Search Results (680)

This study aimed to investigate population genetic differences related to reproductive traits between Duroc and Yorkshire (Dutch Large White) pigs using two approaches: linear mixed models that dissect additive and dominant effects, and selective sweep analysis. (1) Methods: Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data of 3917 Duroc and 3217 Yorkshire pigs were analyzed. The first principal component (PC1) was used as a simulated phenotype to capture population-level variance. Additive and dominant genetic effects were partitioned and evaluated by using the combination of the linear mixed models (LMM) and ADDO’s algorithm (LMM + ADDO). In parallel, selective sweep signals were detected using fixation index (F_ST) and nucleotide diversity (θ_π) analyses. A comparative assessment was then conducted between the LMM + ADDO and the selective sweep analysis results. Significant loci were annotated using quantitative trait loci (QTL) databases and the Ensembl genome browser. (2) Results: There are 39040 SNPs retained after quality control. Using the LMM + ADDO framework with PC1 as a simulated phenotype, a total of 632 significant SNPs and 184 candidate genes were identified. Notably, 587 SNPs and 171 genes were uniquely detected by the LMM + ADDO method and not among loci detected by the top 5% of F_ST and θ_π values. Key candidate genes associated with litter size included HSPG2, KAT6B, SAMD8, and LRMDA, while DLGAP1, MYOM1, and VTI1A were associated with teat number traits. (3) Conclusions: This study demonstrates the power of integrating additive and dominant effect modeling with population genetics approaches for the detection of genomic regions under selection. The findings provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of reproductive traits in pigs and have practical implications for understanding the inheritance of complex traits. Full article

Ultra-tight gas reservoirs present severe flow constraints due to complex interactions between rock–fluid properties and hydraulic fracturing. This study investigates the impact of unconventional capillary pressure correlations and permeability jail effects on post-fracture cleanup in multiple-fractured horizontal wells (MFHWs) using high-resolution numerical simulations. A novel modelling approach is applied to represent both weak and strong permeability jail phenomena in heterogeneous rock systems. A comprehensive suite of parametric simulations evaluates gas production loss (GPL) and produced fracture fluid (PFF) across varying fracture fluid volumes, shut-in times, drawdown pressures, and matrix permeabilities. The analysis leverages statistically designed experiments and response surface models to isolate the influence of rock heterogeneity and saturation-dependent flow restrictions on cleanup efficiency. The results reveal that strong jail zones drastically hinder fracture fluid recovery, while weak jail configurations interact with heterogeneity to produce non-linear cleanup trends. Notably, reducing the pore size distribution index in Pc models improves predictive accuracy for ultra-tight conditions. These findings underscore the need to integrate unconventional Kr and Pc behaviour in hydraulic fracturing design to optimise flowback and long-term gas recovery. This work provides critical insights for improving reservoir performance and supports ambitions in energy resilience and net-zero transition strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis, frequently diagnosed at a metastatic stage. The identification of accessible, cost-effective prognostic biomarkers is critical for optimizing treatment strategies. The Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX), calculated using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, and platelet count, reflects endothelial dysfunction and has shown prognostic value in hematological cancers. However, its utility in metastatic PC remains unexplored. This study is the first to evaluate the prognostic significance of the EASIX in patients with metastatic PC receiving first-line FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 204 patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma at Istanbul Training and Research Hospital between 2020 and 2025. All patients received FOLFIRINOX as first-line therapy. EASIX was calculated as LDH (U/L) × creatinine (mg/dL)/platelet count (10⁹/L). A cut-off value of 1.33 was used to stratify patients into low and high EASIX groups. Overall survival (OS) was assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared with the log-rank test. Results: The mean patient age was 63.0 ± 9.4 years; 61.8% were male. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Patients with EASIX ≥ 1.33 had significantly lower platelet counts and higher LDH and creatinine levels. Median OS was 14 months for EASIX < 1.33 and 8 months for EASIX ≥ 1.33 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: EASIX is a simple, inexpensive prognostic marker associated with overall survival in metastatic PC. Its integration into clinical practice may facilitate early risk stratification. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm its prognostic utility. Full article

Pancreatic cancer cells exhibit a remarkable ability to tolerate nutrient deprivation, a phenomenon termed “austerity,” which enables their survival within the hypovascular tumor microenvironment. Conventional anticancer therapies frequently fail to effectively target these resilient neoplastic cells, posing a significant challenge to the therapeutic management of pancreatic cancer. Consequently, targeting austerity, the ability of cancer cells to tolerate nutrient starvation, represents a promising anti-austerity strategy for developing novel pancreatic cancer therapeutics. In this study, we investigated calliviminone A (CVM-A), a phloroglucinol–meroterpenoid isolated from Callistemon citrinus leaves, for its anti-austerity activity against PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells. Calliviminone A exhibited potent preferential cytotoxicity in nutrient-deprived medium (NDM) with a PC₅₀ of 0.57 µM, while showing minimal toxicity in nutrient-rich Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s medium (IC₅₀ = 45.2 µM), indicating a favorable therapeutic index. Real-time live-cell imaging revealed that CVM-A induced significant morphological changes, including cell shrinkage and membrane blebbing, leading to cell death within 24 h of NDM. Furthermore, under normal nutrient conditions in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM), CVM-A significantly inhibited PANC-1 cell migration (up to 47% reduction at 20 µM) and colony formation (over 80% suppression at 25 µM), suggesting its antimetastatic potential. Western blot studies demonstrated that CVM-A downregulated key survival components of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, completely inhibiting Akt and p-Akt at 2.5 µM in NDM, and suppressing insulin-induced Akt activation. These findings highlight CVM-A as a promising lead compound for developing novel anticancer therapies that target the adaptive survival mechanisms and metastatic potential of pancreatic cancer in nutrient-deprived microenvironments. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by multifactorial pathogenesis, including oxidative stress, cholinergic dysfunction, β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation, and neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective potential of the Pheka capsule (PC) formula, a traditional Thai polyherbal medicine comprising Oroxylum indicum (OI), Zingiber officinale (ZO), and Boesenbergia rotunda (BR). Phytochemical analysis by HPLC confirmed the presence of key bioactive compounds including baicalein, baicalin, oroxylin A, 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, pinocembrin, and pinostrobin. The PC formula exhibited strong antioxidant activity, highly selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition with a selectivity index (SI) of BChE > 20, suppression of Aβ aggregation, and protection against H₂O₂-induced neuronal damage in vitro. Network pharmacology analysis identified multiple AD-relevant targets and pathways, including APP, GSK3B, CASP3, GAPDH, PTGS2, and PPARG, implicating the PC formula in modulating oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. Notably, OI emerged as the primary contributor to the formula’s multitargeted actions. These findings support the therapeutic potential of the PC formula as a multitarget agent for AD, aligning with the growing interest in polypharmacological strategies for complex neurodegenerative diseases. Further in vivo and clinical studies are warranted to confirm its efficacy and safety. Full article

Protein C (PC) is the main anticoagulant protein of the hemostasis system. It can inhibit the blood clotting cascade before the formation of a thrombus, while its concentration can decrease significantly during strong activation of blood clotting. The PC concentration was found to decrease during systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (with a median of 75%) and depended heavily on the inflammation index. It was also associated with the accumulation of soluble fibrin monomeric (SFMCs) (with a median of 7 µg/mL). A low PC level was detected during severe ischemic heart disease (IHD) (with medians of 60 and 63%, respectively). These pathologies also were associated with clotting activation. During abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), the PC level in blood plasma before surgery was found to range from 40% to 119%. A decrease in the PC level in the blood plasma of patients with AAA before surgery, lower than 78%, was associated with high blood loss (more than 1.5 L). A decrease in the PC level can lead to an imbalance between coagulation and anticoagulation. Thus, during the treatment of complex pathologies associated with the activation of coagulation, specific attention should be paid not only to classic markers of thrombus formation but also to the state of the anticoagulant link. Full article

High-plasticity clay soils pose significant challenges in geotechnical engineering due to their poor mechanical properties, such as low strength and high compressibility. Lime–cement stabilization offers a sustainable solution, but optimizing additive proportions requires advanced analytical approaches to decipher complex soil-stabilizer interactions. This study investigates the stabilization of high-plasticity clay soil (CH) sourced from Kano, Nigeria, using lime (0–30%) and cement (0–8%) for thirty (30) sample combinations to optimize consolidation and strength properties. Geotechnical laboratory tests (consolidation and UCS) were evaluated per ASTM standards. Multivariate analysis integrated principal component analysis (PCA) with regression modeling (PCR) for sensitivity and causality assessment. Optimal stabilization (15% lime + 6% cement) significantly improved soil properties: void ratio reduced by 58% (0.60→0.25), porosity by 49.5% (0.38→0.19), UCS increased by 222.5% to 2670 kPa (28 days), preconsolidation stress by 206% (355.63→1088.92 kPa), and compressibility modulus by 16% (7048→10,474.28 kPa). PCR sensitivity analysis attributed 46% of UCS variance to PC1 (compressibility parameters: void ratio, porosity, compression index; β = 0.72). PCR Causality analysis shows improvment with curing (R²: 68.7% at 7 days→83.0% at 28 days; RMSE: 11.2→7.8 kPa). PCR establishes compressibility reduction as the dominant causal mechanism for strength gain, providing a robust framework for dosage optimization beyond empirical approaches. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prognostic information for nonmetastatic prostate cancer (nmPC) patients with prevalent vertebral fractures (PVFs) is very limited. Vertebral fractures can impair physical function, limit activities of daily living, and decrease quality of life. Prevention of vertebral fractures may be important to improve patient prognosis. This study aims to investigate the impact of the presence and severity of PVFs on overall survival in patients with nmPC undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Methods: A total of 275 men (median age: 73 years) with nmPC who underwent ADT were studied retrospectively. The median observation period was 55 months. Variables included age, body mass index, T classification, N classification, Gleason score, and pretreatment serum prostate-specific antigen levels. PVF was diagnosed from the sagittal computed tomography images of Th1 to L5 before initiating ADT, and the severity was determined by the number of PVFs and the Semiquantitative (SQ) method. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for overall survival were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: During the observation period, 30 patients died from all causes. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified multiple PVFs and high-grade PVFs, as determined by the SQ method, as significant predictors of overall survival. The analysis utilized two adjustment models: one adjusted for age only and the other adjusted for age, Gleason score, and clinical T stage. Conclusions: Multiple PVFs and high-grade PVF determined by the SQ method prior to ADT initiation were associated with higher all-cause mortality in nmPC patients treated with ADT. Full article

Background: Transradial access may affect health-related quality of life (QoL) in cerebral diagnostic angiography. However, its assessment is methodologically challenging, as repeated measurements can be influenced by response shift. To mitigate this bias, a retrospective cross-sectional study was designed using a then-test approach, allowing patients to reflect on their post procedural status at a single time point. Methods: Quality of life was assessed using the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). A then-test approach was also employed, whereby patients were asked to retrospectively indicate whether they perceived their condition as worse following the procedure. The survey yielded Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, standardized to a mean of 50 (range of 0–100), with lower values indicating greater health-related limitations. Group differences were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Associations between PCS and MCS, respectively, and clinical variables were assessed using multiple linear regression models. Results: Forty patients underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography over a 15-month observation period. Applying a then-test design, Group A included the 12.5% (n = 5) of patients who reported feeling worse post-procedure while Group B comprised the remaining 87.5% (n = 35). QoL scores were significantly lower in Group A (Mdn = 28.6) compared to B (Mdn = 46.7) for both PCS scores (p = 0.007) and MCS scores (45.3 vs. 54.6, p = 0.018). In the multiple linear regression analysis, no statistically significant associations were found between the PCS or MCS scores and any clinical variable, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), procedure duration, dose area product, access site, prior neurosurgical history, and fluoroscopy time (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Transradial access for diagnostic cerebral angiography may affect QoL, as assessed using the SF-12 questionnaire. Applying the then-test approach, the group of patients who reported feeling worse after the procedure (12.5%) showed significantly lower physical and mental health scores. These findings underscore the need for prospective studies to further investigate patient-reported outcomes. Full article

Background: Gloriosa superba L., commonly known as Glory Lily, is a medicinally valuable perennial climber native to tropical and subtropical regions of India. It is known for its rich alkaloid content, including colchicine and colchicoside, which contribute to its therapeutic potential in treating various ailments. Despite its pharmacological significance, genomic research on G. superba remains limited due to the lack of genetic markers, hindering molecular studies and breeding advancements. Methods: This study utilized a previously reported de novo transcriptome assembly of G. superba, identifying 14,672 EST-SSRs as genomic markers to assess genetic variations across different accessions. Genetic diversity was examined using SSR markers, while 20 morphological traits were systematically evaluated across 19 G. superba accessions from diverse geographic regions to provide insights into trait variability. Results: The most highly variable traits included plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, fresh pod yield, fresh seed yield, dry seed yield, number of pods per plant, leaf width, and internodal length, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 63.53% to 22.45%. Intermediate CV values (10.05% to 18.75%) were observed in eight traits, while three traits (days to flowering, days to 50% flowering, and colchicine content) had low variation (<5%). Principal component analysis (PCA) accounted for 51.3% of phenotypic variation, with PC1 and PC2 contributing 29.4% and 21.9%, respectively. Clustering analysis grouped the 19 G. superba accessions into two main clusters and four sub-clusters, highlighting significant genetic divergence, with the highest dissimilarity (81.45%) observed between accessions from Arrupukottai and Pachmarhi. SSR analysis using 112 markers revealed high polymorphism but a relatively low heterozygosity index (H = 0.277) and PIC values of individual SSRs ranged from 0.26069 in RGM-51635 to 0.4534 in RGM-24219. Conclusions: The genetic divergence observed among the collected G. superba ecotypes provides valuable insights for future breeding programs aimed at enhancing cultivation efficiency and developing superior varieties with improved yield and colchicine content. Full article

Background/Objectives: While anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a well-established treatment for degenerative lumbar spine pathology, the timing and pace of postoperative recovery remain poorly defined. Understanding these temporal trends is clinically important for setting patient expectations and optimizing postoperative care. Methods: This retrospective single-institution study evaluated functional recovery in patients undergoing primary, single-level stand-alone (SA) ALIF, or with percutaneous posterior instrumentation (PI). Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for back and leg pain, and the SF-12 Physical Component Score (PCS), were assessed preoperatively and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. Achievement of minimum clinically important difference (MCID), global rating change (GRC), and return-to-activity milestones were also analyzed. Results: A total of 143 patients were included (90 SA; 53 PI). PROMs showed significant improvement through 1 year. VAS-back improved by 2 weeks, while ODI and SF12 PCS initially worsened but improved after 6 weeks. By 6 months, over half of the cohort achieved MCID, with continued gains through 1 year. Most patients returned to driving and work, and over 90% discontinued narcotics. Recovery trajectories were comparable between groups, despite early delays in the instrumented cohort. Conclusions: These findings provide time-specific recovery benchmarks that can guide surgical decision-making, patient education, and expectations around functional milestones. Full article

This paper investigates the measurement capability, dynamic response, and mechanical reliability of all 3D-printed multi-material thermistors. The thermistor design consisted of three main components: a polycarbonate (PC) substrate, a silver (Ag) electrode pair, and a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thermosensitive layer. The thermistors were fabricated using two manufacturing techniques: fused deposition modeling (FDM) for the substrate and micro-dispensing for the Ag and PEDOT:PSS films. Two designs with different sensing areas, D1 (90 mm²) and D2 (54 mm²), were fabricated. As the indicator of measurement capability, the highest thermal indexes were recorded as 905.64 and 813.03 K for D1 and D2 thermistors, respectively. Thermistors exhibited comparable dynamic performance, with normalized resistance variations ranging from 0.96 to 1 for temperature changes between 25 and 45 °C. The sensing area influenced both measurement capability and dynamic performance, where larger sensing areas enhanced measurement capability but extended the time required to complete dynamic cycles, around 400 s for D1 versus 350 s for D2. Adhesion tests revealed a strong bonding between the PEDOT:PSS and Ag layer with less than 5% material removal. However, the adhesion of the PEDOT:PSS to the PC substrate was weak, with over 65% material removal. Morphological analysis indicated that the poor adhesion was caused by suboptimal surface properties of the 3D-printed substrate, even resulting in gaps between these two surfaces. This study demonstrates that our all 3D-printed multi-material thermistors can match reported measurement performance with an acceptable dynamic performance while highlighting the need to improve 3D-printed substrate surface properties to enhance the performance of such multi-material structures. Full article

Background: With the global population aging, the proportion of the elderly is increasing, leading to health challenges. The decline in the elderly’s physical function raises their fall risk, which affects their health and burdens the healthcare system. Traditional fall risk assessment methods like Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) have limitations, while computer vision technology shows potential but also has drawbacks. Objective: This study aims to use computer vision technology to quantify the elderly’s gait movement features, analyze their correlations with SPPB test scores and duration consumption, and explore a solution for long-term monitoring and more efficient fall risk assessment. Methods: Data from 19 elderly Japanese subjects, including SPPB test data and camera-captured body movement data, were analyzed. Python (Version 3.12.6) was used to obtain JSON data, calculate movement distances, and construct a comprehensive index. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed. Results: The variance mean indicator of the comprehensive index associated with movement distance had a significant negative correlation with the completion duration of Test 2 in SPPB, indicating that greater gait variability might be related to better physical vitality. PC1 (Muscle-Control Reserve) and PC2 (Learning-Fatigue Response) obtained from PCA had a positive relationship with the test duration. The comprehensive index had a positive but not highly significant correlation with test scores. Conclusions: This study analyzed the correlation between the elderly’s gait movement features and SPPB test performance. It innovated in data collection and analysis methods. Future research can be improved by expanding the sample size, adding more parameters, and applying deep-learning techniques. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions worldwide and present an urgent challenge due to the aging of the population. Drug delivery to the brain is limited by the blood–brain barrier (BBB), inspiring the development of nanotransporters like phytosomes. This study aimed to develop phosphatidylcholine (PC)-based phytosomes incorporating macroalgae extracts. Some of them were functionalized with PEG and ApoE to enhance BBB passage. The phytosomes were characterized by the encapsulation rate, size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and stability, with BBB passage tested in an in vitro model (transwell hCMEC/D3 cell model). The phytosomes showed high stability and effective extract binding (74.9–80.3%) over four weeks. Although ApoE functionalization did not significantly improve BBB crossing, all nanotransporters successfully traversed the BBB in the model. Full article

To compare the quality and nutritional differences of crayfish under freshwater and saline-alkali water aquaculture conditions, this study systematically analyzed the biochemical composition, physical properties, and nutritional evaluation of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) cultivated in saline-alkali water (PC-SW) and freshwater aquaculture (PC-FW), respectively. The results showed that crayfish from PC-SW had higher crude protein, crude fat, water content, and ash content. At the same time, PC-SW had a higher meat yield (16.18 ± 0.74%) than PC-FW (p < 0.05), with no significant changes in the head weight ratio or hepatopancreas weight ratio, indicating superior crayfish quality. The trace element content of PC-SW differed significantly from that of PC-FW (p < 0.05), with the exception of Cu. To some extent, the amino acid and fatty acid compositions were similar. The no essential amino acids content of crayfish cultivated under freshwater and saline-alkali conditions was higher than the essential amino acids content. The total branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) content was higher than the total aromatic amino acids (AACs) content in both groups; however, the BCAA to AAC ratio was similar, at approximately 2.14. The essential amino acid index results were 69.01 and 68.02, respectively. Finally, betaine and nucleotide concentrations increased and geosmin content was significantly reduced in PC-SW (3.13 ± 0.09 μg/kg) compared to PC-FW (4.32 ± 0.09 μg/kg) (p < 0.05), implying that PC-SW crayfish had a better flavor. Our findings revealed that cultivating crayfish under saline-alkali conditions can significantly improve the nutritional quality and flavor of muscle. Full article