Search Results (125,460)

We present the single-cell transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from individuals during acute HIV-1 infection caused by viral strains circulating in Russia and the Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries. Using 10x Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on the Illumina NextSeq 550 platform, we have analyzed scRNA-seq data from three treatment-naive patients (viral load > 1 × 10⁶ copies/mL, estimated infection duration ≤ 4 weeks) and three healthy donors. Data integration (Seurat, Harmony), automated cell-type annotation (CellTypist), and GeneOntology (GO) enrichment analysis for highly expressed and low-expressed genes revealed a profound reorganization of transcriptional programs across key immune populations, including memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, non-classical monocytes and natural killer cells (NK-cells). We observed signatures of hyperactivation of pro-inflammatory pathways (NF-kB, TNF, and type I/II interferon signaling), upregulation of genes associated with cellular migration (CXCR4, CCR7) and metabolic adaptation (oxidative phosphorylation components), alongside a mixed pro- and anti-apoptotic expression profile. Notably, our data pointed to a pronounced dysregulation of the TGF-β and mTOR signaling cascades, disrupted intercellular communication networks—particularly between cytotoxic cells and their regulators—altered expression of genes implicated in disease progression (OLR1, SERPINB2, COPS9) and viral persistence control (NEAT1, NAF1). This work provides an initial single-cell transcriptional atlas characterizing early immune responses to HIV-1 sub-subtypes A6 and CRF63_02A6, the predominant drivers of the HIV epidemic across the FSU region. Full article

This article discusses the fundamental limitations of Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) systems, an emerging visible light communication technology that is constrained by line-of-sight dependency and optical attenuation. Unlike existing adaptive modulation approaches that focus solely on improving signal processing, we present an integrated framework that combines three key contributions: (1) an adaptive modulation optimization algorithm that selects among OOK, PAM, and OFDM schemes based on instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio thresholds, achieving a 30–40% range extension compared to fixed modulation references; (2) a method for spatial optimization of access points (APs) using the L-BFGS-B algorithm to determine the optimal location of APs, taking into account lighting constraints and coverage uniformity; and (3) comprehensive system-level modeling incorporating shot noise, thermal noise, inter-symbol interference, and dynamic shadowing effects for realistic performance evaluation. Through extensive simulations on multiple room geometries (6 m × 5 m to 20 m × 15 m) and AP configurations (one to six APs), we demonstrate that the proposed adaptive system achieves an average throughput 60% higher than that of fixed OOK, while maintaining 98.7% coverage in a 10 m × 8 m environment with two optimally placed APs. The framework provides practical design guidelines for Li-Fi deployment, including an analysis of computational complexity $O(M\times N)$ for coverage assessment, $O(I\times D^3)$ for access point optimization) and a characterization of convergence behavior. A comparative analysis with state-of-the-art techniques (optical smart reflective surfaces, machine learning-based blockage prediction, and Li-Fi/RF hybrid configurations) positions our lightweight algorithmic approach as suitable for resource-constrained deployment scenarios, where system-level integration and practical feasibility take precedence over innovation in individual components. Full article

Early diagnosis and identification of causative pathogens using blood culture in patients suspected of blood stream infection (BSI) and sepsis are critical for improving patient outcomes through earlier and more targeted treatment. There is a need for tools that can guide the use of microbiologic diagnostics, especially where resources are limited, such as in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pandemic and mass-casualty scenarios, and prolonged field care settings during military operations. Methods: Post hoc retrospective analysis of individual patient data from three prospective clinical studies, conducted in North America, Europe and Africa, to investigate the association between SeptiCyte RAPID test results (SeptiScores) and blood culture (BC) results. Hypothesis: that a significant correlation exists between elevated SeptiScores and positive blood culture results, and between low SeptiScores and negative blood culture results. Results: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) was 0.91 for 85 BC(+) versus 257 SIRS and was 0.80 for 164 BC(−) versus 257 SIRS. As the SeptiScore increases, the relative probability of a septic patient being BC(+) as opposed to BC(−) also increases. A non-linear positive correlation is observed. Below a crossover point at SeptiScore 10, the ratio of probabilities of BC(+) sepsis/BC(−) sepsis is <1, while above the crossover point, this ratio is >1. Thus, septic patients with SeptiScores >10 have a higher probability of being BC(+) compared to BC(−). Conclusions: Elevated SeptiScores, obtained before blood culture results, are indicative of increased blood culture positivity. This may have clinical utility, particularly in resource-limited settings, as an aid for improving the efficiency of blood culture practice, for instance, by informing patient selection and interpretation of blood culture results. Full article

Background/Objectives: Home Enteral Nutrition Therapy (HENT) is widely used for patients with preserved gastrointestinal function who cannot maintain adequate oral intake. It can be administered through commercial formulas (CF) or artisanal preparation (AP). Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study with a quantitative and qualitative approach, conducted through semi-structured interviews by the researcher herself. Patients using HENT were evaluated for nutritional status using a 24 h dietary recall, and their quality of life was assessed using a questionnaire administered during an interview with the patient and/or caregiver. Microbial characteristics of the diets were evaluated by collecting samples and performing microbiological analyses according to standard methods. Results: 22 patients participated, mostly elderly, bedridden, and dependent, with gastrostomy as the primary method of administration (72.7%) and CF as the most commonly used (54.5%). AP consisted of cooked vegetables, legumes, milk, oil, and salt, and showed low nutritional diversity and a high risk of microbiological contamination due to manual handling. Frequent complications included diarrhea (72.7%) and mechanical complications (77.7%). Despite these issues, 91% of participants rated their quality of life as acceptable. Conclusions: HENT posed significant challenges to nutritional adequacy and microbiological safety, particularly among patients using artisanal preparations. These findings highlight the need for systematic monitoring and individualized adjustments by a multidisciplinary team, along with structured caregiver training, to optimize intake, reduce complications, and improve the quality and safety of home-based enteral therapy. Full article

Bone regeneration in critical-size defects requires biomaterials that provide both structural support and appropriate osteoinductive cues. Natural nacre contains an organic matrix rich in acidic macromolecules with reported osteogenic activity; however, its in vivo regenerative potential remains insufficiently explored. This study evaluated the bone regenerative capacity of nacre-derived materials alone and combined with oxidized porous silicon microparticles (pSi-MP), a bioactive material known to release silicic acid and support mineralized tissue formation. Critical-size defects were created in four caudal vertebrae of Wistar rats and filled with nacre, pSi-MP, a nacre–pSi composite, or left empty. After 60 days, bone formation was assessed using micro-computed tomography and non-decalcified histology. Empty defects failed to regenerate, whereas nacre and pSi-MP individually promoted partial mineralized tissue deposition. The nacre–pSi composite produced the most extensive repair, showing near-complete defect bridging, higher bone mineral density, and seamless integration of particles within newly formed bone. No inflammation or adverse reactions were observed, and osteoid deposition occurred directly on material surfaces. These findings demonstrate that nacre-derived materials exert intrinsic osteogenic effects in vivo and that combining nacre with porous silicon yields a synergistic response that significantly enhances bone regeneration. The composite represents a promising candidate for future bone repair strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Patient Support Programs (PSPs) are increasingly used to support treatment adherence and continuity of care in chronic, high-cost conditions. In hemophilia A, consistent prophylaxis is essential to prevent bleeding episodes and long-term joint damage. In Mexico, disparities in access to treatment have encouraged the development of public–industry collaborative models. The objective of this study was to describe the structure, implementation, and operational characteristics of a PSP delivering home-based prophylactic treatment for individuals with hemophilia A in Mexico, and to compare annual bleeding rates according to factor VIII dosing adequacy. Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis was conducted using fully anonymized operational data from the PSP registry between January 2023 and March 2024. Variables included infusion location and administrator, prescribed and used doses, weekly infusion frequency, program incorporation and discontinuation, geographic coverage, and bleeding events. Annual bleeding rates were compared across dosing categories using Poisson regression models with patient-years as an offset. Results: A total of 1173 patients contributed 16,331 infusion records. Participants were predominantly male (99.8%), with a median age of 26 years; 71.8% had severe hemophilia. Home infusion accounted for 92.0% of administrations, primarily self-administered or caregiver-delivered. The median prescribed and used monthly doses were 18,000 IU and 16,000 IU, respectively, with dose concordance observed in 66.8% of records. Only 40.7% of patients achieved the recommended prophylactic frequency of three infusions per week. Geographic coverage increased from 62.5% to 71.9% of states. The overall annualized bleeding rate was 2.24 bleeds per patient-year. When stratified by dosing adequacy, patients receiving doses consistent with clinical recommendations showed the lowest bleeding rate (0.18 bleeds per patient-year), compared with those with overdosing (3.84) and underdosing (6.68), with statistically significant differences between groups. Knees, elbows, and ankles were the most frequently affected sites. Conclusions: This PSP achieved broad national reach and high adoption of home-based infusion. The observed dose-dependent differences in bleeding rates underscore the clinical relevance of appropriate prophylactic dosing within structured support programs and support the value of PSPs in strengthening treatment continuity in middle-income settings. Full article

As the threat from malicious UAVs continues to intensify, accurate identification of individual UAVs has become a critical challenge in regulatory and security domains. Existing single-signal analysis methods suffer from limited recognition accuracy. To address this issue, this paper proposes a high-precision individual identification method for UAVs based on FFS-SPWVD and DIR-YOLOv11. The proposed method first employs a frame-by-frame search strategy combined with the smoothing pseudo-Wigner–Ville distribution (SPWVD) algorithm to obtain effective time–frequency feature representations of flight control signals. Building on this foundation, the YOLOv11n network is adopted as the baseline architecture. To enhance the extraction of time–frequency texture features from UAV signals in complex environments, a Multi-Branch Auxiliary Multi-Scale Fusion Network is incorporated into the neck network. Meanwhile, partial space–frequency selective convolutions are introduced into selected C3k2 modules to alleviate the increased computational burden caused by architectural modifications and to reduce the overall number of model parameters. Experimental results on the public DroneRFb-DIR dataset demonstrate that the proposed method effectively extracts flight control frames and performs high-resolution time–frequency analysis. In individual UAV identification tasks, the proposed approach achieves 96.17% accuracy, 97.82% mAP50, and 95.29% recall, outperforming YOLOv11, YOLOv12, and YOLOv13. This study demonstrates that the proposed method achieves both high accuracy and computational efficiency in individual UAV recognition, providing a practical technical solution for whitelist identification and group size estimation in application scenarios such as border patrol, traffic control, and large-scale events. Full article

Maritime nations around the world proactively engage in preparedness, response, and recovery activities related to marine oil spills. In addition to an individual nation’s capabilities, there are a number of response organizations that are actively engaged in the surveillance, monitoring, and remote sensing of spilled oil. A global survey was conducted of these organizations to better understand surveillance/remote sensing capabilities operationally employed today from four aerial platforms: satellites, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs). Satellite remote sensing continues to be used for both routine surveillance of coastal environments and in support of response to oil spills. Additionally, there is a strong continued use of fixed-wing aircraft, and in some cases helicopters, particularly to support operational response to oil spills. Many of these fixed-wing aircraft are outfitted with sensor suites optimized for oil spill detection and documentation. Of particular interest is the recent introduction and widespread use of RPASs for the response of marine oil spills and oiled shorelines. Respondents identified operational gaps in remote sensing capabilities to support oil spill response, including the accurate measurement of oil spill thickness and volume, differentiation between petroleum oil and biogenic materials, and the detection of water-in-oil emulsions. Survey respondents also shared remote sensing capabilities used for oiled shorelines, as well as identifying research and operational gaps in the surveillance of oil spills. Full article

The adaptive immune system plays a vital role in protecting individuals against invading pathogens primarily through its ability to discern self- versus non-self-antigens. Conditions leading to the breakdown of such immune surveillance can have devastating consequences, one of them being erroneous recognition and immune response against self-antigens, resulting in autoimmunity. Autoimmune diseases (AID) are widespread and span multiple organ systems and cellular functions. Historically, the etiology of AID is multifarious and complex owing to a mix of genetic predisposition and environmental conditions. However, in recent years the study of somatic mutations has gained traction in understanding the basis of AID. Somatic mutations commonly result from elevated DNA damage and inefficient DNA repair and have been linked to cancer. Moreover, the hyper-inflammatory microenvironment is highly conducive to the accumulation of DNA damage in immune cells. Thus, understanding the mutational burden and landscape of somatic mutagenesis in the context of AID can illuminate the basis of disease development and progression. In this review, we summarize past and current research on genome instability in AID, focusing on the nexus between inflammation, immune response, DNA damage, and mutagenesis, and discuss the possible link between AID and cancer development. We provide examples of autoimmune disorders that have been studied from a mutational standpoint and outline results from key studies highlighting the extent of DNA damage and mutagenesis in cells from AID patients. Lastly, we provide our perspective on the key challenges and future directions to understand the role of somatic mutagenesis in autoimmunity and cancer. Full article

Background: A training program for University Internship Supervisors in Dentistry (UISD) was created from scratch in 2022 at the Faculty of Dentistry in Tours. Designed to prepare practitioners for the role of UISD, it is structured into three distinct modules, each with specific educational objectives. The first module, dedicated to the supervision of students during observation internships, has been delivered for three years. Aim: To assess the experience of UISDs as trainers, to identify their perceptions of their role, and to assess their expectations regarding the future development of this training. The study also aimed to propose a knowledge and competency framework that could serve as a basis for this first module. Methods: A qualitative approach was used, based on semi-structured individual interviews with trained UISDs who had supervised students during observation internships. Interviews were coded and analyzed inductively. Results: A total of 19 UISDs participated in the study. The mean age was 49.4 years, with an average of 23.9 years of private practice experience. Providing high-quality supervision to students in their offices was considered a major priority. Based on these results, the UISD training program was revised to identify four structuring themes for a competency framework: the internship environment, required knowledge, interpersonal skills (soft skills), and practical skills (know-how). Conclusions: The UISD training program in dentistry, designed for observation internships, has been adapted to meet practitioners’ expectations and has evolved into an initial structured framework of competencies and knowledge for supervising students during observation internships. This framework will require ongoing refinement. Full article

Research on how corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices linked to sustainable operations (SO) affect corporate financial performance (FP) is still limited. This study presents a novel methodological proposal to measure the individual impact of such practices on the profitability of companies listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The method employed consists of a Random Forest (RF) model complemented by Explainable Machine Learning (XML) techniques, namely Individual Conditional Expectation (ICE), Partial Dependence Plots (PDPs) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), to calculate the individualized marginal effect in the return on assets (RoA), return on equity (RoE) and return on investment capital (ROIC) for each company, explained by the environmental, social, and governance scores provided by Bloomberg (Bloomberg Finance, L.P., New York, NY, USA), such as the market capitalization, debt-to-equity ratio, sales growth, and years since listing. The novelty of this model lies in the application of RF and XML, which offers a comprehensive and interpretable perspective on the CSR–FP relationship and the use of lagged explanatory variables to avoid endogeneity problems, overcoming the limitations of traditional analyses. The results indicate that environmental scores exhibit the most consistent contribution to FP, whereas social and governance effects are highly metric-dependent. The SHAP analysis reveals substantial heterogeneity in the drivers of firm FP, highlighting the relevance of XML methods. Full article

Pediatric obesity has shown a marked upward trend over the past decade, with a particularly significant impact in certain regions, to the extent that it is increasingly regarded as a global epidemic. The factors involved in its development and progression are highly diverse and complex. From genetic predisposition to the influence of epigenetic mechanisms, environmental exposures, nutritional patterns, psychosomatic factors, and endocrinological status, current evidence highlights multiple interacting pathways contributing to excessive weight gain in children. Although numerous studies have explored specific mechanisms and interventions, there remains a need for a comprehensive synthesis that integrates recent pathophysiological insights with practical clinical implications. This narrative review was undertaken to fill this gap by summarizing and analyzing the current literature on the mechanisms underlying pediatric obesity, emphasizing novel findings and evidence-based approaches. In light of recent advances in the field, this narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest pathophysiological principles associated with childhood obesity, with particular emphasis on clinically relevant aspects. The review focuses on potential strategies to mitigate the impact of modifiable risk factors and highlights current trends in clinical research. The included studies were selected to cover the most relevant evidence on genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and psychosomatic determinants of pediatric obesity, providing a synthesis that informs both research and clinical practice. Its aim is to enhance the dissemination of knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of pediatric obesity. In parallel, the review addresses evidence-based therapeutic approaches that may contribute to limiting the increasing incidence of the condition and its associated complications. Expanding the scope of scientifically grounded interventions may reduce obesity-related morbidity and substantially improve long-term outcomes in pediatric populations. Full article

The transient electromagnetic (TEM) method is a key detection and monitoring technology for safe coal-mine production. Surface TEM depth penetration is limited by real geological conditions and transmitter–receiver hardware performance. Compared with the surface TEM method, the tunnel TEM method can enhance the depth of exploration to some extent, but it is constrained by the limited working space of the roadway, which makes it difficult to perform the area-wide and multi-line data acquisition, and thus the lateral detection resolution is directly compromised. Consequently, either surface or tunnel TEM alone suffers inherent limitations. The multidimensional surface and surface-to-tunnel TEM method employs a single large-loop transmitter and records electromagnetic (EM) signals both on the surface and in the tunnel, enabling joint data interpretation. The joint TEM observation method effectively addresses the limitations by using a single observation mode, with the goal of achieving high-precision detection. To investigate the detection capabilities of the joint surface and surface-to-tunnel TEM method, we propose a three-dimensional (3D) joint surface and surface-to-tunnel TEM forward modeling method based on the spectral element method (SEM). The SEM, using high-order vector basis functions, enables high-precision modeling of TEM responses with complex geo-electric earth models. The accuracy of the SEM is validated through comparisons with one-dimensional (1D) TEM semi-analytical solutions. To further reveal TEM response characteristics and multi-dimensional resolution under joint surface and tunnel detection modes, we construct several typical 3D geo-electric earth models and apply the SEM algorithm to simulate the TEM responses. We systematically analyze the horizontal and vertical resolution of 3D earth model targets at different decay times. The numerical results demonstrate that surface multi-line TEM surveying can accurately delineate the lateral extent of the target body, while vertical in-tunnel measurements are crucial for identifying the top and bottom interfaces of geological targets adjacent to the tunnel. Finally, the theoretical modeling results demonstrate that compared to individual TEM methods, the multi-dimensional joint surface and tunnel TEM observation yields superior target spatial information and markedly improves TEM detection efficacy under complex conditions. The 3D TEM forward modeling based on the SEM provides the theoretical foundation for subsequent 3D inversion and interpretation of surface-to-surface and surface-to-tunnel joint TEM data. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency and obesity are prevalent public health concerns among older adults, with potential impacts on metabolic health. Despite high deficiency rates reported globally, data on their relationship in Chilean older populations remain limited. This study investigates the relationship between 25(OH)D status, obesity, and metabolic parameters in Chilean older adults using data from the 2016–2017 National Health Survey (ENS). Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 1252 individuals aged ≥ 65 years with complete 25(OH)D and anthropometric measurements. Plasma levels of 25(OH)D were classified as optimal ≥ 30 ng/mL, insufficiency 20–29.9 ng/mL, deficiency 12–19.9 ng/mL, and severe deficiency < 12 ng/mL. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, comorbidities, and environmental factors were used to assess associations. Results: The results demonstrated that 88.3% of older adults had 25(OH)D ≤ 30 ng/mL, with 58.3% presenting deficiency. Obesity was an independent risk factor for vitamin D deficiency across all models. Geographic location, female sex, and smoking also influenced deficiency risk, while no significant associations emerged with type 2 diabetes or hypertension. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies addressing vitamin D insufficiency in older adults, considering regional and lifestyle factors, to improve health outcomes in this vulnerable population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Post-COVID-19 muscle weakness is common even after mild or moderate infection, driven by systemic inflammation, prolonged inactivity, and reduced functional reserve. This study aimed to describe changes in global muscle strength assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale in adults recovering from mild or moderate COVID-19 who participated in a structured two-week rehabilitation program, and to compare these changes with those observed under standard medical follow-up. Methods: This retrospective study included 193 adults recovering from mild or moderate COVID-19: 160 who completed a structured inpatient rehabilitation program (study group) and 33 who received no supervised rehabilitation (control group). Muscle strength was assessed using the MRC scale at baseline and at follow-up. Non-parametric analyses (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation) were used to evaluate within-group changes, between-group differences, and associations with age and sex. Results: Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in muscle strength. In the study group, median MRC scores increased from 50 (IQR 40–56) to 52 (IQR 50–56), with a mean ΔMRC of 2.76 ± 8.72 (p < 0.001). In the control group, MRC scores rose from 50 (40–56) to 52 (43–56), corresponding to a mean ΔMRC of 1.00 ± 2.09 (p = 0.005). The between-group comparison of ΔMRC did not reach statistical significance overall; however, age-stratified analyses indicated greater muscle strength gains in the rehabilitation group among participants aged ≥60 years. Conclusions: Short-term improvements in global muscle strength were observed both after structured rehabilitation and under standard medical follow-up, indicating a substantial contribution of natural recovery. Although participants in the rehabilitation group showed numerically larger gains—most notably in the ≥60-year subgroup—between-group differences in ΔMRC were not statistically significant. Overall, these findings support the feasibility and potential functional value of early, individualized rehabilitation while underscoring the need for adequately powered prospective studies to clarify its incremental benefit beyond spontaneous recovery. Full article