Search Results (1,826)

The development of sustainable, biocompatible scaffolds with enhanced structural stability remains a primary challenge in bone tissue engineering. In this study, structurally reinforced nanocomposite scaffolds were successfully fabricated by integrating green-synthesized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) into a gelatin (G) matrix, offering an innovative platform that mimics the organic–inorganic interfaces of natural bone tissue. The CQDs were derived from oatmeal via a sustainable, green hydrothermal route, serving simultaneously as zero-dimensional reinforcing fillers and bioactive agents within the biopolymer network. To ensure an additive-free fabrication process that avoids toxic chemical cross-linkers, dehydrothermal (DHT) treatment was employed, successfully modulating the interfacial and chemical cross-linking interactions between the gelatin chains and the oxygen-rich surface groups of the CQDs. Structural characterization confirmed the uniform dispersion of CQDs (average diameter 7–8 nm) within the porous gelatin framework. The incorporation of CQDs significantly improved the physicochemical properties of the scaffolds; the G/CQD 5% formulation emerged as the optimal composition, exhibiting a 118% increase in compression modulus compared to pristine gelatin. The composite demonstrated tuned swelling kinetics and a significantly reduced degradation rate, restricting mass loss after 14 days of incubation to approximately 24% compared to 40% for pristine gelatin, which is essential for maintaining a structural template during the initial stages of tissue formation. Bioactivity assays in simulated body fluid (SBF) confirmed the rapid, biomimetic induction of a crystalline hydroxyapatite layer with a natural Ca/P ratio of 1.61 within 14 days. Furthermore, preliminary in vitro assessments using Human Skin Fibroblasts (HSFs) confirmed excellent general cytocompatibility, with cell viability exceeding 90%. This study highlights the unique potential of utilizing biomass-derived carbon nanostructures and clean manufacturing processing to engineer multifunctional scaffolds with enhanced structural stability and intrinsic bioactivity for potential bone defect repairs. Full article

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) frequently coexist, but the clinical relevance of AF may differ according to whether it appears to be a potentially reversible contributor, an aggravating factor in established HF, or a marker of advanced substrate. The driver–modifier–marker lens used in this review is a provisional, nonvalidated aid to clinical reasoning and should not be interpreted as a treatment score. This narrative review was informed by dated searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and OpenAlex through 29 July 2026, followed by a targeted update on 30 July 2026. It considers HF with reduced, mildly reduced, and preserved ejection fraction together with AF timing, burden, ventricular-rate exposure, myocardial substrate, and reversibility. Early rhythm control may be particularly relevant when AF is recent or temporally associated with ventricular dysfunction, symptoms, decompensation, or inadequate cardiac resynchronization therapy delivery. Evidence supporting catheter ablation is most direct in suspected AF-mediated cardiomyopathy and selected HFrEF populations, whereas evidence in HFpEF more consistently supports symptom relief, improved exercise hemodynamics, and AF-burden reduction than mortality reduction. Pulmonary vein isolation remains the procedural foundation. Radiofrequency, cryoballoon, and pulsed-field ablation are effective in broad AF populations, but HF phenotype-specific prognostic superiority has not been established for any energy source. Clinical decisions should reflect the design and directness of the evidence together with expected benefit, rhythm durability, procedural risk, patient-reported outcomes, stroke prevention, guideline-directed HF therapy, risk-factor management, and patient preference. Full article

Keratin is an abundant, recalcitrant structural protein that constitutes the primary component of several animal wastes, particularly chicken feathers. Because of their potential and availability, various technologies, such as anaerobic biodigestion, have been used to degrade keratin and transform feathers into biogas and other value-added products. However, due to their fibrous architecture and rigid structure, keratinous materials are elastic, water-insoluble, and enzymatically resistant, which makes natural degradation difficult. In this sense, before using chicken feathers as feedstock in biodigesters, the keratin in the residue must be cleaved in pretreatment steps. Whether as a single substrate or in co-digestion processes, the keratin breakdown is critical for enhancing biogas production from feathers. In this context, there is growing emphasis on developing pretreatment methods to facilitate protein hydrolysis and digestion, thereby improving biogas generation. To evaluate progress in recycling waste keratin, a bibliometric analysis of original scientific publications on the pretreatment of chicken feathers for anaerobic digestion was conducted using the Scopus database. The findings indicate that researchers apply chicken feathers in processes, including standard biodigestion, co-digestion with food waste, animal manure, and slaughterhouse waste, for biomethane and biohydrogen production. Across the evaluated studies, the pretreatment methods showed notable improvements in feather solubilization and subsequent biogas yield; however, they still encounter key limitations, including ammonia (NH₃) inhibition, high chemical/reagent costs, and high energy demand. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mosquito-borne viruses cause substantial global morbidity and mortality. Mosquito saliva, secreted during biting, facilitates blood feeding and can enhance virus infection. Here, we evaluated whether combining virus-specific antigens with mosquito salivary protein-derived peptides improves protection in Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) mouse models. Methods: Peptides from Aedes and Culex salivary proteins were selected based on conservation, predicted T-cell reactivity, and cellular and humoral immunogenicity in mice. Mice were immunised subcutaneously with a prime and boost two weeks apart using adjuvanted salivary peptides (SAL), commercial ZIKV- or CHIKV-like particles (VLPs), or salivary peptides combined with the relevant VLPs. Vaccine doses contained 0.5 µg VLPs and/or 10 nmol of each salivary peptide, formulated with Montanide ISA-51; when combined, VLPs and SAL were administered on opposite flanks. Two weeks after boosting, mice were challenged with ZIKV or CHIKV plus Aedes aegypti saliva. Challenge teams were blinded to group allocation until data analyses were complete. Results: SAL enhanced the protective effect of VLP vaccination compared with VLPs alone. In the CHIKV model, CHIKV VLP + SAL prevented joint swelling and reduced infectious virus in the inoculated ankle and viral RNA in the contralateral ankle. In the ZIKV model, ZIKV VLP + SAL reduced viral RNA in skin and brain tissue and improved survival. Conclusions: Mosquito salivary peptide antigens improved the protective efficacy of VLP vaccines against ZIKV and CHIKV in mouse models. Salivary antigens may provide a complementary vaccine component for multiple arboviruses transmitted by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes. Full article

Mango fruits are popular for their flavor. Sugar, a key component of fruit nutrition and flavor, determines fruit quality via its composition and content. While many studies explore molecular regulatory pathways of sugar metabolism in various fruits, large-scale physiological screening of related enzymes via advanced mathematical methods is largely neglected, and the physiological mechanism of sugar accumulation in mango remains unclear. This study analyzed glucose, fructose, sucrose and starch contents, and the activities of 11 sugar metabolism-related enzymes (adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP); sucrose synthase (SS); sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS); protein kinase (PK); starch debranching enzyme (DBE); phosphoglucomutase (PGM); α-amylase; β-amylase; isoamylase (ISA); sucrose invertase (INV); acid invertase (AI)) from fruit growth to post-ripening stages of mango cultivar ‘Renong No.1’, determined the correlations among soluble sugar, starch and enzyme activities, and constructed mathematical models of inter-group relationships using R language. The results showed that glucose, fructose and starch accumulated during fruit growth, while sucrose accumulated during post-ripening. Fructose content was significantly positively correlated with AGP, α-amylase, AI, β-amylase and SPS activities; so was glucose content and AGP activity; sucrose content and AGP, AI, PK, α-amylase, ISA, INV and SPS activities; and sweetness value and AGP, α-amylase, AI, SPS, SS and β-amylase activities. AI, AGP and α-amylase were identified as the key enzymes influencing sweetness value. Ultimately, a new visualizing and digitizing statistical approach for roles of eleven key enzymes in sweet value and soluble sugar component content during mango development was shown. Full article

The potential benefits of deep sea mining for the International Seabed Authority members and the wider world economy are explained. However, deep sea mining is controversial because of its uncertain effects on deep sea ecology, with severe negative effects being possible. As a countermeasure it is argued that the existing royalty and tax system operated through the ISA could be used to manage pollution levels should these turn out to be serious, which at present is not clearly known. Full article

Background: Breast cancer continues to be a major contributor to illness among women in Jordan, particularly in underserved regions. Despite the establishment of mammography services in southern Jordan, no formal quality assurance audit has evaluated diagnostic performance or geographic equity of access. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of mammography services using established quality assurance indicators and to investigate geographic variation in mammographic findings and diagnostic pathways among women attending a regional referral center in southern Jordan. Methods: This study employed a retrospective hospital-based clinical audit that was conducted using mammography records from Ma’an Hospital between 2016 and 2024. A total of 592 women aged 20 years and older who underwent mammography were included. Data extracted from electronic and paper-based medical records included demographic characteristics, mammography indication, BI-RADS^® classifications, follow-up procedures, reporting timelines, and histopathological outcomes. Histopathological confirmation served as the reference standard for diagnostic accuracy analyses. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using Cancer Detection Rate (CDR), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Geographic variation was evaluated according to place of residence, while multivariable logistic regression was used to determine whether associations remained independent of age and mammography indication. Results: Of the 592 mammography examinations, 354 (59.8%) were performed for screening purposes and 238 (40.2%) for diagnostic evaluation. BI-RADS^® 1 and BI-RADS^® 2 were the most frequently assigned categories, accounting for 38.3% and 28.7% of examinations, respectively, whereas BI-RADS^® 4 and 5 findings accounted for 6.3% and 1.0%. The overall CDR was 52.4 per 1000 examinations with sensitivity (93.9% (95% CI 80.4–98.3%)) and specificity (97.4% (95% CI 95.3–98.5%)), positive predictive value (PPV) (73.8% (95% CI 58.0–86.1%)), and negative predictive value (NPV) (99.5% (95% CI 98.2–99.9%)). Suspicious findings (BI-RADS^® 4–5) were significantly more frequent among urban than rural women (9.4% vs. 3.7%; adjusted OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.37–6.78), whereas reporting delay, ultrasound use, biopsy rate, and further follow-up did not differ significantly by residence. Conclusions: Mammography services at Ma’an Hospital exhibit high diagnostic accuracy and strong clinical performance in breast cancer detection over the nine-year study period. Women in rural areas were less likely to have suspicious mammographic findings detected than those in urban areas, regardless of age and mammography type. No significant differences were observed in reporting timelines or follow-up procedures by place of residence. These findings underscore the value of regional quality assurance audits in identifying service disparities and guiding improvements in breast cancer screening and diagnostic services, especially in underserved communities. Full article

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is a major cause of respiratory and enteric diseases in cattle, resulting in substantial economic losses to the global cattle industry. Next-generation epitope-focused vaccines require conserved neutralizing determinants to achieve broad protective efficacy across circulating variants. Here, we applied a reverse-vaccinology and immunoinformatics-guided strategy to identify conserved linear B-cell epitope candidates on the BCoV spike protein. Using ABCPred (16 aa; threshold score 0.51), 139 putative linear B-cell epitopes were predicted, and 10 candidates (B1–B10) were selected based on antigenicity, allergenicity/toxicity filters, and Shannon-entropy-based conservation (≥95%). Each candidate was displayed on Helicobacter pylori ferritin and TEM confirmed the formation of self-assembled nanocages. BALB/c mice (n = 6 per group) were subcutaneously immunized with 50 μg of each epitope–ferritin fusion protein emulsified 1:1 with Montanide ISA 201 in a prime–boost regimen (at a 14-day interval), and sera were collected 14 days after the booster immunization. All 10 constructs induced BCoV-specific binding IgG (endpoint titers ranging from 1:2667 to 1:11,733), but only B1, B2, B4, B6, B7, and B8 elicited detectable in vitro neutralizing activity against both representative strains, whereas B3, B5, B9, and B10 remained below the detection limit (<1:8). Neutralizing titers were 1:24–1:99 for the enteric strain XHD4 and 1:27–1:88 for the respiratory strain HXD1, with no significant difference observed between the two strains (p > 0.05). Overall, these findings identify six conserved B-cell epitope candidates capable of eliciting neutralizing antibody responses against both representative enteric and respiratory field strains, providing experimental evidence to support epitope-focused BCoV vaccine design. Full article

Background: Miscarriage is a significant global health concern, affecting approximately 10–20% of recognized pregnancies and resulting in substantial physical and psychological consequences. Chronic inflammatory conditions such as periodontitis may contribute to pregnancy loss through systemic inflammatory and immune-mediated pathways. However, the combined predictive value of periodontal destruction and hematological inflammatory markers for miscarriage risk remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of periodontal and hematological parameters for predicting miscarriage risk using artificial intelligence-based models. Methods: A total of 82 participants (41 women who experienced miscarriage and 41 healthy pregnant controls) were included in this study. Fourteen clinical variables, including maternal age, periodontal indices, and hematological inflammatory markers, were analyzed. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) models were developed to predict miscarriage risk. Model performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R²), mean squared error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and Willmott’s Index of Agreement. Results: Clinical attachment loss (CAL) was identified as a primary predictor of miscarriage risk within the study cohort. Both machine learning models exhibited promising predictive potential; however, the XGBoost model showed enhanced performance compared to the ANN. XGBoost achieved an R² of 0.92088 and an MSE of 0.0235, indicating consistent predictive capabilities for this preliminary dataset. Conclusions: The results highlight a significant relationship between oral health, systemic inflammation, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The integration of periodontal and hematological biomarkers within machine learning frameworks provides a non-invasive, cost-effective, and preliminary proof-of-concept approach for miscarriage risk assessment. These findings support the development of personalized risk prediction strategies and may facilitate earlier clinical interventions aimed at improving maternal and fetal health outcomes. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) was originally domesticated in China and is a kind of significant leguminous crop, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen to bioavailable nitrogen in association with rhizobia. Ceramides, intermediates of sphingolipids, are crucial structural components in membrane formation and also function as signaling molecules, which play crucial roles in plant development and defense. Although Arabidopsis ceramide synthase genes AtLOH1 and AtLOH3 overexpression plants increased biomass compared to the wild type, the potential mechanism in plant growth was still unclear. A soybean ceramide synthase gene 1 (GmCS1) has a high expression level in the stem, and the protein is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Overexpression of GmCS1 promotes soybean lateral branch development for effective branch formation, significantly increasing the number of lateral branches and pods. Using transcriptomic profiles, we found that GmCS1 overexpression lines displayed the upregulation of plant hormone signal transduction pathway gene expression in developmental branches. Actually, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) induces bud outgrowth rather than initiation according to the determination of endogenous IAA and cytokinin (CKs) in soybean lateral branches. Collectively, these results suggest that GmCS1 may be a functional ceramide synthase gene in soybean, with the GmCS1-mediated regulatory network playing a crucial role in controlling branch development by IAA and CKs homeostasis. Exploring the regulation mechanisms by GmCS1 overexpression lines is essential for Ideal Soybean Architecture (ISA) innovation. Full article

The leaching behavior of bisphenol A (BPA) remains a significant environmental concern. Despite EU regulatory restrictions and the World Health Organization (WHO) establishing precautionary values for human exposure to this monomer, BPA is still widely used in polymer-based products, including materials for sewer rehabilitation. Standard leaching assessments typically employ deionized water, although natural waters represent actual field conditions. This study investigates the release of BPA and its substitute, bisphenol F (BPF), from an epoxy resin system and a vinyl ester resin system. Sample discs (0.5 cm in height and 11 cm in diameter) were subjected to dynamic surface leaching tests using groundwater and tap water as leaching media. Eluate replacement intervals followed the standardized Dynamic Surface Leaching Test (DSLT; EN 16637-2), marking the first application of natural waters within this standardized test procedure. The detection limit for the gas chromatography analyses was 0.001 µg/L. Compared with the deionized water prescribed by the standard, natural waters resulted in significantly higher cumulative releases of BPA and BPF, with cumulative BPA release increasing by factors of 5.2–9.2 to a maximum of 0.412 mg/m². These findings indicate that the standardized 64-day DSLT may underestimate environmentally relevant emissions and that permissible cumulative release values, derived from modeling and regulatory thresholds, may not be maintained under environmentally relevant conditions. GC–MS screening and the Umu test showed no evidence of genotoxic effects in the leachates. Exploratory analysis suggested a positive relationship between BPA release and pH (R² = 0.79). Overall, the results demonstrate that the choice of leaching medium strongly influences measured emissions and should therefore be reconsidered in assessment frameworks for polymer-based construction materials to better reflect environmentally relevant conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant strains have caused widespread outbreaks in China since 2011, and currently available vaccines provide suboptimal protection. Glycoprotein D (gD), the principal target of virus-neutralizing antibodies, represents a promising antigen for subunit vaccine development. However, CHO cell-based production systems suitable for large-scale manufacturing remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to develop a potentially scalable CHO cell-derived PRV gD subunit vaccine and evaluate its immunogenicity and protective efficacy in mice. Methods: A stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) suspension cell line secreting the extracellular domain of PRV gD was established through signal peptide optimization and stepwise serum-free adaptation. The recombinant gD protein was purified using Ni²⁺- Sepharose High-Performance affinity chromatography and subsequently formulated with MONTANIDE ISA 206 adjuvant. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy were assessed in BALB/c mice through serological analysis, neutralization assays, lethal challenge experiments, and quantitative PCR. Results: The gD subunit vaccine induced rapid seroconversion of gD-specific IgG antibodies as early as 7 days post immunization and exhibited a strong booster effect, maintaining high antibody levels. Neutralizing antibodies were first detected at 14 days and increased significantly after booster immunization, with titers markedly exceeding those induced by a commercial inactivated PRV vaccine at 42 days (p = 0.001). Following lethal challenge with 10⁴ TCID₅₀ of the highly virulent PRV-TJ variant strain, vaccinated mice achieved 100% survival without clinical signs. Viral genome copy numbers in the brain and spinal cord were reduced by approximately 3.3 to 4.4 log₁₀ relative to the PBS control group. Conclusions: The CHO cell-derived PRV gD subunit vaccine elicits robust humoral immune responses and provides complete protection against lethal PRV variant challenge in mice. These findings support its further evaluation in the natural swine host toward the development of a safe and scalable subunit vaccine for pseudorabies control. Full article

Background/Objectives: Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis corrects idiopathic genu valgum during growth, but alignment may drift after implant removal. Radiographic alignment to skeletal maturity was evaluated, and factors associated with post-removal rebound were explored. Methods: This single-center longitudinal observational cohort study included 17 patients (31 limbs) treated with tension-band plates. Standing long-leg radiographs were assessed before implantation (t0), at plate removal (t1), and at final follow-up after skeletal maturity (t2). Rebound was defined as a lateral mechanical-axis deviation (MAD) shift of at least 5 mm from t1 to t2. Paired comparisons and exploratory linear regression models were used to assess longitudinal changes and potential predictors of rebound. Results: Mean age was 13.53 ± 1.27 years at t0, 14.67 ± 1.45 years at t1, and 19.64 ± 1.08 years at t2. MAD changed from −15.06 ± 7.32 mm at t0 to 3.65 ± 7.29 mm at t1 and −1.03 ± 7.48 mm at t2. The mean lateral shift after plate removal was 4.68 ± 6.55 mm (p < 0.001). A total of 15 of 31 limbs (48.4%) met the rebound definition. At t2, 29 limbs (93.5%) remained within Stevens zones ±1. Greater residual growth (univariate b = 0.621, p = 0.003) and isolated distal femoral plating (univariate b = 5.534 mm, p = 0.017) were associated with greater lateral drift and remained significant in the multivariable model. Conclusions: Post-removal rebound was frequent but generally modest, with the observed alignment drift predominantly reflecting distal femoral change. Nevertheless, most limbs remained within the central, clinically acceptable Stevens zones at skeletal maturity. These findings support continued radiographic surveillance, particularly following isolated distal femoral correction and in patients with substantial residual growth. Full article

Impervious surfaces create heterogeneous planting sites for urban trees, but whether crown-scale sealing is associated jointly with leaf economics and reproductive dispersal morphology remains unclear. We aimed to test these associations in mature female Populus tomentosa while treating impervious surface area (ISA) as a composite indicator of site context rather than a direct measure of thermal or hydrological stress. In a single-season, cross-sectional survey of 180 trees in Beijing (60 per low-, mid-, and high-ISA descriptive stratum), we measured crown-scale ISA, short-term midday ground-surface temperature, a pervious-soil access-moisture index (PSAMI), eight leaf traits, and five reproductive traits, and analyzed continuous associations, group contrasts, effect sizes, and multivariate patterns. Greater ISA was associated with lower PSAMI (R² = 0.581) and higher land surface temperature (R² = 0.845). Compared with low-ISA trees, high-ISA trees had lower specific leaf area (117.5 ± 29.1 vs. 90.9 ± 19.0 cm² g⁻¹; Hedges’ g = −1.07, 95% CI [−1.50, −0.71]) and longer seed hairs (0.564 ± 0.067 vs. 0.727 ± 0.078 cm; g = 2.24, 95% CI [1.82, 2.78]), together with greater fuzz biomass and lower seed mass. Multivariate analyses showed coordinated shifts in mean leaf and reproductive phenotype without stronger within-stratum cross-module integration. We conclude that the study’s principal contribution is the joint description of vegetative economics and reproductive dispersal morphology on the same mature urban trees. Because ISA co-varied with land use and management and PSAMI includes structural zeros, the findings are preliminary and do not establish causal stress mechanisms, plant-available water status, airborne exposure, or management effects; multi-year matched-site validation is required. Full article

Background/Objectives: The 2023 revision of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system redefines endometrial cancer staging by integrating histopathological and molecular parameters into conventional anatomic assessment. We aimed to quantify stage migration following reclassification from FIGO 2009 to FIGO 2023, to evaluate its impact on survival, and to identify independent prognostic determinants within this restaged cohort. Methods: In this two-center retrospective cohort study, 291 patients with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer were restaged according to both FIGO 2009 and FIGO 2023 systems. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method, and independent prognostic determinants were identified through multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results: Application of FIGO 2023 resulted in stage migration in 32.0% of patients, with 30.6% upstaged and 1.4% downstaged. Upstaged patients demonstrated significantly worse PFS and OS compared with downstaged patients and patients without stage change (p < 0.001 for both). Notably, among patients initially classified as FIGO 2009 stage I, 38% were reassigned to a higher stage and exhibited a marked survival disadvantage (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, advanced age and positive surgical margins independently predicted both poorer PFS and OS, while lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) independently predicted inferior PFS. The association with positive surgical margins, however, likely reflected concurrent advanced-stage disease. Conclusions: The FIGO 2023 staging system results in substantial stage redistribution in endometrial cancer and provides clearer survival discrimination, particularly by identifying previously unrecognized high-risk subgroups within early-stage disease. The significant survival disadvantage observed among upstaged patients indicates that the revised system may more accurately reflect biologically driven risk stratification. However, stage migration was not independently associated with survival after adjustment for its constituent pathological factors. Full article