Search Results (190)

Post-industrial waterfront regeneration can improve environmental quality and public space, but it may also produce green gentrification and unequal access to regeneration benefits. To support socially responsive planning evaluation, this study examines how green gentrification is spatially manifested and how residents perceive and support waterfront green space development in Shanghai’s Yangpu Riverside. A sequential mixed-methods design combines census, housing price, and green space data from 2000 to 2020 with 317 resident questionnaires. The study identifies socio-spatial changes associated with green gentrification, cross-culturally adapts and validates the Gentrification Worldview Instrument (GWI), and examines the associations among gentrification worldviews, place attachment, and support for green space development. Results show no statistically significant relative acceleration in housing price growth in near-waterfront neighborhoods during the regeneration period, but reveal an expanding housing price premium, educational upgrading, and population decline. These patterns are consistent with a spatially differentiated tendency toward green gentrification embedded in the broader state-led waterfront regeneration process, rather than demonstrating an independent effect of greenbelt construction. The Chinese-adapted GWI retains the three dimensions of neighborhood preservation, development support, and social integration. Among surveyed residents, development support and place identity are positively associated with support for waterfront green space development, whereas neighborhood preservation is negatively associated with support. The results further indicate a statistical mediation pattern in which place identity forms a significant indirect association between development support and support for green space development. The findings provide an evidence-based framework for evaluating inclusive waterfront regeneration and suggest that planning and design should integrate green space accessibility, local memory, residents’ perceptions, and social equity. Full article

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is a recent minimally invasive method of managing mitral regurgitation (MR) in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). As the goal of intervention is to minimize MR severity, this study aimed to determine the association between reduced MR and changes in myocardial work indices after TEER in dogs. Ten client-owned dogs with moderate-to-severe MR were enrolled in the study, and all underwent TEER with multimodal imaging guidance. Myocardial work was analyzed before and after the procedure, and the MR severity, transmitral pressure gradients, left atrial and ventricular measurements, and index of myocardial work (GWI: the total myocardial work during systole; GCW: work contributing to LV ejection; GWW: ineffective work that contributes to no forward displacement; and GWE: ratio of constructive work to total work) were calculated. TEER significantly reduced MR severity in the majority of dogs, and this MR decrease was associated with a greater efficiency of myocardial work, more constructive work, and less wasted energy. No significant negative associations of moderate post-procedure gradients with short-term clinical outcomes emerged. TEER-mediated reduction in MR improves myocardial function in dogs. However, long-term studies are also needed to examine the effects of residual MR and transmitral gradients on cardiac function and clinical outcome. Full article

Background/Objectives: The optimal timing for surgery in severe aortic regurgitation (AR) remains challenging. Current recommendations are based on symptoms, LV size and ejection fraction (LVEF), yet subclinical dysfunction may occur earlier. Myocardial work (MW), derived from LV longitudinal strain (GLS) and systemic systolic arterial pressure, provides a sensitive load-adjusted assessment of myocardial performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of preoperative MW indices in patients with severe AR undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: This retrospective, single-center observational study included 83 consecutive patients with severe AR referred for surgery. All patients underwent preoperative echocardiography with speckle-tracking and MW analysis. The primary composite endpoint was all-cause mortality or unplanned hospitalization for heart failure. Median follow-up was 25 months. Results: Compared with reference values, our patients showed significantly reduced global work index (GWI) (1580 ± 568 vs. 1896 ± 308 mmHg%, p < 0.001) and global work efficiency (GWE) (86% vs. 96%, p < 0.001) and markedly increased global wasted work (GWW) (328 ± 182 vs. 78.5 ± 51.26 mmHg%, p < 0.001), reflecting impaired myocardial efficiency. Patients reaching the primary endpoint exhibited significantly higher GWW (432 ± 224 vs. 295 ± 154 mmHg%, p = 0.017) and lower GWE (82% vs. 88%, p = 0.013). On univariate analysis, higher GWE was associated with a lower risk of the composite endpoint (HR 0.939, 95% CI 0.888–0.993, p = 0.028). A GWE cut-off value of 85.5% provided optimal prognostic stratification, with higher values associated with improved event-free survival. The accuracy for outcome prediction of GWE increased when combined with other echocardiographic parameters, such as LVEF. Conclusions: In patients with severe AR, MW analysis—particularly GWE—offers incremental prognostic value, allowing the identification of subclinical ventricular dysfunction. This could lead to better risk stratification and earlier surgical intervention, particularly when combined with other conventional echocardiographic parameters. Full article

Firefighters are repeatedly exposed to occupational trauma in high-risk work settings, and PTSD symptoms represent an important occupational and public health concern. This study examined the association between psychological safety and PTSD symptoms among firefighters and tested whether this association is conditioned by occupational identity and peer support within an occupational health framework. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 314 firefighters in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. PTSD symptoms were assessed using eight selected items adapted from the PCL-5 representing core symptom domains. Confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed, and moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS Macro (Model 1). Results indicated that psychological safety was negatively associated with PTSD symptoms. Both occupational identity and peer support significantly conditioned this association. The negative association was consistently observed across all levels of occupational identity, whereas it was significant only at or above the mean level of peer support. These findings suggest that psychological safety may be understood as an organizational resource related to PTSD symptoms in high-risk occupational contexts, while occupational identity and peer support may function as individual and social resources that condition this association. The findings highlight the importance of understanding occupational mental health based on the integrated roles of organizational, individual, and social resources. Full article

Background: Iron overload cardiomyopathy (IOC) is a major determinant of outcomes in hemochromatosis, and conventional echocardiography may miss early myocardial toxicity. Comparative data on primary (PH) versus secondary hemochromatosis (SH) using myocardial work (MW) indices are limited. Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of 34 adults (16 PH and 18 SH patients) at a tertiary center. They all underwent echocardiography with speckle-tracking to obtain LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and non-invasive MW indices from pressure-strain loops: global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE). Echocardiographic phenotypes were classified as a Normal, Dilated, Restrictive, or right ventricular/pulmonary hypertension (RVPH) phenotype. Results: SH patients showed higher iron burden and neurohormonal activation than PH patients (maximum ferritin 2954 vs. 444 ng/mL; BNP 93 vs. 13.5 pg/mL; both p < 0.001) and accounted for all deaths (33% vs. 0%) despite similar 3D LVEFs and GLSs. PH patients predominantly exhibited Normal phenotypes (81%), whereas SH patients more often showed advanced phenotypes, mainly RVPH and Dilated. GWI correlated inversely with ferritin (ρ ≈ −0.40), particularly ferritin at echocardiography in SH patients, while PH patients showed no significant correlations. GWW was higher in Dilated/RVPH compared to Normal phenotypes, and in SH patients, higher maximum ferritin was associated with impaired right ventricular free-wall strain. Conclusions: PH and SH patients exhibit distinct IOC phenotypes, with SH patients showing more advanced remodeling and worse outcomes. In this exploratory analysis, MW indices showed modest associations with iron burden markers, suggesting they may provide complementary information beyond LVEF and GLS. These preliminary findings require validation in larger, prospective studies. Full article

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis. Given its multifactorial nature, multi-component therapeutic strategies have attracted increasing interest, particularly herbal formulations containing diverse bioactive compounds. This study investigated the anti-obesity and hepatoprotective effects of a mixed herbal extract, JH01, composed of Curcuma longa, Achyranthes bidentata, and Polygonum multiflorum, using a screening-based analytical approach combined with experimental validation. Individual herbal extracts and their mixture were screened at 100 and 500 μg/mL in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Based on superior anti-adipogenic efficacy, JH01 was selected for further study. Its effects were evaluated in vitro by Oil Red O staining and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of adipogenic genes, and in vivo using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model, assessing body weight, serum lipid profiles, liver function markers, adipokine levels, and hepatic histology. JH01 showed markedly stronger inhibition of lipid accumulation than individual herbal components. JH01 significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation and downregulated PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP-1 expression in 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, JH01 modulated inflammatory cytokines and adipokine levels, as evidenced by reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels and increased adiponectin levels. In HFD-fed mice, JH01 reduced body weight gain, serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, improved ALT and AST levels, decreased leptin concentrations, and attenuated hepatic steatosis. JH01 exerts potent anti-obesity and hepatoprotective effects through coordinated regulation of lipid metabolism and adipogenesis, supporting its potential as a multi-herbal therapeutic strategy for obesity-related metabolic disorders. Full article

Background: Left Ventricle Myocardial Work (LVMW) has shown utility in assessing patients with aortic stenosis (AS) in recent studies. In the present study, we evaluated the predictive value and optimal cut-off values of LVMW parameters measured prior to TAVI that may be associated with increased mortality in AS patients. Methods: A total of 116 consecutive patients who were qualified for TAVI between March 2021 and November 2022 were evaluated. Pre-procedural LVMW indices (GWI, GCW, GWW, and GWE) were assessed and long-term survival was analysed. Survival and influencing factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, with significant factors subsequently included in cut-off analysis. Results: The median survival time following the TAVI procedure was 1404 (1143–1549) days, with a maximum observation period of 1721 days. All-cause mortality during the follow-up period reached 29%. Multivariate analysis revealed that EF, GLS, GWI, GWE and GCW before TAVI were independent predictors of all-cause mortality. We identified 1975 mmHg, 1497 mmHg and 85% as optimal cut-off values for GCW, GWI and GWE, which allow for significant stratification of patients according to risk. Conclusions: In this analysis, baseline-assessed parameters such as GLS, GWI, GWE, and GCW emerged as independent predictors of all-cause mortality. The proposed cut-off values clearly separated patient groups with different survival outcomes. Full article

The waste heat generated by high-performance computing (HPC) represents an opportunity for advancing the decarbonization of energy systems. Seasonal storage is necessary to regulate the balance between waste heat production and demand. High-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage (HT-ATES) is a particularly well-suited technology for this purpose due to its large storage capacity. However, integrating HT-ATES into energy systems for district heating is complex, affecting existing components. Therefore, this study applies a bi-objective mixed-integer quadratically constrained programming (MIQCP) approach to optimize the energy system at Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) regarding total annualized costs (TAC) and global warming impact (GWI). The exascale computer Jupiter, which is hosted at FZJ, generates a substantial amount of renewable waste heat that is suitable for integration into district heating networks and seasonal storage. Case studies show that HT-ATES integration into the investigated system can reduce GWI by 20% and increase TAC by 1% compared to the reference case. Despite increased TAC from investments and heat pump (HP) operation, summer charging of the HT-ATES remains flexible and cost-effective. An idealized future scenario indicates that HT-ATES with a storage capacity of 16,990 MWh and HPs could cover most of the heating demand, reducing GWI by up to 91% while TAC increases by 6% relative to the reference system. Full article

This study attempted to develop and validate a data-driven simulation model that integrates field-measured data to assess the power requirement and fuel consumption characteristics of a self-propelled collector. The collector is a hydrostatic transmission-based, crawler-type platform designed for garlic and onion harvesting, equipped with multiple hydraulic subsystems for collection and sorting. During field experiments, the power requirements of each subsystem and fuel flow rate were recorded, and Willans line method was applied to estimate engine power and subsystem power transmission efficiencies. Because many small agricultural machines do not support electronically instrumented engines (e.g., CAN-bus/ECU-based measurements), the proposed model was formulated as a data-driven, low-order representation derived from on-site measurements rather than a full physics-based model. Using the identified parameters, the simulation framework predicts engine power and fuel efficiency under various operating conditions. The simulation results exhibited high agreement with field data, achieving R² and mean absolute percentage error values of 0.935–0.981 and 1.79–4.18%, respectively, confirming reliable reproduction of real field performance. A comprehensive analysis of the simulation results revealed that both engine speed and travel speed significantly influence power distribution and fuel rate, while also indicating that hydraulic working power is the dominant contributor to total power demand at higher engine speeds. These findings provide practical guidance for improving the fuel efficiency of compact self-propelled collectors. Full article

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating multisystem illness with unknown etiology. An estimated 17–24 million people representing approximately 1% of the population are afflicted worldwide. In over half of cases, ME/CFS onset is associated with acute “flu-like” symptoms, suggesting a role for viruses. However, no single virus has been identified as the only etiological agent. This may reflect the approach employed or more strongly the central dogma associated with herpesviruses replication, which states that a herpesvirus exists in two states, either lytic or latent. The purpose of this review is to address the role that abortive lytic replication may have in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS and other post-acute viral infections and also to raise awareness that these syndromes might be poly-herpesviruses mediated diseases. Full article

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom condition affecting veterans of the 1990–1991 Gulf War, with ocular discomfort increasingly recognized among its manifestations. This pilot study evaluated whether lipid alterations in tears and plasma could serve as potential biomarkers of GWI. Participants included Gulf War-era veterans seen in the Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital eye clinic from 2018–2022. Cases met GWI criteria, while controls were non-deployed, age- and gender-matched veterans without GWI. Participants completed systemic and ocular symptom questionnaires, and lipidomic profiling of tears and plasma quantified sphingolipids and eicosanoids. Compared to controls (n = 21), GWI cases (n = 19) reported greater ocular symptom burden, while ocular signs were similar between groups. Lipidomic analyses revealed increased tear eicosanoids ((±)14(15)-EET and (±)8(9)-EET), elevated plasma sphingomyelins (SM C16:0 DH, SM C20:0, SM C22:0), and reduced plasma monohexosylceramide (MHC C16:0) and sphingomyelin (SM C14:0) in cases. Logistic regression and random forest models identified plasma SM C16:0 DH and SM C20:0 as top predictors distinguishing GWI cases from controls, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.89. These findings suggest lipid dysregulation in ocular and systemic compartments and support further investigation of tears as a minimally invasive source for biomarker discovery. Full article

Ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation significantly contributes to skin photoaging, which is characterized by epidermal thickening, collagen degradation, wrinkle formation, barrier dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a key precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, regulates cellular energy metabolism and antioxidant defense and demonstrates anti-aging effects in animal models. Here, we investigated the protective effects of oral NMN supplementation against UV-B-induced photoaging in SKH-1 hairless mice. Over a 10-week experimental period, oral NMN administration significantly alleviated epidermal hypertrophy, reduced wrinkle formation and skin surface roughness, improved hydration and elasticity, and restored transepidermal water loss to near-normal levels. Histological analyses revealed marked preservation of collagen fiber density and attenuation of dermal matrix degradation. Furthermore, NMN supplementation inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling components (ERK, JNK, and p38), suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) and matrix-degrading enzyme (MMP-1) expression, and restored hyaluronan synthase (HAS-1 and HAS-2) expression. Additionally, NMN enhanced the systemic antioxidant defense, as indicated by the restored superoxide dismutase activity. Thus, NMN has multi-layered protective effects against UV-B–induced skin aging by modulating oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, and hyaluronic acid metabolism. Full article

Garlic is a labor-intensive underground crop in Republic of Korea, where harvesting and collection require substantial manual work. Although self-propelled garlic collectors have been introduced, most were developed empirically, and quantitative evaluations of their load characteristics and power requirements under field conditions remain limited. This study quantifies the power requirements of the driving, collection, and transport parts of a self-propelled garlic collector and examines the effects of driving speed, collecting speed, transporting speed, and working depth. A field measurement system was developed to record torque, rotational speed, flow rate, and pressure, and these data were used to calculate the power requirement of each major component and the overall machine. Results showed that driving speed was the dominant factor affecting total power use, as the driving part displayed a clear increase with higher speeds. In contrast, the collection and transport parts exhibited only minor changes, and the influence of working depth was negligible. The maximum total power requirement was 12.28 kW, about 30% of the rated engine power of 40.2 kW, indicating that engine capacity exceeded actual requirement. These findings provide quantitative insights into self-propelled garlic collectors and essential data for future studies on engine downsizing and power transmission design. Full article

Background/Objectives: Moderate aortic stenosis (AS) with preserved ejection fraction (EF) is common, yet risk stratification remains challenging. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and myocardial mechanics analysis may identify subclinical dysfunction and impaired functional capacity. To evaluate the relationship between functional capacity (by % predicted peak VO₂), ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO₂ slope), and myocardial mechanics (speckle tracking echocardiography—STE), and myocardial work (MW) indices) in moderate AS with preserved EF. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 107 patients with moderate AS (AVA 1.0–1.5 cm²; mean gradient 20–40 mmHg; EF ≥ 50%). Functional capacity was classified as preserved (≥83% predicted VO₂) or reduced (<83%). Ventilatory efficiency was defined as good (<30) or poor (≥30) VE/VCO₂ slope. STE assessed left ventricular (LV), left atrial (LA), and right ventricular (RV) strain, as well as myocardial work indices. Results: Patients with reduced % predicted VO₂ had higher LV end-systolic volume (p = 0.035), lower stroke volume index (p = 0.020), and smaller indexed aortic valve area (p = 0.025), with trends toward lower GLS and myocardial work. In contrast, patients with poor ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO₂ ≥ 30) showed significant impairments in global longitudinal strain (GLS, p = 0.002), LA reservoir strain (PALS, p = 0.019) and LA conduit strain (LA Scd, p < 0.001), RV free wall strain (RW FWS, p = 0.029), and myocardial work indices (lower GWI and GCW, higher GWW, reduced GWE; all p < 0.05). LA Scd emerged as the strongest predictor of poor ventilatory efficiency. (receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) 0.723, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.623–0.823, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In moderate AS with preserved EF, impaired ventilatory efficiency is more strongly associated with subclinical LV, LA, and RV dysfunction than reduced % predicted VO₂, highlighting the key role of RV impairment. Integrating CPET and STE improves phenotyping, identifying high-risk patients who may benefit from closer surveillance or early intervention. These findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating; longitudinal data are needed to confirm prognostic implications. Full article

Skin aging is primarily driven by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell cycle dysregulation. This study investigated the anti-senescence effects of fermented porcine placenta (FPP) and its dipeptides, leucine–glycine (LG) and proline–hydroxyproline (PH), in human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs), using nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) as a reference for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺)-related pathways. FPP suppressed senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity and Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16) expression while enhancing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)–peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling. LG and PH exhibited distinct actions: LG improved redox balance by increasing the NAD⁺/NADH ratio and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) activity, whereas PH modulated cell cycle regulators and upregulated sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) expression. Although both peptides contributed to FPP’s effects, their combination did not fully replicate its overall activity, suggesting synergistic roles of multiple bioactive constituents. These findings highlight FPP as a multifactorial modulator of keratinocyte senescence, acting via mitochondrial and redox-related mechanisms. Full article