Search Results (276)

Fibrocapsa japonica (Raphidophyceae) is a cosmopolitan species frequently associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs) and fish mortality events, representing a potential threat to aquaculture and coastal ecosystems. This study provides the first comprehensive morphological, phylogenetic, pigmentary, and toxicological characterization of F. japonica strains isolated from Argentina. Light and transmission electron microscopy confirmed key diagnostic features of the species, including anterior flagella and the conspicuous group of mucocyst in the posterior region. Phylogenetic analysis based on the LSU rDNA D1–D2 region revealed monophyletic relationships with strains from geographically distant regions. Pigment analysis by HPLC identified chlorophyll-a (62.3 pg cell⁻¹) and fucoxanthin (38.4 pg cell⁻¹) as the main dominant pigments. Cytotoxicity assays using RTgill-W1 cells exposed for 2 h to culture supernatants and intracellular extracts showed strain-specific effects. The most toxic strain (LPCc049) reduced gill cell viability down to 53% in the supernatant exposure, while LC₅₀ values ranged from 1.6 × 10⁴ to 4.7 × 10⁵ cells mL⁻¹, depending directly on the strain and treatment type. No brevetoxins (PbTx-1, -2, -3, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10, BTX-B1 and BTX-B2) were detected by LC–MS/MS, suggesting that the cytotoxicity may be linked to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), or hemolytic compounds, as previously hypothesized in the literature. These findings offer novel insights into the toxic potential of F. japonica in South America and underscore the need for further research to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its ichthyotoxic effect. Full article

This paper presents the design and performance analysis of a compact wireless power transfer (WPT) system operating at 1.6 GHz. The transmitter (Tx) structure consists of a circular slot and a circular radiating element, excited from the backside of the substrate, while the receiver (Rx) comprises a slotted patch antenna miniaturized using two vertical vias. The initial power transfer efficiency (PTE), represented by the transmission coefficient $S_{21}$, was measured to be −31 dB with a 25 mm separation between Tx and Rx. To enhance the efficiency of the system, a dielectric matching media (MM) was introduced between the transmitter and receiver. Through the implementation of the MM, the PTE improved significantly, with $S_{21}$ increasing to −24 dB. A parametric study was conducted by varying the thickness of the MM from 1 mm to 10 mm and the relative permittivity (${\epsilon }_r$) from 5 to 30. The results demonstrate that both the thickness and dielectric constant of the MM play a crucial role in improving the coupling and overall efficiency of the WPT system. The optimal configuration was achieved with a matching media thickness of 10 mm and a relative permittivity of 25, which yielded the best improvement in transmission performance. This work offers a practical approach to enhance near-field WPT efficiency using simple matching structures and is particularly relevant for compact and low-profile energy transfer applications. Full article

Wide-angle images often suffer from severe radial distortion, compromising geometric accuracy and challenging image correction and real-time stitching, especially in resource-constrained embedded environments. To address this, this study proposes a wide-angle image correction and stitching framework based on a Swin Transformer, optimized for lightweight deployment on edge devices. The model integrates multi-scale feature extraction, Thin Plate Spline (TPS) control point prediction, and optical flow-guided constraints, balancing correction accuracy and computational efficiency. Experiments on synthetic and real-world datasets show that the method outperforms mainstream algorithms, with PSNR gains of 3.28 dB and 2.18 dB on wide-angle and fisheye images, respectively, while maintaining real-time performance. To validate practical applicability, the model is deployed on a Jetson TX2 NX device, and a real-time dual-camera stitching system is built using C++ and DeepStream. The system achieves 15 FPS at 1400 × 1400 resolution, with a correction latency of 56 ms and stitching latency of 15 ms, demonstrating efficient hardware utilization and stable performance. This study presents a deployable, scalable, and edge-compatible solution for wide-angle image correction and real-time stitching, offering practical value for applications such as smart surveillance, autonomous driving, and industrial inspection. Full article

The incidence of Hashimoto’s disease (HD) increases with age and in people who have other autoimmune diseases. It is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration, fibrosis, and atrophy of the thyroid parenchyma with the simultaneous presence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (ATPO) and/or thyroglobulin antibodies (ATG). Eicosanoids are formed via the cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), and monooxygenase (CYP450) pathways with arachidonic acid (ARA), resulting in the production of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) or hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). These eicosanoids can act in an autocrine or paracrine manner on target cells. This study aimed to examine whether a gluten-free diet (GFD) can modulate the enzymatic pathways of the pro-inflammatory ARA cascade. The study material consisted of serum samples from Caucasian female patients with HD aged 18–55 years. Participants were enrolled in the study based on the presence of an ultrasound characteristic of HD, and elevated serum levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Patients with confirmed celiac disease did not participate in the study. A total of 78 samples were analyzed, with 39 collected after 3 months of following a GFD. Eicosanoids (thromboxane B2, prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, and 16R-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (16-RS HETE)) were extracted using high-performance liquid chromatography. The contribution of leukotriene (LTB) was analyzed in the LOX pathway, prostaglandins (PGE2) and thromboxane (TXB2) were selected for the involvement of the COX pathway, and 16RS HETE was used for the CYP450 pathway. All parameters were analyzed before and after a 3-month dietary intervention that included a gluten-free diet. In the obtained results, only one mediator, leukotriene B4, was significant (p < 0.05). The mean level on the initial visit was 0.202 ± 0.11 (SD), while it was 0.421 ± 0.27 (SD) on the subsequent visit, indicating a significant increase in its level after implementing a GFD. Although there was a trend in the CYP 450 pathway of decreased 16-RS HETE, the presented correlations show that thromboxane B4 and 16RS-HETE were positively correlated with the body mass and body fat mass of the examined patients. There was a trend in the CYP 450 pathway of decreased 16-RS HETE after GFD. Thromboxane B4 and 16RS-HETE levels before GFD were positively correlated with the body mass and body fat mass of the examined patients. A gluten-free diet in HD does not suppress the synthetic pathways of LOX, COX, or cytochrome P450 (CYP450). The level of adipose tissue has a greater impact on the inflammatory processes in HD than a gluten-free diet. This study does not confirm the suppressive effect of a gluten-free diet on the pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid cascade in any of the three analyzed mediator synthesis LOX, COX, CYP450 pathways. Full article

A low-profile dual-polarized shared-aperture phased array antenna is proposed for Ku-band satellite communications in this paper. The stacked octagonal patches loaded with Via-rings are proposed as dual-polarized shared-aperture radiation elements, with the characteristics of wide impedance bandwidth, high gain, and weak coupling. Furthermore, innovative minimized three-port ring couplers are utilized for the differential-fed antenna array, further suppressing the cross-polarization component. Substrate integrated coaxial line (SICL) and microstrip line (MS) feed networks are employed for the excitation of transmitting band (Tx) horizontal polarization and receiving band (Rx) vertical polarization, respectively. The non-uniform subarray architecture is optimized to minimize the sidelobe levels with the reduced number of transmitter and receiver (T/R) radio frequency phase-shifting modules. As proof-of-concept examples, 16 × 24 and 32 × 24 array antennas are demonstrated and fabricated. The measured impedance bandwidths of the proposed phased array antennas are around 21.1%, while the in-band isolations are above 36.7 dB. Gains up to 29 dBi and 32.4 dBi are performed by two prototypes separately. In addition, the T/R phase-shifting modules are utilized to validate the beam-scanning characteristic, which is of value for dynamic satellite communications. Full article

The ATSC 3.0 standard supports ultra-high-definition broadcasting and introduces transmitter identification (TxID) to enable robust operation in single-frequency networks (SFNs). TxID typically relies on long spreading codes to minimize interference, but this approach limits the achievable data transmission rate. To address this limitation, we propose a novel scheme that combines cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) and frequency symbol spreading (FSS) to reduce interference from additional data on standard broadcast signals without increasing the system complexity. In the proposed system, vertically polarized antennas transmit standard broadcast signals, while horizontally polarized antennas transmit additional data. FSS utilizes orthogonal Hadamard codes in the frequency domain to enhance signal robustness in multipath fading environments. The simulation results demonstrate improved bit error rate (BER) and throughput under varying XPD conditions (5–15 dB), with further gains achieved through the use of longer spreading codes and adaptive modulation. The proposed method requires only minor hardware modifications and is fully compatible with existing ATSC 3.0 infrastructure. Full article

Baylisascariasis is a debilitating and potentially lethal zoonotic disease caused by a nematode parasite that has a worldwide distribution. Baylisascaris spp. are carried by a variety of mammalian definitive hosts, and their larvae can infect a large diversity of paratenic hosts including birds and mammals, and even humans. Herein, the potential exposure risk of this zoonotic parasite is demonstrated through the study of a suburban American community with a population of Baylisascaris procyonis—infected raccoons (Procyon lotor) as a case study for any location with Baylisascaris spp., definitive hosts, and proximity to humans. Soil from 100 properties within neighborhoods of southern Corpus Christi, TX, USA, was surveyed to determine if viable B. procyonis eggs were present. In total, 27% of the residential properties were contaminated. Positive soil samples, on average, contained 31,287 B. procyonis eggs/gram of soil; of these samples, 92% of the B. procyonis eggs had motile larvae. Sites with contaminated soils appeared random within residential properties; frequency of contaminated sites was similar between known raccoon defecation sites and random sites. Suggestions for the reduction in risks of exposure to this potentially debilitating parasite are offered to residents of Baylisascaris-contaminated properties. Full article

Hepatic mucormycosis is a rare but often fatal opportunistic fungal infection, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Herein, we report such a case from MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA) and systematically review published cases in patients ≥ 19 years of age to better characterize clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and treatment outcomes of hepatic mucormycosis. Among the 40 identified cases (including ours), hematologic malignancies (55%) and solid organ transplantation (30%) were the most common underlying conditions. Fever (70%) and abdominal pain (63%) were the predominant symptoms. Imaging revealed multiple hepatic lesions in 72% of cases. Diagnosis was primarily based on histopathology (73%), whereas culture positivity was low (36%), underscoring the difficulty of pathogen isolation. Mucorales-active antifungal therapy was often delayed but eventually used in 85% of cases (all amphotericin B +/− Mucorales-active triazoles), while 45% underwent additional surgical intervention. Despite treatment, 1-year all-cause mortality remained high at 46%, with a trend towards lower mortality for those who underwent surgery compared to non-surgical management (35% vs. 55%, p = 0.334). These findings highlight the aggressive nature of hepatic mucormycosis and the importance of early recognition as well as the need for non-culture-based diagnostics and multimodal treatment approaches. Improved awareness and further research into optimized management strategies are crucial to improve the outcomes of this challenging infection. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the intra- and inter-explorer reliability of different lung ultrasound (LUS) scores in patients with suspected rheumatoid arthritis with associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). Methods: Fourteen consecutive patients with suspected RA-ILD based on the presence of respiratory symptoms, lung function tests (LFTs) or imaging alterations were recruited. The screening protocol consisted of an LFT, a chest X-ray, and HRCT. LUS examinations of different B-line and pleural line scores including 14 intercostal spaces were performed by three experienced sonographers, guaranteeing blinding. Intra- and inter-explorer reliability were calculated for all LUS scores and at the intercostal space level by weighted Cohen’s kappa and Fleiss’ kappa, respectively, relying on absolute differences using Stata/IC 14.2 software^® (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA). Results: Both global (ĸ = 0.73–0.82) and binary (ĸ = 0.80–0.90) scores of B lines showed substantial to excellent intra-explorer reliability, with slightly better results for the binary score. The inter-explorer reliability was equally excellent for the global score (ĸ = 0.93) and the binary score (ĸ = 0.90) of B lines. The intra-explorer reliability of the semiquantitative pleural score was excellent for all the sonographers (ĸ = 0.88–0.91), and the binary pleural score had slightly lower intra-explorer reliability (ĸ = 0.77–0.84). Regarding inter-explorer reliability, both semiquantitative and binary pleural scores were equally excellent (ĸ = 0.84). Good to excellent inter-explorer reliability was found in all the scanned areas. Conclusions: Substantial to excellent intra- and inter-explorer reliability of different feasible B-line and pleural LUS scores were found, adding evidence in favor of the potential implementation of LUS for RA-ILD diagnosis in clinical practice. Full article

The emergence of the AI era driven by Large Language Models (LLMs) and the next-generation high-definition multimedia interface for immersive technologies (AR/VR/metaverse) have created an unprecedented demand for high-bandwidth interconnects. While optical communication systems provide a broad bandwidth, their relatively low power efficiency continues to limit their deployment in new applications. This work addresses the power efficiency challenges in CMOS optical transceiver design, leveraging the inherent cost and integration advantages of CMOS technology. After outlining the design principles for low-power optical transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) design, we present a comprehensive design of a low-power optical transceiver chipset implemented in 28 nm CMOS. The Tx features a high-impedance asymmetric current-steering output stage with a stacked architecture that facilitates unipolar power supply operation for the efficient anode driving of a common-cathode VCSEL array and achieved a power efficiency of 1.59 pJ/bit. The Rx incorporates a tail-current-controlled Cherry–Hooper-based variable gain amplifier (VGA), which achieved a transimpedance gain that ranged from 68.4 to 78.5 dB$\Omega$ and a power efficiency of 1.06 pJ/bit. The Rx–Tx back-to-back measurements confirmed successful data transmission at 4 × 20 Gbps, which demonstrated an overall power efficiency of 2.65 pJ/bit. Full article

Background: The growth traits of donkeys from the same farm under the same feeding conditions often vary. Methods: In this study, Plasma hormone level and LC–MS-based metabolomics was used to identify the metabolic pathways and the key metabolites associated with the growth rate of Dezhou donkeys. Results: The level of IGF-1 in the SG was significantly higher than that in the FG. The differentially abundant metabolites were related mainly to lipid metabolism, in which arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis played key roles. The main differentially abundant metabolites 2,3-dinor-8-iso-PGF2α, 11-DH-TXB2, 8(R)-HPETE, PGJ2, c9, t11-CLA, 12,13-DHOME, 9,10-DHOME, 9(10)-EpOME, 13-HPODE, DHEAS, testosterone, and corticosterone played important roles in metabolic homeostasis and affected the adaptation of donkeys to cold environments. Conclusions: The present study revealed that the growth rate of donkeys is mainly influenced by their adaptation to the environment, providing a more in-depth study on the relationship between plasma metabolomics and growth rate in donkeys. Full article

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common and multifactorial endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women, is strongly associated with insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and also affects up to one in four women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The current study explored the potential of Plantago ovata (P. ovata) seed ethanol extract (POEE) to modulate oxidative stress (OS), inflammatory responses, metabolic profiles, and hormonal levels in rat Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM and Letrozole (LET)-induced PCOS. Phytochemical analysis measured total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) using HPLC-DAD-ESI MS for compound identification. POEE’s antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro through DPPH, H₂O₂, FRAP, and NO scavenging assays. Rats received POEE, metformin, or Trolox (TX) for 10 days. PCOS confirmation was achieved via ultrasound and histopathology. Serum levels of OS markers (TOS, TAC, OSI, MDA, AOPP, 8-OHdG, NO, 3-NT, AGEs, and SH), inflammatory markers (NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-18, Gasdermin D, and IL-10), metabolic parameters (fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, and liver enzymes), and hormone levels (LH, FSH, estrogen, testosterone, and insulin) were assessed. Additionally, the Triglyceride–Glucose index (TyG) and HOMA-IR were calculated. POEE had a medium content of polyphenols and a good in vitro antioxidant effect. In vivo, POEE administration in diabetic rats led to a reduction in OS markers and an increase in antioxidant levels, alongside decreases in inflammatory cytokines, blood glucose levels, and transaminase activity and improvements in lipid profile. In the PCOS model, POEE treatment effectively reduced total OS and lowered levels of LH, FSH, and testosterone, while elevating estrogen concentrations and reducing insulin resistance. These therapeutic effects were dose-dependent, with higher doses producing more pronounced outcomes, comparable to those observed with metformin and TX treatment. Full article

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are prevalent endocrine disorders with overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is commonly associated with PCOS, with both conditions strongly linked to insulin resistance (IR), while recent studies have also reported an increased prevalence of PCOS among women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study evaluated the potential of Lythrum salicaria L. ethanol extract (LSEE) to mitigate oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, and metabolic and hormonal imbalances in separate experimental models of Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM and Letrozole (LET)-induced PCOS. LSEE underwent phytochemical analysis to quantify total phenolic and flavonoid content and HPLC-MS for polyphenols identification. In vitro, antioxidant capacity was investigated through FRAP, DPPH, NO, and H₂O₂ scavenging assays. Subsequently, in vivo, studies utilized STZ-induced DM and LET-induced PCOS rat models, with 10-day treatments of LSEE, metformin, or trolox (TX) administered by gavage. Dysregulation of hormonal profiles, ultrasound, and histological examinations confirmed PCOS development. At the end of the treatment period, serum samples were collected to assess OS markers (TOS, OSI, MDA, AOPP, 8-OHdG, NO, 3-NT, AGEs, TAR, SH) in both models. Inflammatory markers were also measured (IL-1β, NF-κB, IL-18, and Gasdermin D in DM and IL-1β, NF-κB, IL-18, and IL-10 in PCOS). Additionally, metabolic markers (glucose, lipids, TG-glucose index, liver enzymes) were assessed in DM rats, and hormones (LH, FSH, estrogen, testosterone, insulin, HOMA-IR) were determined in PCOS rats. LSEE demonstrated a high polyphenolic content and notable in vitro antioxidant activity. In vivo, it effectively reduced OS by lowering oxidant levels and enhancing antioxidant defenses, reduced inflammatory markers and blood glucose levels, and improved lipid profiles along with the TyG index and liver injury markers in diabetic rats. In PCOS rats, LSEE lowered the total oxidants, increased antioxidants, reduced LH, FSH, testosterone, and insulin, and increased estrogen levels. The effects exhibited a dose-dependent pattern, with higher doses producing more pronounced benefits comparable to those observed with metformin and TX. In conclusion, LSEE may be a promising complementary treatment for DM and PCOS. Full article

This paper presents the design of a dual-band filter and a diplexer using an extremely miniaturized substrate-integrated coaxial cavity (SICC) structure. The presented dual-band filter can function as a front-end circuit block connected to 5G antennae, enabling dual-passband operation for 5G applications. The diplexer is designed for use in 5G communication systems, positioned after the 5G antennae to facilitate the switching of transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) signals between the Tx and Rx terminals. The main contribution of this work is the development of a highly miniaturized substrate-integrated coaxial cavity (SICC) to design a dual-band filter (DBF) and a diplexer. The circuit area of the proposed dual-frequency SICC is a mere 2.1% of its conventional substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity counterpart when operating at the same frequency. A dual-band filter and a diplexer are realized using two and three highly miniaturized SICC resonators, respectively. The dual-band filter is designed to have a transmission zero on each passband side to enhance signal selectively. At most in-band frequencies, the isolation between the diplexer’s channel bands exceeds 20 dB. A sample dual-band filter and diplexer have been fabricated for experimental validation, demonstrating excellent agreement between the measured and simulated data. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the designed dual-band filter and diplexer achieve the highest circuit area efficiency within the categories of dual-band SIW cavity filters and diplexers. Full article

Xenogenic collagen matrices are used in clinical practice for soft tissue augmentation around teeth and implants, either alone or biofunctionalized with injectable platelet-rich fibrin (iPRF). Their direct interaction with inflammatory cells may influence both healing and destructive inflammation processes. Therefore, expression of cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) and prostanoids (PGE2 and TXB2) was studied in THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cultures exposed to porcine collagen matrices (a non-cross-linked monolayer scaffold composed of collagen type I, collagen type III, and elastin (MLCM), a bilayer scaffold made of collagen types I and III (BLCM), and a volume-stable cross-linked monolayer scaffold (VSCM)). The study showed that VSCM and MLCM significantly reduced PGE2 concentrations in THP-1 monocyte cultures. iPRF further reduced PGE2 concentrations when exposed to MLCM. In contrast, incubation of THP-1 monocytes with VSCM and BLCM resulted in a significant increase in TXB2 concentrations compared with control conditions. Incubation of macrophages with MLCM, VSCM, and BLCM increased PGE2 concentrations, with VSCM and BLCM additionally increasing TXB2 concentrations. iPRF in macrophage cultures with VSCM and BLCM also resulted in increased PGE2 and TXB2 concentrations compared with control conditions. Confocal microscopy revealed no visible differences in COX-1 immunoexpression in monocytes and macrophages cultured with collagen matrices, either with or without iPFR. Weak positive COX-2 immunofluorescence was observed in monocytes, while moderate positive immunofluorescence was detected in macrophages. In conclusion, it can be suggested that the studied collagen matrices interact with monocytes/macrophages, with MLCM exhibiting the highest compatibility. Full article