Search Results (833)

Background/Objectives: Demyelination and neuroinflammation are central features of multiple sclerosis (MS), contributing to motor deficits and cognitive decline. Cuprizone (CPZ)-induced demyelination is a well-established model for studying multiple sclerosis-like neurotoxicity. This study investigated the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDSs) incorporating curcumin, piperine, and Zanthoxylum rhetsa seed oil. Methods: Male mice were divided into five groups: control, CPZ-only, and CPZ co-treated with three nanoformulations BFZ (blank SNEDDS), CFZ (curcumin-SNEDDS), and PFZ (curcumin–piperine SNEDDS). CPZ was administered for 5 weeks, followed by a 2-week recovery or treatment phase. Key neuroinflammatory markers like CD4, CD8, cholinergic (acetylcholinesterase, AChE), myelin integrity (MBP), BDNF, CREB, TNFα, Il-1β were assessed at weeks 5 and 7 using ELISA. Alterations in antioxidant enzymes, brain histology, and behavioral outcomes were also investigated. Results: At week 5, CPZ significantly increased CD4 and CD8 expression and reduced AChE and MBP levels, indicating neuroinflammation, cholinergic impairment, and demyelination. Nanoformulation treatments (both prophylactic and therapeutic) markedly reduced CD4 and CD8 levels, with PFZ showing the most pronounced effect. AChE activity was significantly restored in all treatment groups, with PFZ and CFZ exceeding baseline levels, suggesting enhanced cholinergic function. MBP levels were highest in PFZ-treated mice, surpassing control values and indicating strong remyelination potential. These improvements persisted and further advanced at week 7, especially in PFZ and CFZ groups. Conclusions: Curcumin-based SNEDDS, particularly PFZ, significantly mitigated CPZ-induced neuroinflammation, promoted remyelination, and restored cholinergic activity in the frontal cortex. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of bioenhanced curcumin nanoformulations for treating demyelinating and neuroinflammatory disorders. Full article

Antenatal depression affects 10–20% of pregnant women, with notable adverse outcomes for the neonates. Limited studies have indicated a potential link between exposure to phthalate metabolites and depression. The association between phthalate metabolites and depression in pregnant women is unknown. We sought to evaluate the association of exposure to phthalate metabolites with depression severity score in US pregnant women. This cross-sectional study used data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2005–2018 on pregnant adults who completed urinary profiles that examined 12 common phthalate metabolites. Linear and quantile sum regressions were used to evaluate the association between depressive symptoms (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9) and concentrations of phthalate metabolites. A total of 208 women were included in the analysis. These women’s mean (SD) age was 27.42 (5.78) years. We found that all the phthalates were associated with PHQ-9 scores except for mono (carboxyoctyl) and mono-isononyl phthalate. Similar results were observed with the association of high levels of phthalates with mild, moderate, and severe depression (PHQ-9 >4 vs. ≤4). All the phthalate metabolites remained significantly associated with depression scores in the adjusted analysis. Among all considered phthalate metabolites, a combination of MCNP, MBP, MiBP, MnBP, and MEHP contributed to the strongest association with higher depression scores. The relative importance was similar for MCNP (weight = 0.32) and MBP (weight = 0.31), followed by MiBP (weight = 0.12), MnBP (weight = 0.08), MEHP (0.07), and MEP (weight = 0.04) for depression scores. Our findings suggest that pregnant women with high exposure to phthalates are more likely to have higher depressive symptom scores. Full article

This study examines the potential of satellite internet technologies to enhance crisis management in urban evacuation scenarios in Italy, with a specific focus on the Starlink system as a case study. In emergency situations, traditional mobile and WiFi networks often become inaccessible, significantly impairing timely communication and coordination. Reliable connectivity is therefore imperative for effective rescue operations and public safety. This research analyzes how satellite-based internet can provide robust, uninterrupted connectivity even when conventional infrastructures fail. The study discusses operational advantages such as rapid deployment, broad coverage, and scalability during disasters, as well as key constraints including line-of-sight requirements, environmental sensitivity, and regulatory challenges. Empirical findings from the deployment of Starlink during an actual urban evacuation event in Italy indicate that latency dropped below 200 ms and sustained upload/download speeds averaged approximately 50 Mbps—up to three times faster than ground networks in disrupted zones. By evaluating both benefits and limitations, this paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the integration of satellite internet services within Italian emergency response systems, aiming to improve the performance of urban evacuation strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fissidens crispulus Brid. is a dioicous moss with conspicuous axillary hyaline nodules and serrulate leaf margins. It features Neoamblyothallia-type peristome teeth and serves as an ecologically significant model for studying adaptation in the hyperdiverse genus Fissidens (>440 species). Methods: In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of F. crispulus was sequenced and de novo assembled, enabling detailed comparative genomic, phylogenetic, and codon usage bias studies. Results: As the third fully sequenced member of Fissidentaceae, this study deciphers its 124,264–124,440 bp quadripartite genome encoding 129 genes (83 CDS, 32 tRNAs, 8 rRNAs). Repeat analysis identified 125–127 SSRs, dominated by mono-/di-nucleotide A/T repeats (>70%), and dispersed repeats predominantly forward (F) and palindromic (P) (>85%), confirming profound AT-biased composition (GC content: 28.7%). We established 7 hypervariable loci (matK, ycf2, etc.) as novel Dicranidae-wide phylogenetic markers. Codon usage exhibited significant A/U-ending preference, with 12 optimal codons (e.g., GCA, UGU, UUU) determined. Maximum likelihood analyses resolved F. crispulus and F. protonematicola as sister groups with high support value (MBP = 100%). Conclusions: This work provides the foundational cpDNA resource for Fissidens, filling a major gap in bryophyte chloroplast genomics and establishing a framework for resolving the genus’s infrageneric conflicts. Furthermore, it offers critical insights into bryophyte plastome evolution and enables future codon-optimized biotechnological applications. Full article

Myelin is a lipid-rich membrane that insulates axons, providing support and ensuring efficient nerve impulse conduction. Disruption of this sheath, or demyelination, impairs neural transmission and underlies symptoms like vision loss and muscle weakness in multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite extensive studies using in vitro and in vivo models, the molecular mechanisms driving demyelination remain incompletely understood. To investigate the role of myelin basic protein (MBP) in membrane stability, we prepared model myelin membranes (MMMs) from lipids expectedly undergoing gel-to-fluid phase transition, mimicking both normal and altered myelin, with and without MBP. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that MBP suppresses the main phase transition in normal MMMs, unlike in modified MMMs. FTIR spectra showed strengthening of van der Waals interactions in normal MMMs with MBP upon heating and opposite effects in the analogous modified MMM system. Additionally, phosphate groups were identified as critical sites for MBP–lipid interactions. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy suggests that MBP adopts helical structures that penetrate the bilayer of normal MMMs. These findings offer new insights into the molecular-level interactions between MBP and myelin membranes, with implications for understanding demyelination in diseases like MS. Full article

Implantable medical devices present several technological challenges, one of the most critical being how to provide power supply and communication capabilities to a device hermetically sealed within the body. Using a battery as a power source represents a potential harm for the individual’s health because of possible toxic chemical release or overheating, and it requires periodic surgery for replacement. This paper proposes a batteryless implantable device powered by an inductive link and equipped with bidirectional wireless communication channels. The device, designed in a 180 nm CMOS process, is based on two different pairs of mutually coupled inductors that provide, respectively, power and a low-bitrate bidirectional communication link and a separate, high-bitrate, one-directional upstream connection. The main link is based on a 13.56 MHz carrier and allows power transmission and a half-duplex two-way communication at 106 kbps (downlink) and 30 kbps (uplink). The secondary link is based on a 27 MHz carrier, which provides one-way communication at 2.25 Mbps only in uplink. The low-bitrate links are needed to send commands and monitor the implanted system, while the high-bitrate link is required to receive a continuous stream of information from the implanted sensing devices. The microchip acts as a hub for power and data wireless transmission capable of managing up to four different neural recording and stimulation front ends, making the device employable in a complex, distributed, bidirectional neural prosthetic system. Full article

Black fungus cultivation in bagged form requires frequent inspection of mycelial growth, a process that is labor-intensive and susceptible to subjective judgment. In addition, timely detection of contamination in low-light and high-humidity environments remains a significant challenge. To address these issues, this paper proposed an intelligent agriculture system for black fungus cultivation, with emphasis on practical deployment under real farming conditions. The system integrates a private 5G network with a YOLOv8-based deep learning model for real-time object detection and growth monitoring. Continuous image acquisition and data feedback are achieved through a multi-parameter environmental sensing module and an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) equipped with IP cameras. To improve model robustness, more than 42,000 labeled training images were generated through data augmentation, and a modified C2f network architecture was employed. Experimental results show that the model achieved a detection accuracy of 93.7% with an average confidence score of 0.96 under live testing conditions. The deployed 5G network provided a downlink throughput of 645.2 Mbps and an uplink throughput of 147.5 Mbps, ensuring sufficient bandwidth and low latency for real-time inference and transmission. Field trials conducted over five cultivation batches demonstrated improvements in disease detection, reductions in labor requirements, and an increase in the average yield success rate to 80%. These findings indicate that the proposed method offers a scalable and practical solution for precision agriculture, integrating next-generation communication technologies with deep learning to enhance cultivation management. Full article

Rapid advancements in peer-to-peer (P2P) streaming technologies have significantly impacted digital communication, enabling scalable, decentralized, and real-time content distribution. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including dynamic topology management, high latency, security vulnerabilities, and unfair resource sharing (e.g., free rider). While software-defined networking (SDN) and blockchain individually address aspects of these limitations, their combined potential for comprehensive optimization remains underexplored. This study proposes a distributed SDN (DSDN) architecture enhanced with blockchain support to provide secure, scalable, and reliable P2P video streaming. We identified research gaps through critical analysis of the literature. We systematically compared traditional P2P, SDN-enhanced, and hybrid architectures across six performance metrics: latency, throughput, packet loss, authentication accuracy, packet delivery ratio, and control overhead. Simulations with 200 peers demonstrate that the proposed hybrid SDN–blockchain framework achieves a latency of 140 ms, a throughput of 340 Mbps, an authentication accuracy of 98%, a packet delivery ratio of 97.8%, a packet loss ratio of 2.2%, and a control overhead of 9.3%, outperforming state-of-the-art solutions such as NodeMaps, the reinforcement learning-based routing framework (RL-RF), and content delivery networks-P2P networks (CDN-P2P). This work establishes a scalable and attack-resilient foundation for next-generation P2P streaming. Full article

The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor 1 (PAC1) plays a pivotal role in central nervous system development and homeostasis. Comparisons of PAC1 knockout (PAC1^−/−), heterozygous (PAC1^+/−) and wild-type (PAC1^+/+) mice demonstrate that PAC1 deficiency severely impairs pre-weaning survival and results in marked developmental deficits, including reduced postnatal weight and altered locomotor behavior. PAC1^−/− mice exhibited hyperlocomotion, reduced anxiety-like behavior, and transient deficits in motor coordination. Gene expression analyses revealed widespread dysregulation of oligodendrocyte-associated markers, with significant myelin reduction and decreased mature oligodendrocyte density in the corpus callosum. ER stress was evidenced in both white matter and motor cortex, as indicated by altered expression of UPR-related genes and increased phosphorylated (p)IRE1⁺ neurons. Retinal morphology was compromised in PAC1^−/− animals, with reduced overall retinal and ganglion cell layer thickness. Notably, no gross morphological or molecular abnormalities were detected in the spinal cord regarding myelin content or MBP expression; however, synaptic marker expression was selectively reduced in the ventral horn of PAC1-deficient mice. Together, these findings highlight a critical role for PAC1 in oligodendrocyte maturation, retinal development, and synaptogenesis, providing new insights with relevance in multiple sclerosis and other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions. Full article

To promote the development of long-distance high-speed underwater optical wireless communication (UWOC) based on visible light, this study proposes a high-bandwidth UWOC system based on micro-light-emitting-diodes (micro-LEDs) adopting the Non-Return-to-Zero On-Off Keying (NRZ-OOK) modulation. The numerical simulations reveal that optimizing the structural parameters of gallium nitride (GaN)-based micro-LED through dimensional scaling and quantum well layer reduction may significantly enhance optoelectronic performance, including modulation bandwidth and luminous efficiency. Moreover, experimental validation demonstrated maximum real-time data rates of 420 Mbps, 290 Mbps, and 250 Mbps at underwater distances of 2.3 m, 6.9 m, and 11.5 m, respectively. Furthermore, the underwater audio communication was successfully implemented at an 11.5 m UWOC distance at an ultra-low level of incoming optical power (12.5 µW) at the photodetector (PD) site. The channel characterization yielded a micro-LED-specific attenuation coefficient of 0.56 dB/m, while parametric analysis revealed wavelength-dependent degradation patterns, exhibiting positive correlations between both attenuation coefficient and bit error rate (BER) with operational wavelength. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing underwater optical systems to enhance real-time environmental monitoring capabilities and strengthen security protocols for subaquatic military communications in the future. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite a substantial duration of recovery following the modified Broström procedure (MBP), many individuals do not entirely recover their preinjury sports performance. Return to sports (RTS) can be affected by multiple elements apart from a patient’s motivation. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing RTS after anatomical ligament repair for chronic ankle instability. Methods: Sixty-two patients aged under 35 who underwent the MBP were regularly monitored for up to 3 years. Of these, 51 patients (82.3%) returned to their preinjury level of sports activity (return group), while 11 patients (17.7%) complained of partial or significant limitations (non-return group). Clinical outcomes were measured by the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM). Mechanical stability was examined through physical examination and stress radiography. Peroneal strength was evaluated with an isokinetic dynamometer. Static and dynamic postural control abilities were tested using Biodex posturography. Results: Significant group differences were found in FAOS pain (94.7 points in the return group vs. 85.1 points in the non-return group; p = 0.004) and sports (91.2 vs. 78.8 points; p < 0.001) subscales. In the FAAM, the sports activity subscale also showed significant disparities (90.5 vs. 77.4 points, p < 0.001). Mechanical instability recurred in 2 patients (3.9%) in the return group and 4 patients (36.4%) in the non-return group, indicating a significant difference (p < 0.001). No notable differences were identified in stress radiography values or peroneal strength measurements. Posturographic evaluation showed that static postural control ability (overall stability index) did not differ significantly between the groups (1.22 in the return group vs. 1.43 in the non-return group); however, dynamic postural control ability differed substantially (1.41 vs. 2.33, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Residual pain, recurrence of mechanical instability, and insufficient recovery of dynamic postural control ability were associated with the return to preinjury level of sports activity after the MBP. Comprehensive rehabilitation protocols should address these factors to facilitate optimal postoperative sports participation. Full article

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in the soil–plant interface, yet the combined effects of AMF inoculation and phosphorus (P) addition on soil–plant nitrogen (N) and P, as well as oat grain yield, under drought stress remain unclear. Experiments were conducted during the 2021 and 2022 oat-growing seasons, applying AMF (40 g inoculum per pot; sterilized inoculum as the NAMF control) and P (0, 20, and 40 mg kg⁻¹ soil, designated P0, P1, and P2) under 75% and 55% relative water content. This study found that AMF inoculation at the P1 level significantly improved the AMF colonization rate, grain yield, and partial factor productivity of P (PFP_P) of oat. The grain yield increased by 6.2% (2021) and 9.8% (2022) under drought stress compared to the AMF-free treatment. AMF inoculation and P addition showed interactive effects on soil–plant N and P dynamics, which significantly increased microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), nitrate N, and the available P content in oat soil. P1AMF significantly increased the total N and P contents under drought stress compared to P1NAMF, with maximum increments of 40.7% (N) and 11.1% (P) in 2021 and 15.4% (N) and 32.3% (P) in 2022. Moreover, the P1AMF treatment significantly improved P recovery efficiency (PRE), achieving a maximum increase of 48.4% across the two-year study. The analysis revealed that soil MBP was the key factor influencing oat grain yield, as well as the total N and P content in oat plants. It was concluded that AMF inoculation with a moderate amount of P addition could effectively regulate soil N and P availability and enhance plant N and P contents, as well as P productivity and use efficiency, thereby improving oat drought tolerance. Soil MBP acted as a vital bridge in the oat soil–plant continuum. Full article

To address the challenge of directly applying space laser communication systems to dynamic underwater environments, this paper integrates coordinate transformation matrices with underwater positioning systems, proposing an ultra-short baseline (USBL) system combined with a coordinate transformation-based underwater positioning model. The model is designed to effectively compensate for underwater dynamic disturbances, enhance the pointing accuracy of the system, and achieve stable tracking between underwater platforms. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed model can enhance system tracking accuracy to 130.31 μrad (an improvement of 32.24%). Through underwater experiments, the results demonstrate that the underwater positioning model enables the system to achieve a pointing accuracy of 2.82 mrad (an improvement of 39.87%) and a tracking accuracy of 181.70 μrad (an improvement of 31.46%). Additionally, it can achieve underwater communication at 50 m with a data rate of 10 Mbps, providing a reference for future research on dynamic underwater laser communication. Full article

Agricultural by-products, such as banana pseudostems (BPS), present a sustainable solution for waste reduction and the recovery of valuable metabolites with biotechnological applications. This study investigated the potential of BPS as a substrate for bio-fermentation, specifically for the cultivation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Maçã cultivar BPSs (MBPS) and Nanica cultivar BPSs (NBPS) flour samples showed differences in carbohydrate composition, especially in resistant starch (16.7 and 2.7%), cellulose (27.0 and 52.4%), and hemicellulose (25.4 and 33.8%), respectively. Phenolic compound content in NBPS was higher than in MBPS (193.9 and 153.5 GAE/100 g, respectively). The BPS starches and flour were well assimilated by the probiotic LAB cultures. Limosilactobacillus fermentum SJRP30 and SJRP43 showed significant growth in media with gelatinized Maçã flour (GMF) and non-gelatinized Nanica flour (NGNF) BPS by-products (Log 9.18 and 9.75 CFU/mL, respectively), while Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG exhibited the highest growth (Log 11.31 CFU/mL) in the medium with NGNF BPS by-products. The probiotic Lbs. casei SJRP146 and Lmb. fermentum SJRP30 and SJRP43 presented high enzymatic activity and the ability to assimilate D-xylose. Only Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus SJRP57 and SJRP49 were able to assimilate starch. Their prebiotic potential under in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was evidenced by promoting the selected probiotic bacteria’s protection and maintaining their viable cells after challenging conditions, likely associated with the BPS composition. Lab. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus SJRP57, Lacticaseibacillus casei SJRP145, and Lmb. fermentum SJRP43 performed similarly to the commercial strain Lbs. rhamnosus GG. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using cost-effective and abundant agricultural waste as a promising sustainable ingredient with potential prebiotic activity, via eco-friendly production methods that do not require chemical or enzymatic extraction. Full article

Mission-critical services (MCX) comprise a standardized suite of capabilities including Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT), MCVideo, and MCData, designed to meet stringent requirements for availability, reliability, latency, security, and Quality of Service (QoS). These services are essential for public safety, emergency response, and other critical infrastructure domains, where communication performance directly affects operational effectiveness. Integration into 4G and 5G mobile networks, supported by targeted standardization efforts, has extended broadband capabilities to mission-critical environments. 5G networks provide the technical foundations for MCX through ultra-low latency (below 1 ms), high availability (99.999%), broadband throughput over 100 Mbps per user, deterministic QoS via network slicing, massive device connectivity (over one million devices per square kilometer), and seamless Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) integration. Technical enablers such as Proximity Services (ProSe), network slicing, and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) are fundamental to delivering these capabilities. This paper reviews MCX architectures, service frameworks, and protocols, relating MCPTT, MCData, and MCVideo to the key performance requirements defined in ITU-T M.2377-2. It also examines the frozen features of 3GPP Release 19, including enhancements to MC services, NTN integration, Reduced Capability device support, sub-meter positioning, extended network slicing for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR), and strengthened security mechanisms. Finally, the study addresses challenges such as standard maturity, interoperability, and deterministic QoS, identifying research priorities toward 6G readiness. By consolidating advances from standards bodies, research initiatives, and deployments, this work serves as a technical reference for scalable, secure, and standards-compliant MCX solutions in current and future networks. Full article