Search Results (42)

Polyphenols and flavonoids are key bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant properties, making them crucial for human health and nutraceutical applications. However, their extraction efficiency and concentrations are influenced by multiple factors, including plant part, cultivar, and solvent selection. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of plant part, cultivar, and solvent type on the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and CUPRAC assays) in different extracts from black mulberry, chokeberry, and elderberry. In all three species, the leaves exhibited significantly higher phytochemical and antioxidant properties than the fruits, with an average increase of 62.8–133.4% in the TPC and 55.4–390.3% in the TFC. Among genotypes, Gümüşhacıköy Horum and Tohma Medik (black mulberry), Viking and Nero (chokeberry), and Tokat (T1) (elderberry) demonstrated the highest levels of bioactive compounds, while Şelale Karadut, Aron, and Haschberg exhibited the lowest values. Solvent selection played a crucial role, with methanol:water:HCl emerging as the most effective extraction medium, increasing the TPC by 27.5–46.3%, the TFC by 28.3–67.6%, and the antioxidant capacity (ABTS and CUPRAC) by up to 94.2% compared to water extraction. These findings indicate the significance of leaf-based bioactive compound extraction and optimized solvent selection for maximizing antioxidant yields. The results of this study also have important implications for both fruit cultivation and human nutrition, highlighting the potential of leaves as a valuable source of polyphenols and antioxidants. Full article

Shielings are seasonal settlements found in upland pastures across Scandinavia and the North Atlantic. New investigations in the county of Møre and Romsdal, Norway, demonstrate the existence of this transhumant system by the Viking Age and Early Middle Ages. Sub-terranean features in these pastoral mountain landscapes have been identified by remote sensing technologies, but non-invasive methods still face challenges in terms of practical applicability and in confirming the presence of archaeological sites. Generally, aerial surveys, such as LiDAR and image-based modelling, excel in documenting visual landscapes and may enhance detection of low-visibility features. Thermography may also detect shallow subsurface features but is limited by solar conditions and vegetation. Magnetic methods face challenges due to the heterogeneous moraine geology. Ground-penetrating radar has yielded better results but is highly impractical and inefficient in these remote and rough landscapes. Systematic soil coring or test-pitting remain the most reliable options for detecting these faint sites, yet non-invasive methods may offer a better understanding of the archaeological contexts—between the initial survey and the final excavation. Altogether, the study highlights the dependency on landscape, soil, and vegetation, emphasising the need to consider each method’s possibilities and limitations based on site environments and conditions. Full article

Ammonia has attracted much interest as a potential green and renewable hydrogen carrier or energy vector. Compared to hydrogen, ammonia offers several advantages. For example, ammonia has a significantly higher energy density and can be liquefied at room temperature at a moderate pressure of 8 bars. While ammonia can be cracked to supply hydrogen, it is also possible to convert it directly into high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) to generate electricity. The Ship-FC project aims to install an ammonia-fed 2MW SOFC system on board the vessel Viking energy to demonstrate the feasibility of zero CO₂ emission shipping. For this NH₃ SOFC system, a catalytic afterburner is required to remove the hydrogen and ammonia present in the SOFC off-gas and to recover heat. The current study analysed the effects of different catalyst supports, with a focus on NO_X formation through the combustion of an SOFC off-gas surrogate. The study investigated the performance of catalysts based on the active metals, platinum and iridium, as well as the catalyst supports, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, and TiO₂. The results were correlated with catalyst characterisation data and ammonia TPD results. The investigations showed that the formation of NO_X was clearly affected by the nature of the catalyst support. The highest selectivity towards NO_X was observed for Al₂O₃, followed by SiO₂, and the lowest selectivity was observed for TiO₂. This trend was evident for the supported platinum and iridium catalysts and for the samples exclusively containing the support. The trend for N₂O formation was opposite to that of NO_X formation (TiO₂ > SiO₂ > Al₂O₃) in both the presence and absence of platinum or iridium. Full article

Background: Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a systemic connective tissue disorder of the palm, predominantly affecting men of Northern European or Caucasian origin over 55. In addition to conventional surgery, Dupuytren’s contracture can be treated in a minimally invasive way by injecting bacterial collagenase into the cord. However, studies on the long-term success rate when compared to the gold standard, surgical limited fasciectomy, are limited. Methods: This monocentric retrospective study examined 35 patients who had been treated with bacterial collagenase for Dupuytren’s contracture, conducting a long-term follow-up after an average of 5.7 years. The results were compared to a control group of 40 patients treated with surgical limited fasciectomy on average 5.5 years ago. Finger extension (Tubiana stage), strength, sensitivity, the effect of possible risk factors, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were compared between the two groups. Results: The long-term results after therapy for DD showed a significant reduction in the Tubiana stage for both groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, we observed a longer mean preintervention Tubiana stage and a better long-term improvement in the Tubiana stage for patients with limited fasciectomy when compared to the collagenase group. (both p < 0.001). Neither grip strength nor the pinch test showed significant differences when compared within each group or when comparing both groups. Both the treated and untreated fingers of patients with limited fasciectomy had a superior two-point discrimination (p < 0.001). For the URAM questionnaire, we observed a significantly better result in the control group (p < 0.01). Retrospectively, significantly more patients in the collagenase group would not choose the same therapy to treat DD (35 vs. 8%; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The two therapy options should be seen as complementary for the treatment of DD. Collagenase therapy seems a sensible option for DD with an earlier Tubiana stage and contractures that predominantly affect the MCP joint. Contractures with higher Tubiana stages that also affect the PIP joint should predominantly be treated with limited fasciectomy. Full article

Background/Objectives: The colonization history of house mice reflects the maritime history of humans that passively transported them worldwide. We investigated western house mouse colonization in the Atlantic region through studies of mitochondrial D-loop DNA sequences from modern specimens. Methods: We assembled a dataset of 758 haplotypes derived from 2765 mice from 47 countries/oceanic archipelagos (a combination of new and published data). Our maximum likelihood phylogeny recovered five previously identified clades, and we used the haplotype affinities within the phylogeny to infer house mouse colonization history, employing statistical tests and indices. From human history, we predefined four European source areas for mice in the Atlantic region (Northern Europe excluding Scandinavia, Southern Europe, Scandinavia, and Macaronesia) and we investigated the colonization from these source areas to different geographic areas in the Atlantic region. Results: Our inferences suggest mouse colonization of Scandinavia itself from Northern Europe, and Macaronesia from both Southern Europe and Scandinavia/Germany (the latter likely representing the transport of mice by Vikings). Mice on North Atlantic islands apparently derive primarily from Scandinavia, while for South Atlantic islands, North America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, the clearest source is Northern Europe, although mice on South Atlantic islands also had genetic inputs from Macaronesia and Southern Europe (for Tristan da Cunha). Macaronesia was a stopover for Atlantic voyages, creating an opportunity for mouse infestation. Mice in Latin America also apparently had multiple colonization sources, with a strong Southern European signal but also input from Northern Europe and/or Macaronesia. Conclusions: D-loop sequences help discern the broad-scale colonization history of house mice and new perspectives on human history. Full article

The origins of multiple sclerosis (MS) have been a subject intriguing researchers and scholars for generations. The multifactorial etiological nature of the disease continues to be studied as a complex combination of genetic aspects and environmental or external risk elements contributing to the development of the disease. Descriptions of symptoms or clinical disorders suggestive of MS affecting historical figures or prominent individuals (i.e., Lidwina of Schiedam, Heinrich Heine, Augustus d’Este) did not provide clues on the origin of the disease, except for the observation that all these early possible cases were white European individuals. MS was initially framed as a neurological entity and named in the 19th century by the historical participation of the French masters Cruveilhier, Vulpian, and Charcot, among others, but the question of how the disease originated was not addressed until Charles Poser raised his conjecture on the origins of MS in two historical essays (1994 and 1995), raising the question if the Viking voyages and invasions from the 8th to the 11th century carried the Scandinavian MS genetic risk factor to Europe and the rest of the known world at that time. Poser did not have the benefit of access to ancient molecular DNA data and based his theoretical postulation on interesting historical and archeological observations. A series of studies and opinions published in 2024, utilizing sophisticated genetic analyses and genome identification, archeological DNA analysis, and other advanced techniques and biological computation, distinctly demonstrate the installation of HLA-DRB1*15:01 (class II allele) in Europe (with a higher prevalence in Scandinavia) following the massive Yamnaya pastoralists migration from the Pontic Steppe in Eurasia to western Europe (~5000 to 2500 BCE). The data suggest HLA-DRB1*15:01, the strongest genetic association with MS, underwent an evolutive switch (“thrifty drift”) from immune protector against novel zoonotic diseases appearing among the early pastoralists of the Yamnaya civilization to an autoimmune deleterious reactor to molecular mimicry and self-antigens, enabled by lifestyle changes and reduction of pastoralism once communities settled in Europe after the migration from the Pontic Steppe. This writer offers a new perspective on the origins of MS through a phase 1, the ancient east to west migration in the late Bronze Age, consolidating the HLA-DRB1*15:01 haplotype in Europe, and phase 2, the additional dissemination of the genetic MS risk through the Viking invasions, reinforcing inheritability by enabling a homozygous dominant inheritance. Full article

This study presents an advanced defect detection approach for solar cells using the YOLOv10 deep learning model. Leveraging a comprehensive dataset of 10,500 solar cell images annotated with 12 distinct defect types, our model integrates Compact Inverted Blocks (CIBs) and Partial Self-Attention (PSA) modules to enhance feature extraction and classification accuracy. Training on the Viking cluster with state-of-the-art GPUs, our model achieved remarkable results, including a mean Average Precision (mAP@0.5) of 98.5%. Detailed analysis of the model’s performance revealed exceptional precision and recall rates for most defect classes, notably achieving 100% accuracy in detecting black core, corner, fragment, scratch, and short circuit defects. Even for challenging defect types such as a thick line and star crack, the model maintained high performance, with accuracies of 94% and 96%, respectively. The Recall–Confidence and Precision–Recall curves further demonstrate the model’s robustness and reliability across varying confidence thresholds. This research not only advances the state of automated defect detection in photovoltaic manufacturing but also underscores the potential of YOLOv10 for real-time applications. Our findings suggest significant implications for improving the quality control process in solar cell production. Although the model demonstrates high accuracy across most defect types, certain subtle defects, such as thick lines and star cracks, remain challenging, indicating potential areas for further optimization in future work. Full article

Edible flowers are becoming increasingly popular as food products, since they give aroma, color, and visual appeal and are also health-promoting compounds. However, they are a highly perishable product, thus post-harvest technologies are needed to extend their marketability. In this study, active (N₂: 100%) and passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technologies were applied to three edible flower species, namely Begonia grandiflora ‘Viking’, Tropaeolum majus, and Viola cornuta, stored at 4 °C. Even if the flowers’ quality decay occurred differently according to the species, active MAP better maintained petal colors and slowed down the edible flowers’ decay than passive MAP by decreasing flower respiration in all three species and sugars consumption in begonia; there was weight loss in nasturtium, and better preserved total phenolic content in begonia and viola. Coupling cold storage with active MAP can be an effective method to extend edible flowers’ post-harvest life. Full article

The cultivation of alfalfa is crucial for farmers as it is an excellent forage crop with a high nitrogen-fixing capacity, making it indispensable in crop rotations. Breeding programs face challenges in advancing more rapidly in genetic diversity to achieve a higher heterosis effect and, consequently, greater yield. In this study, we used 30 alfalfa varieties, which were used for molecular analyses by 5 ISSR primers and 13 RAPD primers. The results obtained highlighted the greater efficiency of ISSR primers in identifying genetic diversity. On the other hand, the simultaneous use of ISSR + RAPD allowed for clearer clustering of varieties that enabled more efficiently distinguishing the genetic diversity. The most efficient ISSR primer, A17, generated 31 polymorphic bands, while the most efficient RAPD primer, L-07, generated only 21 bands. Varieties such as “Pastoral” and “F1413-02” exhibited low similarity coefficients (0.39), suggesting their potential for enhancing genetic variability through crossbreeding, thereby increasing the potential of achieving a greater heterosis effect. Conversely, varieties with high similarity coefficients, such as ”Cristal” and “Viking” (0.81) are less suited for this purpose. The correlation between specific markers highlights that using both ISSR and RAPD markers together offers a clear understanding of genetic diversity in alfalfa, aiding in more effective selection for crossbreeding in breeding programs. Full article

Background: Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a systemic connective tissue disorder of the palm. It particularly affects men of Northern European or Caucasian origin over the age of 55. In addition to the classical surgical therapy via limited fasciectomy, Dupuytren’s contracture can also be treated minimally invasively. A relatively new treatment method is the use of collagenase injections (Xiapex) to reduce the contracture of the fingers. The data regarding the long-term success of this therapy are currently limited. Methods: In this monocentric retrospective study, we examined 35 patients who were treated with collagenase (Xiapex) for Dupuytren’s contracture in the long fingers. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations, the injection was administered intralesionally, and the cord was ruptured through the passive extension of the finger under local anesthesia with Mepivacain the following day. The clinical follow-up examination was conducted after an average of 5.7 years. The stages of Dupuytren’s disease were documented using the Tubiana classification. Additionally, parameters of finger extension ability, differentiated by metacarpophalangeal (MCP), and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, as well as patient-specific risk parameters, were evaluated Results: The long-term results of collagenase therapy after an average of 5.7 years showed a significant improvement in the contracture of the affected fingers. In the MCP joints, the flexion contracture decreased from 42° to 17° (p ≤ 0.001), and in the PIP joints, it decreased from 56° to 33° (p ≤ 0.001). The primary recurrence rate was 11% for the MCP joints and 19% for the PIP joints, respectively. The analysis of risk factors showed a significant risk for worse long-term outcomes in patients with diabetes and those with nicotine abuse. Conclusions: Collagenase therapy for Dupuytren’s disease achieved significant long-term improvements in contracture in both MCP and PIP joints. In accordance with general risk factors for DD, patients with diabetes and those with nicotine abuse are at risk of worse long-term outcomes. Overall, it is a time-saving, low-risk, and straightforward technique for treating the disabling contracture component of this disease. Full article

In 1837, Danish philologist Carl Christian Rafn published Antiquitates Americanæ, which introduced Americans to the Vinland sagas—medieval texts that suggest that Norse explorers “discovered” North America around the turn of the first millennium. Rafn, who saw it as his mission to promote Old Norse literature around the globe, presented some of his research in a way that would appeal to Anglo-American prejudices, particularly through the obsession with American Antiquities and the question of a pre-Columbian civilization. His conclusions and the Vinland sagas consequently entered the American racial and religious discourses. Like other discovery myths, the Vinland sagas were used by intellectuals to argue for an early white presence on the continent. Later that century, the Norse discovery was framed in religious terms as some white Americans attempted to replace the figure of Christopher Columbus with that of Leifur Eiriksson as the true discoverer of America. The ramifications of Rafn’s work and its reception can be seen in twentieth- and twenty-first-century representations of Vikings in American popular culture. Full article

Traumatic damage to the spinal cord (SCI) frequently leads to irreversible neurological deficits, which may be related to apoptotic neurodegeneration in nerve tissue. The MLC901 treatment possesses neuroprotective and neuroregenerative activity. This study aimed to explore the regenerative potential of MLC901 and the molecular mechanisms promoting neurogenesis and functional recovery after SCI in rats. A calibrated forceps compression injury for 15 s was used to induce SCI in rats, followed by an examination of the impacts of MLC901 on functional recovery. The Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scores were utilized to assess neuronal functional recovery; H&E and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining were also used to observe pathological changes in the lesion area. Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) were measured using the Nicolet^® Viking Quest™ apparatus. Additionally, we employed the Western blot assay to identify PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway-related proteins and to assess the levels of GAP-43 and GFAP through immunohistochemistry staining. The study findings revealed that MLC901 improved hind-limb motor function recovery, alleviating the pathological damage induced by SCI. Moreover, MLC901 significantly enhanced locomotor activity, SEPs waveform, latency, amplitude, and nerve conduction velocity. The treatment also promoted GAP-43 expression and reduced reactive astrocytes (GFAP). MLC901 treatment activated p-AKT reduced p-GSK-3β expression levels and showed a normalized ratio (fold changes) relative to β-tubulin. Specifically, p-AKT exhibited a 4-fold increase, while p-GSK-3β showed a 2-fold decrease in T rats compared to UT rats. In conclusion, these results suggest that the treatment mitigates pathological tissue damage and effectively improves neural functional recovery following SCI, primarily by alleviating apoptosis and promoting neurogenesis. The underlying molecular mechanism of this treatment mainly involves the activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway. Full article

While study of ocean dynamics usually involves modeling deep ocean variables, monitoring and accurate forecasting of nearshore environments is also critical. However, sensor observations often contain artifacts like long stretches of missing data and noise, typically after an extreme event occurrence or some accidental damage to the sensors. Such data artifacts, if not handled diligently prior to modeling, can significantly impact the reliability of any further predictive analysis. Therefore, we present a framework that integrates data reconstruction of key sea state variables and multi-step-ahead forecasting of current speed from the reconstructed time series for 19 depth levels simultaneously. Using multivariate chained regressions, the reconstruction algorithm rigorously tests from an ensemble of tree-based models (fed only with surface characteristics) to impute gaps in the vertical profiles of the sea state variables down to 20 m deep. Subsequently, a deep encoder–decoder model, comprising multi-head convolutional networks, extracts high-level features from each depth level’s multivariate (reconstructed) input and feeds them to a deep long short-term memory network for 24 h ahead forecasts of current speed profiles. In this work, we utilized Viking buoy data, and demonstrated that with limited training data, we could explain an overall 80% variation in the current speed profiles across the forecast period and the depth levels. Full article

Understanding the in-game demands placed on athletes may allow practitioners to design improved training protocols to prepare athletes for competitive demands. This study aimed to quantify the competitive movement demands of professional American football athletes and to determine any inter-positional differences that may exist. Player tracking data were collected from 2018 to 2020 regular season games of the National Football League. Distance, maximum velocity, high-velocity efforts and distance, and acceleration and deceleration efforts and distance were used to evaluate competitive movement demands. To determine position-specific demands, each player was classified by their designated position, and velocity data from competitive games were used to develop position-specific velocity thresholds. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni statistical analysis were used to determine inter-positional difference. Significant (p < 0.05) positional differences were found for all load metrics with respect to competitive game demands. Generally, wide receivers and defensive backs had faster maximum velocities, higher distances, and more acceleration and deceleration efforts and distance than other positions. Linebackers accumulated the most high-velocity efforts and distance. Lineman had the lowest values for all assessed metrics. These findings may assist the performance staff in developing improved training and return-to-play protocols with the aim of improving player performance and mitigating injury. Full article

Recording of body weights of dairy calves may assist producers in monitoring the health status of calves and making feed-related management decisions. Traditional methods of weighing calves can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. The objective of this study was to evaluate a forefront weight scale on stalls attached to an automated calf milk feeder system to determine the accuracy for measuring the calf body weights of Holstein and crossbred dairy calves. The study was conducted at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, MN, dairy. Eighty-eight Holstein and crossbred calves were fed either 8 L/d or ad libitum milk from September 2019 to February 2020 and March 2020 to July 2020. Crossbred calves were Grazecross crossbreds composted of Jersey, Viking Red, and Normande, ProCross crossbreds composed of Holstein, Montbéliarde, and Viking Red, Limousin-sired crossbred dairy × beef bull calves, and Limousin-sired crossbred dairy × beef heifer calves. The Limousin-sired calves were from Holstein or crossbred dams. Calves were introduced to the Holm & Laue Calf Expert and Hygiene Station automatic calf feeder (Holm & Laue GmbH & Co. KG, Westerrönfeld, Germany) at 5 days of age and were weaned at 56 d. Forefront weight scales were attached to four hygiene station feeding stalls on the automated calf milk feeder, and calves were required to place both front hooves on the scale to access milk. The calf weights from the automated milk feeder were compared to the gold standard calibrated electronic scale (Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Fairmont, MN scale). Calves were weighed once per week using the electronic scale, and those weights were compared to the most recent weight recorded by the forefront scale. The associations of the weights from the automated milk feeder scale and the electronic scale were determined with Pearson correlations (PROC CORR of SAS) and Bland–Altman plots (PROC SGPLOT of SAS). Furthermore, PROC GLM of SAS was used to regress the electronic scale body weight on the forefront weight scale body weight for each calf. A total of 600 weight observations were used for statistical analysis. The Pearson correlation of the electronic scale compared to the forefront weight scale was high (0.991), and the concordance correlation coefficient was high (0.987). Correlations for individual calves ranged from 0.852 to 0.999 and were classified as high. Correlations of the electronic scale and forefront weight scale for breed groups ranged from 0.990 to 0.994. The slope of the regression line was 0.9153, and the 95% confidence interval was between 0.906 and 0.925. A mean bias of 0.529 kg was observed from the Bland–Altman plots. The results suggest that there is potential for the forefront weight scale to be used on automated calf milk feeders to accurately record the body weights of calves and support management decision-making, identify sick calves, and help producers determine the proper dosage of medications for calves based on body weight. Full article