Search Results (31,994)

Background: In Parkinson’s disease (PD), non-motor symptoms especially anxiety represent a significant and underappreciated burden. Despite the lack of particular validation in this demographic, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) is widely used in clinical and research contexts. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 Parkinson’s disease patients (mean age 62.77 ± 8.32 years; 118 men and 82 females) was conducted. The Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) scale was used to grade motor severity, whereas the HAM-A was used to measure anxiety. Results: Of the patients, 52.5% of people (n = 105; mean score 13.85 ± 6.09) had anxiety (HAM-A ≥ 14). Age (r = 0.032; p = 0.657), disease duration (r = 0.115; p = 0.105), H&Y stage (r = −0.073; p = 0.305), and sex (p = 0.856) did not significantly correlate with the HAM-A score. Conclusion: Although the HAM-A shows a high incidence of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease (PD), its consistent lack of connection with clinical illness markers raises serious concerns about construct validity, which are probably caused by somatic item overlap. It is best to use disease-specific tools like the GAD-7 or Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS). Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary glycerol monolaurate (GML) supplementation on feline growth performance and intestinal health. Twenty-four adult British Shorthair cats (3.03 ± 0.07 kg) were initially enrolled. Following a 56-day pre-feeding period, 18 eligible cats were allocated to two dietary groups, of which 12 cats were prespecified for final sample collection and statistical analysis (n = 6): a control group (CON, basal diet) and an experimental group (EXP, basal diet + 2000 mg/kg GML product) for a 28-day trial. Dietary GML significantly increased the average daily feed intake. GML supplementation significantly increased the changes in fecal score and fecal pH, and a significant GML × day interaction was observed for the change in fecal pH. GML improved the apparent digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, crude fat, and crude protein. Furthermore, serum albumin increased within the normal range. Cats in the EXP group showed elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, alongside lower malondialdehyde concentrations. GML also elevated serum immunoglobulin A and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Fecal analyses showed reduced acetic acid and total volatile fatty acids, but elevated propionic acid. Microbiome and metabolomic profiling revealed that GML decreased the relative abundance of Streptococcus and metabolites such as Linoleic Acid and 12,13-Epome, while increasing the relative abundances of Collinsella, Peptoclostridium, Clostridium, and (-)-Jasmonic Acid. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for applying GML in pet foods to optimize companion animal extruded diets. Full article

Bisantrene (9,10-anthracenedicarboxaldehyde bis[(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)hydrazone]) and its monosubstituted analogue anthracen-9-imidazoline hydrazone (9-AIH) are bioactive anthracene derivatives whose antitumor activity stems from DNA intercalation and topoisomerase II inhibition. Bisantrene lacks the quinone–hydroquinone redox system responsible for anthracycline cardiotoxicity and was recently identified as a potent inhibitor of the RNA demethylase FTO, adding an epitranscriptomic dimension that has renewed interest in the scaffold. Here, we report the stepwise synthesis of 9-AIH (65%; m.p. 282 °C) and bisantrene (60%; m.p. 244 °C) by condensation of the corresponding anthracene carboxaldehydes with 2-hydrazino-2-imidazoline hydrobromide, followed by complexation with Cu(II), Fe(III), Zn(II), Mn(II), and Cr(III) chloride salts to afford ten reaction products. Product identity was confirmed by melting point, elemental analysis (C, H, N by combustion; metal content by classical volumetric titration), and qualitative ionic testing before and after acid digestion. Nine of the ten products gave elemental analyses consistent with discrete mononuclear [9-AIH·M] or binuclear [Bis·M₂] coordination compounds. Eight of these nine match calculated values; the ninth, Bis·Cu, deviates by up to 3.3 percentage points (Cu content), a deviation quantitatively accounted for by a co-precipitated Cu₂O impurity phase identified by XRD rather than by failure of complexation. The tenth product, from the bisantrene/FeCl₃ reaction (Bis·Fe), did not match any discrete coordination formula. Room-temperature ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of this material resolved two quadrupole doublets with isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings closely matching literature values for akaganeite (β-FeOOH), independently confirming, at the level of local iron coordination environment, that the isolated solid is dominated by a hydrolyzed iron oxyhydroxide phase rather than a discrete bisantrene–Fe(III) complex. FTIR and X-ray powder diffraction of the zinc(II) complexes revealed a diagnostic C=N (azomethine/hydrazone) shift upon coordination and closely related diffraction patterns, consistent with a common N,N-donor environment across both ligands. These results establish the feasibility of metal-directed functionalization of bisantrene-type ligands across a broad range of first-row transition metals and identify iron(III) as an outlier under the present conditions, opening a route to metallodrugs that combine bisantrene’s established and newly discovered pharmacophores with the enhanced bioactivity conferred by metal coordination. Full article

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive and life-threatening disease characterised by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, vascular remodelling and right ventricular dysfunction. Emerging evidence implicates circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the regulation of vascular remodelling and inflammation; however, their contribution to PH remains poorly understood. Here, we performed an in silico analysis using a multi-tool circRNA discovery pipeline across three publicly available transcriptomic datasets derived from experimental rat models of PH: H_PRN (PRJNA809145; pulmonary artery tissue from normoxic and hypoxia-induced PH rats; 21% vs. 10% O₂; n = 7), H_GSE (GSE159668; right lung tissue from normoxic and hypoxia-induced PH rats; 21% vs. 10% O₂; n = 6) and M_PRN (PRJNA732522; total lung tissue from control and monocrotaline-induced PH rats; n = 6). CircRNAs were detected in all datasets; however, robust differentially expressed candidates were identified primarily in the hypoxia-exposed pulmonary artery dataset (H_PRN). In this dataset, three circRNAs—circCnot6l, circSmoc1 and circNtrk3—met the differential expression criteria (Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted p-value (FDR q) < 0.05, absolute log₂ fold-change > 1). Downstream network analysis from unpaired samples prioritised circCnot6l and circNtrk3 as potential regulators of circRNA–microRNA (miRNA) and miRNA–messenger RNA axes involving miR-204-5p and miR-205, respectively. The predicted target networks were enriched for genes associated with key PH-related processes, including cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, angiogenesis and vascular development. Collectively, these findings identify circCnot6l and circNtrk3 as promising circRNA candidates involved in hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery remodelling and provide a foundation for future experimental studies investigating circRNA-mediated mechanisms underlying PH pathogenesis. Full article

Laser-directed energy deposition (L-DED) is a key technology for fabricating wear-resistant Stellite-6 coatings on power-plant components. This study aims to clarify the surface cracking mechanism of L-DED Stellite-6 coatings deposited on 22Cr15Ni3.5CuNbN (SP2215) boiler tubes during long-term high-temperature service. The coatings were exposed at 650 °C for up to 5000 h, and their microstructural evolution and mechanical degradation were systematically characterized using SEM/EDS, TEM, EBSD, microhardness testing, and impact testing. High-temperature service induces the decomposition of M₂₃C₆ precipitates at dendrite boundaries, releasing Cr, C, and W atoms that subsequently migrate toward the coating surface. Owing to the rapid interstitial diffusion of C, a carbon-enriched surface region preferentially develops, accompanied by progressively increasing coverage of surface Cr₂O₃ and subsurface M₂₃C₆. Consequently, the surface hardness increases from 441.6 HV0.1 at 0 h to 613.1 HV0.1 after 5000 h, whereas the impact-absorbed energy decreases from 82.8 ± 4.2 J to 5.9 ± 2.5 J. An increase of 1 HV0.1 in hardness corresponds to an approximately 0.448 J reduction in impact-absorbed energy. Mechanistically, local stress concentration associated with Cr₂O₃ formation, interfacial sliding promoted by lattice mismatch, and crack nuclei originating from pores between chain-like M₂₃C₆ precipitates collectively promote crack initiation and propagation. These results demonstrate that precipitate decomposition, elemental redistribution, and subsequent oxide/carbide evolution govern the progressive surface embrittlement and cracking of L-DED Stellite-6 coatings during long-term high-temperature service. This study provides mechanistic insight into the coupling between microstructural evolution and surface failure and offers a theoretical basis for microstructural regulation and long-term reliability assessment of wear-resistant Co-based coatings used in power-plant components. Full article

Citrus postharvest blue mold caused by Penicillium italicum and green mold caused by P. digitatum are major diseases responsible for fruit decay and economic losses. Increasing fungicide resistance and concerns regarding the safety of chemical fungicides have created an urgent need for alternative control strategies. In this study, selenium microparticles (SeMPs) were biosynthesized by Lysinibacillus sphaericus N30 and characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The control efficacy of N30-derived SeMPs against citrus postharvest diseases was evaluated using a 6-h post-inoculation treatment and a co-inoculation treatment, and their antifungal effects were further investigated by assessing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, membrane integrity, extracellular conductivity, and leakage of intracellular macromolecules. The N30-derived SeMPs were predominantly spherical and exhibited a Z-average hydrodynamic diameter of 656.5 nm with a PDI of 0.274. EDS identified Se as the predominant element, while XRD and Raman analyses supported the formation of predominantly amorphous elemental selenium. In vivo assays showed that 640 mg·L⁻¹ SeMPs completely prevented blue mold incidence in the P. italicum co-inoculation treatment, whereas 1280 mg·L⁻¹ completely suppressed blue mold under both application modes. Green mold caused by P. digitatum was completely suppressed at 1280–2560 mg·L⁻¹, with co-inoculation treatment generally showing greater efficacy than post-inoculation treatment. SeMP exposure was associated with increased intracellular ROS accumulation, loss of membrane integrity, increased extracellular conductivity, and leakage of intracellular macromolecules in both pathogens. P. italicum showed greater susceptibility to SeMPs-associated membrane perturbation than P. digitatum, consistent with its higher sensitivity in the fruit assays. These findings indicate that biogenic SeMPs produced by L. sphaericus N30 have potential as selenium-based antifungal materials for the management of citrus postharvest blue and green molds. Full article

Fungi play an important role in freshwater ecosystems, yet their diversity and distribution among crayfish species remain poorly understood. We analyzed the diversity of fungi in four crayfish species (Astacus astacus, Faxonius limosus, Pacifastacus leniusculus, and Pontastacus leptodactylus) collected across three regions of Lithuania: northeast, southeast, and west. A total of 27 crayfish were collected, and each crayfish was examined for muscle and hepatopancreas tissues. Of the 27 tested individuals, four crayfish were free of fungi. A total of 77 isolates of fungi were obtained from the hepatopancreas and muscle tissue samples of the examined crayfish using direct isolation. Combining phenotypic characterization with ITS sequencing, 28 fungal genera were identified, with Cladosporium, Fusarium, and Penicillium being the predominant genera. Fungi were more frequent in muscle tissue (81.5%) than in hepatopancreas tissue (66.7%), p = 0.219. A. astacus and P. leniusculus exhibited the highest prevalence of fungi, with 100% of individuals (n = 2). Regional diversity of fungi varied across regions, with Shannon diversity values ranging from H′ = 1.748 in the west to H′ = 3.076 in the southeast. These patterns suggest apparent host- and region-associated differences in crayfish fungal communities. Full article

Ammonia is a cornerstone chemical for global food security and an emerging carbon-free energy carrier, yet its industrial synthesis via the Haber–Bosch process remains energy-intensive and carbon-emitting. Non-thermal plasma catalysis offers a promising decentralized alternative for nitrogen fixation under milder conditions, though the long-term structural stability of supported metal catalysts under harsh plasma environments remains a key open challenge. Plasma-assisted NH₃ synthesis was investigated using exsolution-derived Co-La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ and Ni-La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts in a pulsed (1 kHz at 50% duty cycle) microwave reactor operating at sub-atmospheric pressure (2–6 Torr) and 2.45 GHz. The catalysts were prepared by reductive H₂ treatment of LaCoO₃ and LaNiO₃ perovskite precursors, deposited onto Al₂O₃ pellets, triggering metal exsolution and generating metallic Co⁰ and Ni⁰ nanoparticles embedded within a La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ matrix. Catalytic performance was evaluated across a range of H₂/N₂ flow rates (200–400 cm³/min each) and microwave power inputs (0.6–0.7 kW average), using bare Al₂O₃ as a reference. Co-La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ outperformed both Ni-La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ and the Al₂O₃ reference under all tested conditions, reaching a maximum H₂ conversion of 2.39% and a peak productivity of 20.6 μmol/g_cata.h, attributed to the finer metal dispersion and smaller nanoparticle size achieved during Co exsolution from the LaCoO₃ lattice. Post-reaction characterization by TEM, XRD and N₂ physisorption confirmed the structural integrity of both spent catalysts. No bulk phase transformations were detected by XRD, while specific surface areas were retained above 93% of the initial one. Metals’ particle size slightly increased after plasma exposure, confirming the structural durability of catalysts. These results demonstrate that the exsolution mechanism confers meaningful sintering resistance under microwave plasma conditions, establishing exsolution-derived perovskite catalysts as a promising and durable platform for plasma-assisted nitrogen fixation. Full article

Waste calcareous opoka rock (WCOR) was investigated as a mass-based replacement for 0.5–1.5 mm granulated dolomite aggregate in thin-layer silicate and mineral renders intended for external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS). Eight formulations with replacement levels ranging from 0% to 100% were evaluated in terms of fresh-state properties, moisture transport, adhesion, freeze–thaw and sodium sulphate crystallisation resistance, and microstructure using SEM/EDS. Increasing WCOR content reduced fresh-mixture density and flow diameter while increasing resistance to manual surface texturing. In silicate renders, capillary water absorption decreased by 84%, from 1.55 kg/(m²·24 h) for the WCOR-free reference to 0.25 kg/(m²·24 h) at 75% replacement. Conversely, in mineral renders, it increased by 52%, from 17.2 to 26.2 kg/(m²·24 h) at complete replacement. At 100% replacement, freeze–thaw resistance increased from 150 to 308 cycles in silicate renders and from 105 to 251 cycles in mineral renders, while salt-crystallisation resistance increased from 25 to 52 and from 16 to 52 cycles, respectively. Adhesion increased from 0.27 to 0.30 N/mm² in silicate renders but decreased from 0.31 to 0.19 N/mm² in mineral renders. SEM/EDS showed matrix-dependent differences in local morphology and aggregate–binder interfaces. Multi-criteria assessment identified 75% replacement as the most balanced option for silicate renders, whereas 25–50% provided the preferred compromise for mineral renders. Overall, the influence and preferred content of WCOR were strongly matrix-dependent. Full article

Driven by the urgent need for large-scale disposal and resource valorization of bauxite residue (red mud), this review adopts a narrative review perspective, grounded in the Earth’s Macro-Cycle concept, and employs a structured yet non-systematic literature survey across multiple databases (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, etc.) to compare the physicochemical property differences of red mud derived from different production processes and to establish a classification–evaluation system integrating calcium content gradient with reaction type. Building upon this framework, three distinct cementitious systems are elucidated: three-dimensional network formation via low-calcium geopolymerization, the symbiotic coexistence of C-(A)-S-H and N-A-S-H dual gels in medium- and high-calcium systems, and the integration of clinker hydration with alkali activation in high-calcium systems. Furthermore, by evaluating alkalization, heavy metal stabilization, and fluoride immobilization behaviors, we propose optimal, scenario-specific application pathways: Low-calcium geopolymer systems are ideal for the ecological or structural remediation of acid-contaminated sites, medium-to-high-calcium systems for backfilling large-scale mining voids, and high-calcium systems for the structural repair of expressways. This work bridges the gap between fundamental solid waste mineralogy and practical engineering applications, offering robust strategies for the high-value, environmentally safe, and large-scale recycling of industrial solid wastes. Full article

Finite-time heat engines must balance useful power output against irreversibility. We develop a decision-theoretic framework for ecological optimization of the endoreversible Curzon–Ahlborn engine based on its normalized power–loss Pareto frontier. We first examine bargaining-based selection rules. For Newtonian heat transfer, a symmetric Nash compromise between retained power and reduced exergy destruction selects a unique interior operating point with efficiency ${\eta }_{\mathcal{N}}=1-{\tau }^{3/4}$, where $\tau =T_c/T_h$ is the cold-to-hot reservoir temperature ratio. The same Newtonian state is recovered by the Arias-Hernández–Angulo-Brown prescription, which fixes the ecological weight from the maximum-power reference. Our contribution is therefore not a new efficiency law but a decision-theoretic interpretation of the established $3/4$ law as a distinguished compromise between maximum-power operation and the reversible Carnot limit. Under the same normalization, the Kalai–Smorodinsky and egalitarian selectors also identify the same balance point. We then extend the bargaining analysis beyond Newton’s law of cooling and compare the Nash continuation with the Arias-Hernández–Angulo-Brown $E_{ϵ}$ − $C\left(ϵ\right)$ prescription. Although coinciding in the Newtonian limit, the two approaches separate at first order when the heat-transfer law is perturbed, thereby distinguishing their underlying selection principles. This comparison raises a further question: how should an operating state be chosen when the relative priority assigned to power and irreversibility reduction is itself uncertain? We address this question through minimax-regret optimization, which selects the operating point that minimizes the largest loss relative to the optimum that would have been chosen had the priority been known. Under complete normalized uncertainty in the ecological priority, the regret-robust selector again yields $\eta =1-{\tau }^{3/4}$, giving the same operating state a complementary interpretation in terms of robustness to priority uncertainty. Full article

Background: Low regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO₂) in children is linked to neurological sequelae. Lung-protective ventilation (LPV) mitigates lung injury but its effect on intraoperative rScO₂ is uncertain. Methods: One hundred and four children (<6 years) undergoing thoracoscopic mediastinal mass resection or lobectomy were randomized to LPV (n = 52; tidal volume: 6 mL/kg double-lung ventilation [DLV], 4 mL/kg one-lung ventilation [OLV] + 5 cm H₂O PEEP) or Control (n = 52; 10 mL/kg DLV, 8 mL/kg OLV + zero PEEP). rScO₂ was monitored continuously. Primary outcome was incidence of low rScO₂ during OLV (≥20% decrease from baseline ≥1 min). Secondary outcomes included lowest rScO₂, postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and hospital length of stay (LOS). Results: Ninety-six children were analyzed (n = 48/group). Overall low rScO₂ incidence during OLV was 25/96 (26%). Significantly low rScO₂ incidence occurred with LPV (7/48, 14.6%) versus control (18/48, 37.5%; p = 0.011). The lowest intraoperative rScO₂ was significantly higher in the LPV group 76.5 (70.3, 80.0) compared to control 70.5 (60.3, 76.0); p < 0.001. PPC incidence was lower with LPV (7/48, 14.6%) than control (16/48, 33.3%; p = 0.031). Postoperative LOS was shorter in the LPV group 4.0 [4.0–5.0] days versus control group 5.0 [4.3–6.0] days, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Compared to conventional ventilation, an LPV strategy significantly reduces the incidence of low rScO₂ during OLV in young children undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. LPV also decreases PPCs and shortens hospital stay. Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR2400092732. Full article

Background/Objectives: Orchestra musicians are exposed to prolonged asymmetric postures and repetitive upper-quarter loading that may influence postural-control strategies. This exploratory controlled intervention study examined whether a four-week mobilization-based exercise program performed once or twice weekly was associated with changes in static sensory-dependent balance and dynamic voluntary weight-shifting control. Methods: Twenty-three university orchestra musicians (5 males, 18 females; mean age 24.57 ± 3.41 years) were allocated to a no-intervention control group (n = 7), a once-weekly mobilization group (EG1; n = 8), or a twice-weekly mobilization group (EG2; n = 8). Because no contemporaneous documentation of the allocation-sequence generation could be retrieved, the study is reported as a non-randomized exploratory controlled intervention study, and it was registered retrospectively at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07632950; first posted 8 June 2026, after study completion). Postural control was assessed at baseline, Week 1, and Week 4 using CTSIB and LOS tests. Results: No between-group differences were detected for any CTSIB outcome at any time point or for change scores. Although selected CTSIB variables changed within the control and EG2 groups, the absence of between-group differences indicates that these changes were not intervention-specific. For LOS outcomes, change-score comparisons were significant for Reaction Time (H = 9.076, p = 0.011, ε² = 0.354) and Directional Control (H = 6.214, p = 0.045, ε² = 0.211). After Bonferroni adjustment, only the greater reduction in Reaction Time in EG2 versus control remained significant (p_adj = 0.027). Conclusions: In this small exploratory study, twice-weekly mobilization was associated with faster LOS movement initiation, but the absolute and clinical importance of this change remains uncertain. CTSIB outcomes did not demonstrate an intervention-specific effect; therefore, the findings should be considered hypothesis-generating. Full article

Fixed angular apertures sample different physical regions of nearby galaxies and can therefore bias optical emission-line diagnostics. We use 20,545 high-confidence emission-line galaxies observed by both the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) as a two-fibre experiment in which the DESI 1.5 arcsec fibre is nested within the SDSS 3 arcsec fibre. To isolate aperture effects from line-measurement systematics, we refit every spectrum using the same eMILES stellar-continuum and emission-line model while preserving the wavelength-dependent line-spread function of each spectrum. This common refit yields 20,200 quality-controlled matched galaxies. Relative to SDSS, the smaller DESI aperture produces small but highly significant offsets: $\Delta \log \left(\mathrm{N}2\right)=+0.0067\pm 0.0002$, $\Delta \log \left(\mathrm{S}2\right)=-0.0148\pm 0.0003$, $\Delta \log \left(\mathrm{O}3\right)=-0.0246\pm 0.0006$, $\Delta \mathrm{O}3\mathrm{N}2=-0.0327\pm 0.0007$, and $\Delta \log (\mathrm{H}\alpha /\mathrm{H}\beta )=-0.0195\pm 0.0003$, where Δ denotes DESI minus SDSS. These offsets persist in Baldwin–Phillips–Terlevich-selected star-forming galaxies and in a near-concentric subset. Their amplitudes vary across the redshift distribution and retain a measurable dependence on apparent fibre coverage after redshift is controlled, showing that redshift and relative aperture coverage jointly modulate the aperture terms. We conclude that, for high-S/N emission-line galaxies, DESI–SDSS comparisons carry measurable, diagnostic-dependent fibre-aperture terms, even when continuum modelling, emission-line fitting, and spectral-resolution treatment are held fixed. Full article

Global modeling of soil net nitrogen mineralization rates (Nmin) is challenging due to the absence of an integrated system that accurately quantifies their magnitude and spatial distribution. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the spatial variability of Nmin using a comprehensive dataset of 1347 Nmin measurements from 291 studies, combined with high-resolution climate and soil data. Our global maps reveal average Nmin rates of 1.68, 5.17, and 1.71 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for cropland, forest, and grassland soils, respectively. Integrating projected climate scenarios, we also explore potential shifts in Nmin patterns under future varying environmental conditions. Key factors influencing Nmin include mean annual precipitation, soil pH, total nitrogen, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and microbial biomass nitrogen, with microbial biomass nitrogen playing a particularly significant role. These findings underscore the potential of global-scale Nmin modeling to support informed decision-making, facilitating optimal fertilizer use and management practices that promote soil health and sustained productivity. Full article