Search Results (1,392)

Cerebrolysin has a salutary effect on impaired cerebral endothelial cell (CEC) permeability. Using an in vitro endothelial permeability assay, the present study tested the hypothesis that exosomes released by Cerebrolysin-treated CECs (Cerebro-Exos) have a robust therapeutic effect on dysfunctional CECs. Stoichiometric analysis showed marked differences in cargo profiles between Cerebro-Exos and exosomes derived from CECs without Cerebrolysin treatment (Naïve-Exos), in which Cerebro-Exos were highly enriched with metabolic and tight junction related proteins compared to Naïve-Exos. Cerebro-Exos had a superior effect compared to Naïve-Exos on restoring CEC integrity impaired by fibrin and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Treatment of fibrin- and tPA-challenged CECs with Cerebro-Exos robustly reduced fibrin- and tPA-augmented proteins involved in inflammation and coagulation and substantially increased fibrin- and tPA-decreased proteins that are related to tight junctions and metabolism. Collectively, these data indicate that Cerebro-Exos have a broad effect on improvement of dysfunctional CECs, which is likely achieved by the alteration of CEC proteins. Full article

Understanding the interaction between plants and rhizosphere microorganisms is critical for the development of biofertilizers. Fluorescent labeling of rhizosphere microorganisms serves as a key strategy to track their behavior during plant–microbe coculture. However, most newly isolated strains are novel and lack available molecular tools for such studies. In this research, Planococcus dechangensis NEAU-ST10-9^T (P. dechangensis NEAU-ST10-9^T), a salt-tolerant strain, was obtained from the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC). It significantly increased maize root length by approximately 1.56-fold. To investigate the underlying mechanism, a donor strain (Ec102) and a shuttle plasmid (pAS104) were engineered to mediate conjugation with P. dechangensis NEAU-ST10-9^T and drive GFP overexpression in the bacterium, generating the genetically labeled strain Pd103. The fluorescence intensity (expressed as GFP/OD₆₀₀, arbitrary units) of Pd103 increased with bacterial growth and was approximately tenfold higher than that of the wild-type strain after 16 h of culture. Following inoculation onto maize seeds, confocal microscopy analysis revealed that Pd103 colonized the epidermis and endodermis of maize roots. These results indicated that P. dechangensis NEAU-ST10-9^T could invade maize roots and promote maize seedling growth. In summary, we have successfully established a robust fluorescence labeling and tracking system tailored for P. dechangensis NEAU-ST10-9^T, which constitutes a valuable tool for elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing its plant–microbe interaction. Full article

This study investigates the mechanical, structural, and thermal performance of bio-based composite laminates reinforced with nonwoven fibrous materials derived from polylactic acid (PLA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and polyamide 1010 (PA1010). The fibrous reinforcements, produced using melt-blown and electrospinning techniques, were characterized in terms of morphology, fibre diameter distribution, and wettability, and subsequently incorporated into bio-resin laminates to strengthen them. The curing behaviour of the composites was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results demonstrate that fibre structure and morphology strongly influence resin impregnation and interfacial interactions. Mechanical properties varied significantly depending on the reinforcement type. PA1010-based laminates exhibited the highest strength and stiffness due to their compact and uniform fibrous structure. PBS-based systems showed intermediate behaviour, while PLA-based composites displayed lower strength but higher deformability. DSC results indicated that fibre type affected crosslinking efficiency. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed similar initial thermal stability of laminates (T₅% ≈ 299–313 °C), governed by the resin matrix, while differences at higher temperatures reflected the type of reinforcement used. These findings highlight the importance of fibre morphology and interfacial compatibility in designing sustainable composite laminates reinforced with recycled fibrous materials. Full article

Background: Physical inactivity among Saudi Arabian adolescents is a critical public health concern due to its contribution to the rising prevalence of overweight, obesity, and non-communicable diseases. Despite this, the motivational profiles and perceived barriers that differentiate athletic from non-athletic adolescents remain understudied in the Saudi literature, particularly within the school Physical Education (PE) context. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the present study examined the factors preventing and motivating Saudi adolescents to engage in physical activity (PA) and discusses findings in terms of their implications for PE teachers and school-based intervention. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 124 male high school students in Riyadh (mean age: 16.79 ± 0.66 years). Participants were categorized as either athletes (n = 70) or non-athletes (n = 54) based on pre-defined engagement criteria: athletes were required to report vigorous-intensity sport participation on three or more days per week for a minimum of 60 min per session. Anthropometric measurements, lifestyle behaviors (diet, screen time, sleep), motivations, and barriers were assessed using the validated Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS) questionnaire. Independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare between-group differences; effect sizes are reported. Result: Non-athletes had a significantly higher mean BMI (29.40 ± 6.77 kg/m²) and waist circumference (98.65 ± 21.63 cm) compared to athletes (BMI: 22.19 ± 4.44 kg/m²; waist: 78.84 ± 9.51 cm; both p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in screen time, sleep duration, or dietary habits. The primary motivations for PA among athletes were health benefits (27.1%), recreation (25.7%), and competition (20.0%), reflecting an autonomous motivational profile consistent with SDT. Among non-athletes, the predominant barriers were the lack of suitable facilities (25.9%) and the absence of an exercise partner (22.2%); reflecting unmet SDT needs for competence and relatedness respectively, while only 9.3% cited having a lack of time. Conclusions: Non-athletic participants face a significant health disadvantage characterized by higher rates of overweight and central obesity. In contrast to global trends, where academic commitments dominate barriers to PA, the principal barriers in this population are environmental and social, reflecting unmet psychological needs that PE teachers are uniquely positioned to address. Rather than focusing solely on infrastructure, PE promoters should implement need-supportive teaching practices, including competence-building tasks and cooperative peer structures, to foster the intrinsic motivational profile observed in the athletes and promote long-term PA adherence among non-athletic students, in alignment with the health objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Full article

This study comparatively investigates the efficacy of two natural, plant- and microbe-derived polysaccharides—xanthan gum (XG) and guar gum (GG)—in enhancing the water stability and shear strength of granite residual soil (GRS). GRS specimens treated with varying dosages of XG and GG were cured for 14 days and subsequently evaluated through direct shear and static-water disintegration tests. Concurrently, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) were employed to elucidate the underlying microstructural and pore-scale mechanisms. Direct shear test results indicate that the peak shear strength reached 295.9 kPa (2.0% GG) and 221.0 kPa (1.5% XG), representing increases of 58.2% and 35.7%, respectively. Quantitatively, GG and XG treatments yielded maximum internal friction angle improvements of 52.96% and 39.37%, with peak cohesion increases of 55.27% and 35.7%, respectively. During static-water immersion, the untreated GRS suffered complete disintegration within 200 s. In contrast, the 2.0% GG- and XG-treated specimens preserved overall structural integrity for 24 h. SEM observations revealed that XG and GG reconstruct the soil fabric by forming encapsulating films and interparticle bridging structures. Finally, LF-NMR analysis provided definitive quantitative proof of a “pore refinement” effect, where biopolymer treatment shifted the primary $T_2$ peaks from 4.64 ms to 3.51 ms. Notably, at a 2.0% dosage, dramatic NMR signal surges (up to 747.5 a.u. for XG and 704.3 a.u. for GG) revealed that excessive biopolymers tend to form localized ‘gel lumps’ rather than uniform films. These blobs weaken the biting force between soil particles, thereby accounting for the observed degradation in shear strength. Full article

Accurate long-term forecasting of Quality of Transmission (QoT) is critical for the proactive operation and condition-aware management of dynamic elastic optical networks. However, the evolution of QoT is governed by multi-scale dynamics, including slow equipment aging, periodic operating variations, and short-term channel fluctuations, which a single temporal model struggles to capture jointly. To address this issue, we propose PA-TCN-Informer, a decomposition-driven parallel forecasting framework for long-horizon QoT prediction. The proposed framework first applies Seasonal-Trend decomposition using Loess (STL) to separate the Q-factor sequence into trend, seasonal, and residual components, and then employs Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) to further resolve the residual into short-term fluctuation modes. The decomposed components, together with physical-layer monitoring features, are fed into a parallel TCN–Informer architecture, in which the TCN branch captures local temporal patterns while the Informer branch models long-range dependencies; the two streams are subsequently fused. We evaluate the proposed framework through Optuna-based hyperparameter optimization, STL/VMD sensitivity analysis, decomposition-method comparison, multi-seed baseline comparison with statistical testing, and zero-shot leave-one-dataset-out cross-domain evaluation. On the primary dataset, PA-TCN-Informer achieves the best overall forecasting accuracy among the compared models and reduces MAE by 2.2% relative to the serial TCN–Informer. In addition, the staged STL-VMD preprocessing alone yields a 60.8% reduction in MAE compared with raw inputs, confirming the value of physically interpretable multi-scale decomposition. In the zero-shot cross-domain setting, PA-TCN-Informer remains competitive across target domains. These results demonstrate that the proposed framework provides an effective and interpretable approach to QoT forecasting, and they further indicate that topology-aware modeling is a promising direction for improving cross-domain generalization. Full article

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is highly nutritious, rich in vitamin C, glucosinolates, and minerals. However, its high postharvest respiratory rate leads to rapid quality deterioration, particularly chlorophyll degradation and yellowing under ambient conditions. In China, the lack of timely pre-cooling facilities exacerbates postharvest losses. Therefore, developing safe, effective and low-cost preservation methods for broccoli during transportation is of great practical importance. In this study, RNA sequencing was employed to analyze the effects of preharvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and postharvest pre-cooling combined with cold treatments on gene expression in broccoli. Transcriptome analysis revealed that both treatments significantly upregulated or maintained key genes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis (e.g., Glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GluTR), porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD), magnesium chelatase (MgCh)) and downregulated chlorophyll degradation-related genes (e.g., Chlorophyllase (CLH), pheophytinase (PPH), pheophorbide a oxygenase (PaO)), resulting in enhanced chlorophyll retention. Furthermore, chlorophyllide a oxygenase (CAO) was upregulated, while chlorophyll b reductase (CBR) was downregulated, suggesting modulation of the chlorophyll cycle. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which 1-MCP and pre-cooling combined with cold regulate chlorophyll metabolism, providing new insights into the gene regulatory network underlying the postharvest quality maintenance in broccoli. Full article

Background/Objectives: Familial hyperaldosteronism type IV (FH-IV) is an extremely rare, clinically heterogeneous condition representing the least characterized familial subtype of primary aldosteronism (PA) caused by germline gain-of-function CACNA1H mutations. Despite growing molecular insights, optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies remain poorly defined. This systematic review aims to synthesize available evidence regarding the clinical, biochemical, and genetic characteristics of FH-IV, and to evaluate the efficacy of current pharmacological and surgical treatments. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD420261324945). A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science identified studies reporting genetically confirmed FH-IV patients. Data concerning clinical phenotypes, diagnostic evaluations, treatment outcomes, and genetic backgrounds were extracted and analyzed. Results: The primary cohort included 31 fully characterized symptomatic patients, alongside 8 mutation-positive relatives (4 asymptomatic carriers and 4 symptomatic individuals). The genetic landscape was remarkably heterogeneous, encompassing 17 distinct CACNA1H mutations. Clinically, diagnosis was frequently delayed, often complicated by atypical normokalaemic presentations and misleading adrenal imaging. Surgical treatment was generally ineffective, frequently resulting in persistent or recurrent hypertension and biochemical dysregulation. Pharmacologically, patients often required multiple antihypertensive drugs, most frequently a combination of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Conclusions: FH-IV is best conceptualized as a systemic adrenal channelopathy. While standard screening parameters are usually elevated, atypical biochemical profiles and misleading structural imaging can complicate the diagnostic process. Optimal management relies on multigene Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) panels for definitive diagnosis and cascade screening of relatives. Finally, while the combination of MRAs and CCBs is commonly used in PA, it represents a valuable therapy for FH-IV, with dual L-/T-type CCBs emerging as a potential disease-specific option. Full article

Avian ganglioneuritis is one of the most widespread diseases of psittacines and is caused by parrot bornavirus (PaBV). It has been suggested that PaBV causes a T-cell-mediated immunopathology comparable to Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1). However, the factors involved in progression from infection to clinical disease in psittacines remain poorly understood. It has been proposed that autoantibodies directed against endogenous gangliosides of the central and peripheral nervous systems contribute to disease development. These anti-ganglioside antibodies have been suggested as potential diagnostic markers for birds developing clinical avian ganglioneuritis independent from the causing infectious agent. In this study, 257 plasma samples from cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) experimentally infected with PaBV, with known infection status as well as defined clinical and postmortem outcomes, were submitted in a blinded manner to a commercial laboratory for anti-ganglioside antibody testing. The results were compared with the presence of anti-PaBV antibodies, clinical signs, gross pathological findings, and histopathological results. Among 25 birds with dilated proventriculi at the time of necropsy, 9 (36%) tested positive for anti-ganglioside antibodies, whereas 16 (64%) tested negative. Of 56 birds with histopathological avian ganglioneuritis, 26 (46.43%) tested positive and 30 (53.57%) tested negative. Among 33 birds without histopathological inflammatory lesions, 19 (57.58%) tested negative and 14 (42.42%) tested positive. These results indicate that no association between the occurrence of avian ganglioneuritis and the detection of anti-ganglioside antibodies was seen. Full article

Rosa roxburghii Tratt is recognized as an edible and medicinal plant valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Polysaccharides are among its key bioactive constituents. A homogeneous polysaccharide, designated RTW-1, was extracted and purified from the fruit of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. Its molecular mass was determined by HPLC to be 2.16 × 10³ kDa. Monosaccharide composition and methylation analysis showed that RTW-1 is mainly composed of glucose, arabinose, and galacturonic acid in a molar ratio of 1.00:0.48:0.74. The uronic acid content was measured as 55.21%, and the degree of esterification was 58.30%. The glycosidic linkages identified included (→2,3,4)-Manp-(1→, →4)-Arap-(1→, →4)-GalAp-(1→, T-Rhap, →4)-Glcp-(1→, and (→2,3,4)-Xylp-(1→). Shear-thinning behavior was revealed by rheological analysis. At 30 mg/mL, the thixotropic loop area reached 143.8 Pa/s, which was 20 times higher than that at 12 mg/mL. In RAW264.7 macrophages, cell proliferation was promoted by RTW-1. At 80 μg/mL, phagocytic activity was increased by 88%, and NO production was enhanced by 3.1-fold. Concentration-dependent upregulation of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 mRNA expression was observed by qRT-PCR, with maximum increases of 3.2-, 4.1-, 2.8-, and 2.5-fold, respectively. In conclusion, RTW-1 possesses favorable gel-forming and immunostimulatory properties and shows potential for promoting intestinal immune activity, suggesting its promise as a functional food ingredient. Full article

This study investigates the thermo-hydraulic performance of a spiral-channel direct absorption solar collector (DASC) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The objective of this study was to establish a design framework that balances thermal efficiency (${\eta }_{th}$) and pressure drop ($\mathsf{\Delta }P$) by resolving inherent trade-offs. The results indicate that geometric parameters primarily influence hydraulic resistance, while optical factors govern thermal capture. To identify a robust operating region, a feasible design window was established under the constraints of ${\eta }_{th} \ge$ 0.90 and $∆P <$ 200 Pa. Analysis reveals that a minimum receiver height (Factor B) of 12.1 mm and a nanoparticle concentration (Factor A) of at least 0.052 wt% are required to satisfy the performance criteria. Within this identified space, an operating range of B = 18–24 mm and A = 0.06–0.08 wt% is recommended at fixed values of Factor C = 3 and Factor D = 0.59. This region-based approach provides a design foundation that respects thermodynamic limits while minimizing parasitic losses, offering practical guidelines for the optimization of spiral-channel DASC configurations. Full article

The present research article deals with the thermal degradation study of epoxy resins filled with hybrid nanostructured forms of carbon under oxidative conditions. In particular, the formulated polymer composites (denoted as HYB_0.1%_CNTs:GNs and HYB_0.5%_CNTs:GNs, respectively) consist of two kinds of fillers, namely multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets (GNs), mixed together with two different total mass amounts: 0.1 and 0.5%. In both kinds of nanocomposites, three different CNT:GN mixing ratios were considered (5:1, 1:1, and 1:5, respectively), thus providing a total of six hybrid samples. The thermal behavior of these samples was studied by simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) under flowing air, and two processes took place in distinct temperature ranges. In each step, about 50% of mass loss is detected with an exothermic effect in the corresponding DTA curve, with the second one accompanied by an intense heat release. The kinetic analysis of the two-stage oxidative thermal degradation was investigated using a model-free isoconversional approach. A non-Arrhenian behavior of the temperature function k(T) was assumed, and lifetime prediction was estimated at temperatures close to those of the possible applications. Isoconversional analysis shows nearly constant activation energies for all composites except HYB_0.1%_5:1 (from 142 to 96 kJ·mol⁻¹), while lifetime predictions indicate that thermal stability increases with graphene content at 0.1% loading (HYB_0.1%_1:5) and with CNT content at 0.5% loading (HYB_0.5%_5:1), with uncertainties below 7%. Finally, because of the π–π bond interactions between the CNTs and the GNs dispersed in the epoxy resin matrix, an effective and remarkable electrical performance was found and a correlation with both electrical and morphological properties was established. In this regard, Tunneling Atomic Force Microscopy (TUNA) proved to be particularly powerful in allowing the simultaneous mapping of topography and localized conductive networks with exceptional sensitivity to nanofiller dispersion, such as CNTs and GNs. DC conductivity increased by up to nine orders of magnitude at 0.1 wt% hybrid loading (up to 3.73 × 10⁻⁴ S/m vs. 1.06 × 10⁻¹³ S/m for CNT-only), with nanoscale TUNA currents (−1.9 to 4.5 pA) mirroring macroscopic trends, while at 0.5 wt% all hybrids reached 10⁻² S/m, indicating reduced synergy once a fully developed conductive network is established. Full article

Background: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a synthetic lysine analog widely used as an antifibrinolytic agent. Large randomized trials have demonstrated life-saving benefits when TXA is administered early in acute hemorrhage, but results regarding prophylactic administration have been conflicting, and several trials have not shown improved clinical outcomes. The mechanisms underlying this discrepancy remain incompletely understood. Objectives: To investigate the molecular and structural mechanisms that determine TXA efficacy in purified fibrin clots under conditions mimicking therapeutic versus prophylactic administration. Methods: We examined fibrinolysis induced by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in vitro using confocal microscopy, viscoelastic testing (ClotPro), turbidimetry, and plasmin generation assays at physiologically and therapeutically relevant concentrations of plasminogen and TXA. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to assess fibrin structure. Results: When TXA was incorporated into fibrin clots before the addition of tPA, physiological plasminogen concentrations (2.5 µM) reversed the antifibrinolytic effect, resulting in paradoxical acceleration of lysis. By contrast, when clotting and fibrinolysis occurred simultaneously in the presence of TXA and tPA, TXA consistently prolonged lysis time irrespective of plasminogen concentration. SEM demonstrated that TXA, even at concentrations as low as 16 µM, doubled the top-quartile values of the fibrin fiber diameter, altering susceptibility to plasmin-mediated degradation without accelerating plasminogen activation. Conclusions: TXA efficacy is determined not only by dose but also by timing and the plasminogen availability in the clot microenvironment. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the failure of prophylactic TXA administration and highlight the importance of context in optimizing its clinical use. Full article

Objective: Against the backdrop of high-intensity academic evaluations, this study examines the longitudinal associations linking leisure-time physical activity (PA) with context-specific anxiety symptoms among university faculty. It further examines the cross-lagged indirect role of emotional exhaustion (EE) and the contrasting moderating effects of challenge and hindrance academic stressors. Methods: A three-wave cross-lagged panel design spanning six months was employed to track 356 faculty members from five universities in China. Validated scales were utilized to measure leisure-time PA, challenge/hindrance academic stressors, EE, and context-specific anxiety symptoms across three critical academic periods (T1, T2, and T3). Data were analyzed using Mplus 8.3 for longitudinal measurement invariance, cross-lagged path modeling, and Bootstrap mediation and moderation tests. Results: After controlling for baseline autoregressive effects, T1 leisure-time PA significantly and negatively predicted T2 EE (β = −0.16, p < 0.01), which in turn positively predicted T3 context-specific anxiety symptoms (β = 0.31, p < 0.001). The longitudinal indirect pathway linking T1 PA to T3 context-specific anxiety symptoms through T2 EE was statistically significant (95% CI [−0.088, −0.017]). Furthermore, the two types of stressors exhibited contrasting moderating effects on the PA-EE relationship. High challenge stressors strengthened the negative association between PA and subsequent EE (Simple Slope = −0.32, p < 0.001). Conversely, high hindrance stressors were associated with a reversal of the slope, wherein higher PA involvement was associated with higher subsequent EE (Simple Slope = 0.12, p < 0.05), a pattern consistent with what has been termed an “exercise paradox.” Conclusions: In this three-wave observational study, regular leisure-time PA was longitudinally associated with, but did not demonstrably cause, lower subsequent context-specific anxiety symptoms among university faculty, with this association potentially operating through reduced emotional exhaustion. The strength of this association was contingent on the type of academic stress: challenge stressors appeared to strengthen the negative association between leisure-time PA and subsequent EE, whereas high-intensity hindrance stressors were associated with a reversal of the predictive pattern. These findings, given the observational design, are best interpreted as longitudinal predictive patterns rather than causal effects. They suggest that interventions targeting faculty well-being may benefit from combining administrative burden reduction with individual recovery support, though direct experimental verification is needed. Full article

Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined associations of lifestyle factors (physical activity (PA), diet, obesity, and smoking), age groups, and sex with the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Saudi adults, including the World Health Organization (WHO) core NCDs (type 2 diabetes (T2DM), hypertension (HTN), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and NCD-associated conditions (osteoporosis (OP), chronic kidney disease (CKD)). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across Saudi Arabia involving 2877 participants aged ≥30 years. Data were collected via an electronic survey using a standardized questionnaire. PA was assessed using the International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), diet using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and smoking using the WHO Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Results: Prevalence estimates were: OP 22%, diabetes 21.8%, HTN 13.4%, COPD 4.3%, and CKD 5.1%. All conditions were more prevalent among inactive vs. active individuals (e.g., diabetes: 23.5% vs. 18.8%). An unhealthy diet was associated with higher prevalence (e.g., HTN: 16.3% vs. 10.8%). Obesity showed the strongest association with diabetes (37.1% in obese vs. 14.9% in normal-weight). Smoking was associated with higher prevalence (e.g., COPD: 7.9% vs. 3.7%). Women had higher prevalence than men for most conditions (e.g., OP: 23.4% vs. 19.7%), except COPD (5.1% in men vs. 3.8% in women). Prevalence increased with age (e.g., HTN: 7.2% at age 30–40 vs. 17.3% at age > 60). All comparisons were tested using chi-square tests (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings underscore an urgent need for targeted public health interventions to promote PA, improve nutrition, combat obesity, and reduce smoking. Full article