Search Results (665)

Background/Objectives: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now the guideline-recommended alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for long-term anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. However, accurately assessing their impact on ischemic stroke outcomes remains challenging, primarily due to uncertainty regarding anticoagulation status at the time of hospital admission. This preliminary study addresses this gap by using point-of-care testing (POCT) to confirm DOAC activity at bedside, allowing for a more accurate comparison of 90-day functional outcomes between anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated stroke patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 786 ischemic stroke patients admitted to the University of Pécs between February 2023 and February 2025. Active DOAC therapy was confirmed using the ClotPro^® viscoelastic testing platform, with ecarin Clotting Time (ECT) employed for thrombin inhibitors and Russell’s Viper Venom (RVV) assays for factor Xa inhibitors. Patients were categorized as non-anticoagulated (n = 767) or DOAC-treated with confirmed activity (n = 19). Mahalanobis distance-based matching was applied to account for confounding variables including age, sex, pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission and 72 h post-stroke. The primary outcome was the change in mRS from baseline to 90 days. Statistical analysis included ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: After matching, 90-day functional outcomes were comparable between groups (mean mRS-shift: 2.00 in DOAC-treated vs. 1.78 in non-anticoagulated; p = 0.745). OLS regression showed no significant association between DOAC status and recovery (p = 0.599). In contrast, NIHSS score at 72 h (p = 0.004) and age (p = 0.015) were significant predictors of outcome. PCA supported these findings, identifying stroke severity as the primary driver of outcome. Conclusions: This preliminary analysis suggests that ischemic stroke patients with confirmed active DOAC therapy at admission may achieve 90-day functional outcomes comparable to those of non-anticoagulated patients. The integration of bedside POCT enhances the reliability of anticoagulation assessment and underscores its clinical value for real-time management in acute stroke care. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and to further refine treatment strategies. Full article

Background: Oral leukoplakia (OL) and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) remain challenging entities due to the absence of reliable prognostic biomarkers. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA), a pivotal modulator of epithelial differentiation and mucosal integrity, has been proposed as a candidate biomarker. This study sought to quantify plasma RA levels in patients with OL and PVL compared to healthy controls, assessing their potential clinical utility. Methods: A cohort of 40 participants was recruited, comprising 10 patients with OL, 10 with PVL, and 20 healthy controls. This nested case–control study was derived from previously characterized institutional databases of oral potentially malignant disorders. Plasma samples were analyzed for atRA concentration using high-precision mass spectrometry. Statistical comparisons were conducted to evaluate differences between groups and associations with clinical outcomes. Results: Patients with homogeneous OL exhibited significantly reduced plasma atRA concentrations (mean 2.17 ± 0.39 pg/mL) relative to both PVL patients (2.64 ± 0.56 pg/mL) and healthy controls (2.66 ± 0.92 pg/mL), with p-values of 0.009 and 0.039, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between PVL patients and controls. Furthermore, atRA levels demonstrated no correlation with clinicopathological variables or malignant progression within the PVL cohort. Conclusions: These preliminary findings indicate that diminished plasma atRA levels may serve as a prognostic marker for homogeneous oral leukoplakia, whilst its role in PVL appears limited. However, effect estimates were imprecise, and additional studies are warranted. Full article

The intranasal delivery of exogenous mitochondria is a potential therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The regulatory mechanisms and effectiveness in genetic models remains uncertain, as well as the impact of modulating the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in grafts. Utilizing UQCRC1 (p.Tyr314Ser) knock-in mice, and a cellular model, this study validated the transplantation of mitochondria with or without cyclosporin A (CsA) preloading as a method to treat mitochondrial dysfunction and improve disease progression through intranasal delivery. Liver-derived mitochondria were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), incubated with CsA to inhibit mPTP opening, and were administered weekly via the nasal route to 6-month-old mice for six months. Both treatment groups showed significant locomotor improvements in open-field tests. PET imaging showed increased striatal tracer uptake, indicating enhanced dopamine synthesis capacity. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased neuron survival in the dentate gyrus, a higher number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (ST), and a thicker granule cell layer. In SN neurons, the function of mitochondrial complex III was reinstated. Additionally, the CsA-accumulated mitochondria reduced more proinflammatory cytokine levels, yet their therapeutic effectiveness was similar to that of unmodified mitochondria. External mitochondria were detected in multiple brain areas through BrdU tracking, showing a 3.6-fold increase in the ST compared to the SN. In the ST, about 47% of TH-positive neurons incorporated exogenous mitochondria compared to 8% in the SN. Notably, GFAP-labeled striatal astrocytes (ASTs) also displayed external mitochondria, while MBP-labeled striatal oligodendrocytes (OLs) did not. On the other hand, fewer ASTs and increased OLs were noted, along with lower S100β levels, indicating reduced reactive gliosis and a more supportive environment for OLs. Intranasally, mitochondrial transplantation showed neuroprotective effects in genetic PD, validating a noninvasive therapeutic approach. This supports mitochondrial recovery and is linked to anti-inflammatory responses and glial modulation. Full article

Hotpot dishes are widely favored by consumers for their flavor profiles developed during the cooking process. This study investigated the quality characteristics and volatile compounds (VOCs) of donkey meat slices across varying boiling durations (0–42 s) using gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). The results demonstrated that donkey meat boiled for 12–18 s exhibited optimal characteristics in terms of meat retention, color parameters, shear force values, and pH measurements. Forty-eight distinct VOCs were identified in the samples, with aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, acids, furans, and esters representing the predominant categories. Among these compounds, 18 were identified as characteristic aroma compounds, including 3-hexanone, 2, 3-butanedione, and oct-1-en-3-ol. Samples subjected to different boiling durations were successfully differentiated through topographic plots, fingerprint mapping, and multivariate analysis. The abundance and diversity of VOCs reached peak values in samples boiled for 12–18 s. Furthermore, 28 VOCs were identified as potential markers for distinguishing between different boiling durations, including 2-butoxyethanol D, benzaldehyde D, and (E)-2-pentenal D. This study concludes that a boiling duration of 12–18 s for donkey meat during hotpot preparation yields optimal quality characteristics and volatile flavor compound profiles and provides valuable insights for standardizing cooking parameters in hotpot preparations of other meat products. It is necessary to confirm this finding with sensory evaluations in further research. Full article

Vibrational spectroscopy, including Raman and near-infrared techniques, enables the non-destructive evaluation of starch gelatinization, head rice yield, and aroma-active volatile compounds in parboiled rice subjected to varying soaking and drying conditions. Raman and NIR spectra were collected for rice samples processed under different conditions and integrated with reference analyses to develop and validate partial least squares regression and artificial neural network models. The optimized PLSR model demonstrated strong predictive performance, with R² values of 0.9406 and 0.9365 for SG and HRY, respectively, and residual predictive deviations of 3.98 and 3.75 using Raman effective wavelengths. ANN models reached R² values of 0.97 for both SG and HRY, with RPDs exceeding 4.2 using NIR effective wavelengths. In the aroma compound analysis, p-Cymene exhibited the highest predictive accuracy, with R² values of 0.9916 for calibration, and 0.9814 for cross-validation. Other volatiles, such as 1-Octen-3-ol, nonanal, benzaldehyde, and limonene, demonstrated high predictive reliability (R² ≥ 0.93; RPD > 3.0). Conversely, farnesene, menthol, and menthone showed poor predictability (R² < 0.15; RPD < 0.4). Principal component analysis revealed that the first principal component explained 90% of the total variance in the Raman dataset and 71% in the NIR dataset. Hotelling’s T² analysis identifies influential outliers and enhances model robustness. Optimal processing conditions for achieving maximum HRY and SG values were determined at 65 °C soaking for 180 min, followed by drying at 70 °C. This study underscores the potential of integrating vibrational spectroscopy with machine learning techniques and targeted wavelength selection for the high-throughput, accurate, and scalable quality evaluation of parboiled rice. Full article

Platform markets are concentrating, even as their content suppliers fragment, yet this asymmetric evolution is poorly understood. Using panel data from 11–12 Korean home shopping firms (2015–2023), we employ Hansen threshold regression, instrumental variables, and panel fixed-effects models to examine its competitive impact. Our analysis of 104 firm-year observations reveals four key findings. First, platform concentration alone explains 94.4% of transmission fee variation, with fees rising from 41.15% to 68.72% as platform HHI increased from 1390 to 2154 while content HHI declined from 1797 to 1118. Second, we identify critical fee thresholds at 62.2% (p = 0.012) and 73% (p = 0.002) that divide markets into three distinct operating regimes. Third, the fee–profitability relationship reversed from negative (r = −0.145) to positive (r = 0.554), indicating fees’ evolution from cost burdens to selection mechanisms. Fourth, instrumental variable estimates (0.473) exceed OLS estimates (0.184) by 2.6 times, revealing severe selection bias. Simulations indicate a 60% fee cap would affect 25 firms (24%) while increasing total surplus by 15.1% and improving SME profitability by 2.9 percentage points. We propose the Asymmetry Ratio (Platform HHI/Content HHI) as a regulatory tool, with ratios exceeding 1.0 triggering enhanced scrutiny. Our findings demonstrate that asymmetric market evolution creates new sources of platform power requiring novel regulatory approaches. Full article

Background/Objectives: Healthy diets and proper nutrition are fundamental for human survival. With economic development and rising incomes, the food consumption structure of rural residents in China has noticeably changed. However, substantial disparities still exist in the quality of food consumption between urban and rural areas, and the dietary structure of rural populations remains imbalanced. Methods: This study uses 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) samples of rural residents for analysis since it asked residents questions about their digital literacy and food consumption. A total of 2827 valid rural resident samples were finally obtained, and the participants had a mean age of 54.844 years. This study employs the ordinary least squares (OLS) model and the two-stage least squares (2SLS) method to examine the impact of digital literacy on the food consumption structure of rural households and its underlying mechanisms. Results: Based on the regression analyses, digital literacy significantly improves the food consumption structure of rural residents (p < 0.05). Heterogeneity analysis shows that at the regional level, digital literacy has a stronger impact on the food consumption structure of rural residents in southern China (β = −153.255, p < 0.05); at the individual level, its impact is more pronounced among rural residents with lower educational attainment (β = −427.506, p < 0.01) and among middle-aged and elderly populations (β = −212.705, p < 0.05). The mechanism analysis reveals that digital literacy can enhance the food consumption structure of rural residents by increasing their awareness of dietary health and food safety. Conclusions: These findings highlight the necessity of integrating the optimization of food consumption structures with enhancements in digital literacy into policy-making and provides valuable insights for developing policies aimed at improving the nutritional health of rural residents. Full article

Natural phosphate ores frequently contain calcium–magnesium carbonate minerals as gangue components. Their separation from target phosphate minerals poses significant challenges due to analogous surface characteristics. The flotation differentiation between fluorapatite and dolomite remains a key research focus in mineral processing. In conventional collector systems, selective depressants critically govern separation efficiency, as their interfacial specificity directly determines beneficiation outcomes. The selective depression behavior of fulvic acid (FA) in modulating fluorapatite–dolomite separation efficiency within oleate-dominated flotation systems was elucidated through micro-flotation experiments, complemented by zeta potential measurements, contact angle analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The findings revealed that fluorapatite and dolomite both exhibit high floatability under NaOl-mediated collector systems in the absence of depressant additives, leading to negligible selectivity in the differential separation of the mineral pair. However, the float of fluorapatite particles in weakly acidic conditions was strongly depressed when a small amount of FA was added as a depressant, while exerting minimal impact on dolomite’s floatability. In binary artificial mixed-mineral flotation systems, under optimized flotation conditions (pH 5.0, 60 mg/L NaOl, and 15 mg/L FA), the concentrate achieved a P₂O₅ grade of 33.86% with a fluorapatite recovery rate of 92.36%, demonstrating significant selective separation of fluorapatite from dolomite. Subsequent analysis revealed that FA competitively chemisorbs with NaOl on fluorapatite surfaces, selectively reducing the hydrophobicity of the fluorapatite surface and suppressing fluorapatite floatability, thereby enabling effective differential liberation of the mineral pair. Full article

Regulating the dissolution and interfacial behavior of minerals via external force fields is considered a promising strategy for enhancing the flotation of soluble minerals. This study explored the potential of ultrasound-assisted pulp conditioning in improving ultrafine smithsonite flotation. Specifically, we systematically evaluated the effects of ultrasonic pretreatment (UP) on the physicochemical properties of smithsonite suspensions (focusing on surface erosion behavior) and assessed subsequent flotation performance using flotation tests and modern analytical techniques. It has been found that UP can significantly modify smithsonite suspension characteristics, including particle morphology, ionic composition, electrokinetic properties, and pulp pH. Flotation results demonstrate that UP yields higher recovery compared to traditional stirring (TS) conditioning, especially at medium-to-high sodium oleate (NaOL) concentrations. Comparative analysis reveals that ultrasonic-assisted dissolution and ion-selective migration are the main factors driving improved flotation performance. Unlike TS, UP promotes greater zinc ion release, facilitates the dissolution–hydrolysis–precipitation equilibrium, generates more and finer nanoparticles in the bulk phase, and induces the deposition of hydrozincite on smithsonite surfaces. These changes increase active zinc sites for more stable NaOL adsorption, thereby enhancing the flotation of ultrafine smithsonite particles. Full article

In this study, we analyzed the essential oils (EOs) extracted by steam distillation from the leaves and flowers of Parthenium hysterophorus L., grown in three different locations in southern Ecuador: Espíndola (ESP), Loja (LOJ) and Quilanga (QUI). Approximately 97.45%, 98.27% and 95.99% of the oil constituents were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were predominant in the EOs. The most representative constituents of the sample from ESP were germacrene D (35.08%), myrcene (11.32%), (E)-β-ocimene (10.21%), (E)-caryophyllene (7.90%), germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1-α-ol (5.18%) and (E, E)-α-farnesene (4.99%), with an AChE IC₅₀ of 14.78 and with 16.38 and 93.16 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. The EOs from LOJ were characterized by the abundant presence of germacrene D (28.30%), myrcene (13.95%), (E)-β-ocimene (10.51%) and isolongifolan-7-α-ol (8.26%), with an AChE IC₅₀ of 16.65 and with 36.18 and 158.43 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. Finally, the EOs from QUI contained germacrene D (32.20%), myrcene (13.36%), (E)-β-ocimene (8.54%), (E, E)-α-farnesene (6.77%), germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1-α-ol (5.69%) and (E)-caryophyllene (5.37%), with an AChE IC₅₀ of 10.69 and with 14.50 and 92.98 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. This study identifies chemotypic variation in P. hysterophorus collected from different locations and, for the first time, the AChE inhibitor was evaluated. These findings provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of P. hysterophorus EOs in the future treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Full article

The Moroccan coastline has been the focus of attention for researchers studying the national algal flora, with the aim of preserving these invaluable natural resources. Since the year 2000, these resources have stimulated great interest in the creation of new drugs, as well as their integration into food supplements and foods. Therefore, this study aims to explore the phytochemistry of a series of extracts derived from Caulerpa prolifera. To ensure better extraction of the various metabolites present, two extraction methods, namely maceration and the Soxhlet method, were employed using solvents of varying polarity (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water). The chemical composition of the extracts was analyzed using GC-MS for fatty acids and HPLC-DAD for phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and β-carotene bleaching assays, while antidiabetic potential was assessed by in vitro inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. In addition, Molecular docking models were employed to assess the interaction between the bioactive molecules and the human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Vanillin, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, 7,3′,4′-flavon-3-ol, and kaempferol were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects were highly significant. Full article

This study evaluates the corrosion-inhibiting effects of the methanolic (P₁) and the hydroalcoholic (P₂) extracts of the Rhus typhina L. leaves on carbon steel (OL37) in 1 M HCl. Extracts were prepared with microwave-assisted extraction and characterized using HPLC and LC-MS. Electrochemical methods (OCP, EIS, PDP) and surface analyses (SEM, EDX) assessed the performance of both extracts. The results showed that the P₁ and P₂ extracts significantly reduced corrosion rates by forming protective layers on the metal surface, with inhibition efficiencies exceeding 90%, at 1000 ppm concentration, for P₁ (93%), for P₂ at 800 ppm (91%) and 1000 ppm (94%). The P₂ extract demonstrated superior long-term performance, maintaining protection after 96 h of immersion. The extracts function as mixed-type inhibitors, affecting both anodic and cathodic reactions, with physicochemical adsorption demonstrated by the Langmuir isotherm. Overall, the Rhus typhina leaf extracts, particularly the P₂ extract, offer a promising, eco-friendly approach to corrosion prevention in acidic environments. Full article

This study takes the Jinfoping Small Watershed in the Loess Hilly Region as the research area. Through field investigation and laboratory analysis, combined with methods such as spatial autocorrelation analysis, the ordinary least squares method (OLS), and the geographically weighted regression model (GWR), it deeply explores the spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors of Formicidae in the study area. The research results are as follows: (1) Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates that the distribution of Formicidae is significantly regulated by spatial dependence and has significant spatial autocorrelation (global Moran’s I = 0.332; p < 0.01). (2) The spatial visualization analysis of the GWR model reveals that soil physical and chemical properties and topographic factors have local influences on the spatial distribution of Formicidae. Available phosphorus (AP) and slope (SLP) were significantly positively correlated with the number of ants. Hydrogen peroxidase (HP) and topographic relief (TR) were significantly negatively correlated with the number of ants. This study reveals the spatial distribution pattern of Formicidae in the Loess Hilly Region and its complex relationship with environmental factors, and clarifies the importance of considering spatial heterogeneity when analyzing ecosystem processes. The research results provide a scientific basis for the protection and management of soil ecosystems, and also offer new methods and ideas for future related research. Full article

The browning of fruit juices and nectars is a common issue in the beverage industry and is a particular problem in strawberry nectars, where it significantly reduces the shelf-life. Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs), which are multicopper enzymes responsible for the oxidation of a wide plethora of polyphenols in plants, have been widely assumed to be involved in the enzymatic browning of strawberry nectar. To investigate the possible involvement of PPOs, the substrate specificity of four recombinant PPOs and their gene expression pattern in 10 cultivars of Fragaria × ananassa at five ripening stages were determined. This allowed us to obtain adequate amounts of enzymes to study them independently and without interfering matrix effects. All four PPOs possess monophenolase activity, which was particularly high for PPO4. PPO3 did not show sufficient stability for the kinetic studies. The other three showed a high preference for the flavan 3-ol catechin with a 2-fold higher catalytic efficiency compared to dopamine for PPO1 and PPO2. At a neutral pH, they also showed activity with cyanidin but not with pelargonidin, which is the prevalent anthocyanidin type in strawberry. The enzymes showed a high affinity but only low turnover rates for the dihydrochalcone phloretin, resulting in an inhibitory effect that was strong enough to extend the shelf-life of the strawberry nectar by one week if phloretin was added in high concentrations (600 µM). PPO1 and PPO2 were prevalently expressed in all fruit stages. The gene expression of the four PPOs did not correlate with the color stability of the nectars of the 10 varieties and also showed a random expression pattern during fruit development. The limited activity in acidic conditions and the low substrate specificity for pelargonidin does not point to a crucial role for PPOs in the browning of strawberry nectar, but the high catalytic efficiency with catechin as a substrate could contribute to anthocyanin degradation via mechanisms such as copolymerization. Full article

Background/Objectives: High-flux online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) appears to be associated with better survival than hemodialysis (HD). In Brazil, OL-HDF is only affordable for patients with private health insurance. Although observational studies have shown a survival advantage with OL-HDF, even in Brazil, it is unclear whether this benefit applies to patients without private health insurance. We compared overall and cardiovascular mortality between OL-HDF and HD in patients treated exclusively through the public health care system. We hypothesized that patients on OL-HDF would have a higher survival rate than those on HD. Methods: This is an observational cohort study. Adult patients on maintenance hemodialysis or OL-HDF for at least one month during the period between 1 September 2022 and 1 December 2024 were enrolled into the study. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The secondary outcome was cardiovascular mortality. Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard models were used to evaluate survival in the presence of competing events (kidney transplant and recovery of renal function). Results: Patients on HD (N = 321) and OL-HDF (N = 48) were similar in age, race, sex, and vascular access. Patients on HD were more likely to have diabetes (54.0% vs. 29.2%, p = 0.001) and spent more hours per week on dialysis (11.2 ± 1.8 vs. 10.5 ± 1.6 h, p = 0.006). In an adjusted Fine-Gray model, the hazard of death for patients on OL-HDF was 68% lower than that for patients on HD, and the risk of death for patients with an arteriovenous fistula was 55% lower compared to those with a catheter. Cardiovascular mortality did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that OL-HDF is associated with an overall higher survival rate compared to HD, even for patients without private health insurance. Full article