were evaluated for the decolorization of the organic dyes Rhodamine B (RhB) and Fluorescein (FL) in aqueous solutions. The synthesized composites were evaluated for the decolorization of the organic dyes Rhodamine B (RhB) and fluorescein (FL) in aqueous solution. Under visible-light irradiation, TiO₂/rGO/SQ achieved 98% decolorization of FL and 86% decolorization of RhB within 180 min. Full article

Background/Objectives: The very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) mediates VLDL uptake in peripheral tissues. This study investigated sex differences in hepatic VLDLR response to protein restriction and its relationship with hepatic lipid accumulation. Methods: Male and female wild-type (WT) and Vldlr knockout (KO) mice were fed control (20% protein) or low-protein (2% protein) diets for 20 days. Hepatic VLDLR expression and triglyceride levels were determined, followed by RNA sequencing and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. Results: Hepatic Vldlr mRNA and protein levels were higher in females than in males. Protein restriction induced 9-fold and 2.5-fold increases in Vldlr mRNA and VLDLR protein, respectively, in males, whereas females showed only a 1.6-fold increase in VLDLR protein without significant Vldlr mRNA induction. The ATF4 target genes Asns and Fgf21 responded similarly to protein restriction in both sexes. Although females had higher hepatic triglyceride levels than males, this difference persisted in Vldlr KO mice. RNA sequencing revealed sex-dependent effects of Vldlr knockout on hepatic gene expression, with inflammation- and immune-related terms predominantly identified in females. Conclusions: Sex differences in hepatic VLDLR expression do not account for sex differences in hepatic lipid accumulation. The sex-dependent VLDLR response to protein restriction may involve mechanisms other than differential ATF4 activation. Vldlr deficiency was associated with sex-dependent hepatic gene expression changes, particularly those involved in inflammation- and immune-related functions in females. These findings suggest that hepatic VLDLR may have functions beyond its established role in lipoprotein uptake and lipid metabolism and may be relevant to sex-dependent hepatic responses to low-protein nutrition. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance has renewed interest in bacteriophage cocktails as antibacterial and adjunctive agents, but the global research landscape and the bacterial determinants that constrain cocktail performance have not been mapped within a single framework. We quantified global phage-cocktail research and tested whether antibiotic-resistance, phage-receptor, and biofilm gene sets converge on shared genes in three Gram-negative pathogens representing three bacterial orders. Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection was searched on 5 July 2026 (query “phage” and “cocktail”). After deduplication and screening, 1598 articles and reviews (1992–2026) were analyzed with bibliometric workflows, citation-burst and co-citation analyses, and a focused China–United States comparison. Because these are the two leading producers and represent the dominant biocontrol and clinical research models, the comparison is deliberately restricted to them and is not presented as a global ranking. Resistance (R), phage receptor/defense (P), and biofilm (B) gene sets were curated for Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, Escherichia coli K-12, and Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978; overlaps were tested by one-sided hypergeometric tests with Benjamini–Hochberg correction and against size-matched control gene sets, followed by STRING protein–protein interaction and KEGG/GO enrichment. Orthologous conservation was assessed with KEGG Orthology in addition to gene-symbol matching. Results: Annual output grew from 2 records (1992–1996) to 873 (2022–2026; 54.6% of the corpus), led by the USA (322 records) and China (292). Phage-receptor–biofilm overlaps were strongly enriched in all three species (29, 7, and 28 genes; odds ratios 47.0, 8.1, and 31.7; all P ≤ 7.6 × 10⁻⁵), whereas resistance–phage-receptor overlaps were strongly enriched in PAO1 (18 genes; odds ratio 17.7) and K-12 (26 genes; odds ratio 30.2) but not in A. baumannii (9 genes; odds ratio 1.8; P = 0.088). Four unrelated control gene sets showed no enrichment in any species (odds ratios 0–1.9; P ≥ 0.42). Candidate networks formed alginate, Psl–Pel, lipopolysaccharide-modification, and SOS/porin modules; KEGG enrichment converged on biofilm formation and cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance; 14 of the 18 symbol-level conserved genes were corroborated by shared KEGG Orthology assignments. Conclusions: Phage-cocktail research has entered a phase of rapid growth, with hotspots converging on combination therapy and formulation. Biofilm-matrix synthesis and surface-appendage assembly form a transferable interface between phage adsorption and biofilm formation across three bacterial orders, whereas the coupling between antibiotic resistance and phage-receptor genes is lineage-restricted. Because the R, P, and B sets overlap by construction, these convergences are hypothesis-generating and require experimental validation before they can be used as design rules. Full article