Search Results (13,473)

Background/Objectives: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) regulates muscle energy metabolism and function, enhancing glucose uptake and promoting glycogen synthesis. However, studies on the association between HDL-C levels and sarcopenia remain controversial. We therefore investigated the association between HDL-C levels and sarcopenia in elderly Koreans. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on previously collected, anonymous health checkup data. Participants included 3776 individuals aged 65 years and older who underwent body composition analysis using a bioelectrical impedance meter during a health checkup in 2024. Sarcopenia was defined as an appendicular skeletal muscle index of <7.0 kg/m² for males and <5.7 kg/m² for females. Logistic regression analyses were performed for each variable, including HDL-C levels, to identify sarcopenia association expressed as odds ratios (ORs). Participants were further divided into four quartiles according to HDL-C levels, and comparative multivariable analyses were performed, with the quartile with the lowest HDL-C level serving as the reference. Results: Of the 3776 Koreans with a mean age of 70.5 years, sarcopenia was diagnosed in 23.1% (n = 872) of participants. Sarcopenia prevalence showed a steadily increasing trend from the lowest quartile group (Q1, n = 977) with HDL-C levels ≤48 mg/dL to the highest quartile group (Q4, n = 974) at ≥67 mg/dL (p < 0.001). After adjusting for sarcopenia-associated risk factors, a significant association was found between the condition and HDL-C levels (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02; p = 0.008). Q4 showed a consistent sarcopenia association compared with Q1, even after adjusting for all variables (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.05–1.75; p = 0.018). Conclusions: In Koreans aged 65 years and older, we found an association between high HDL-C levels and sarcopenia. Full article

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is an economically significant plant that naturally grows in arid regions and is widely used in the cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Its roots are the economically important part. However, it has weak drought tolerance during the seedling stage, and water scarcity has become a major limiting factor for improving the yield and quality of cultivated licorice. Therefore, this study conducted a pot experiment in which melatonin was applied via root irrigation to examine its effects on alleviating drought stress in G. glabra seedlings and on enhancing the yield and quality of its valuable parts. The results showed that under drought conditions, applying 100 μM melatonin yielded the most significant improvements in both yield and quality. Specifically, melatonin treatment increased root biomass by 138.10% and significantly boosted the levels of key bioactive compounds, including glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin, glabridin, liquiritigenin, and isoliquiritigenin by 60.51%, 72.08%, 182.03%, 83.86%,and 30.68%, respectively. This study uniquely combined the Mantel test and random forest modeling for a comprehensive analysis of the experimental data. The analysis indicated that these effects were attributable to exogenous melatonin, which markedly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities in G. glabra seedlings and reduced membrane lipid peroxidation products, thereby strengthening their antioxidant defense capabilities. Additionally, melatonin promoted the accumulation of osmotic adjustment substances and effectively improved photosynthetic performance. Our research provides a scientific basis for increasing both the quality and yield of G. glabra under drought conditions. Full article

Forestry environments—such as logging sites, transport trails, and resource monitoring areas—are characterized by rugged terrain and irregularly distributed obstacles, which pose substantial challenges for AGV route planning. This poses challenges for route planning in automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and forestry machinery. To address these challenges, this study proposes a hybrid path optimization method that integrates an improved A* algorithm with the Dynamic Window Approach (DWA). At the global planning level, the improved A* incorporates a dynamically weighted heuristic function, a steering-penalty term, and Floyd-based path smoothing to enhance path feasibility and continuity. In terms of local planning, the improved DWA algorithm employs adaptive weight adjustment, risk-perception factors, a sub-goal guidance mechanism, and a non-uniform and adaptive sampling strategy, thereby strengthening obstacle avoidance in dynamic environments. Simulation experiments on two-dimensional grid maps demonstrate that this method reduces path lengths by an average of 6.82%, 8.13%, and 21.78% for 20 × 20, 30 × 30, and 100 × 100 maps, respectively; planning time was reduced by an average of 21.02%, 16.65%, and 9.33%; total steering angle was reduced by an average of 100°, 487.5°, and 587.5°. These results indicate that the proposed hybrid algorithm offers practical technical guidance for intelligent forestry operations in complex natural environments, including timber harvesting, biomass transportation, and precision stand management. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop botanical nanofibers loaded with Psidium guajava leaf extract to heal wounds effectively. Methods: A 2³ factorial design was conducted to study the impact of freeze-drying parameters—freezing time, vacuum, and lyophilization time—on the total phenolic and flavonoid content in the lyophilized extract. Then, a polyurethane-based nanofiber dressing loaded with Psidium guajava leaf extract was fabricated using a one-step electrospinning technique. The nanofiber was evaluated considering total polyphenol and flavonoid content, surface roughness, and morphological assessment by scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the nanofiber was evaluated using in vivo wound-healing studies, histopathological analyses, and assessments of tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase, and growth factors. Results: The optimal conditions for freeze-drying the aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaves were a freezing time of 24 h, a vacuum adjusted to 0.02 bar, and a lyophilization time of 48 h. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content within the nanofiber was 96 ± 1.2% and 91.83 ± 2.4%, respectively. Incorporating lyophilized extract in the nanofiber led to a decreased roughness average and root mean square roughness of the nanofiber. The nanofiber was continuous and had a smooth, uniform surface. The in vivo wound-healing assay showed superior wound-healing compared to the commercial Panthenol cream. These results were confirmed with histopathological studies. Conclusions: The extraction technique and lyophilization parameters significantly affect the bioactive content of Psidium guajava leaf extract. The botanical-loaded nanofiber showed greater wound-healing potential than a commercial cream, confirming its potential in regenerative medicine and wound repair applications. Full article

In froth flotation, the features of froth images are important information to predict the concentrate grade. However, the froth structure is influenced by multiple factors, such as air flowrate, slurry level, ore properties, reagents, etc., which leads to highly complex and dynamic changes in the image features. Additionally, issues such as the immeasurability of ore properties and measurement errors pose significant uncertainties including aleatoric uncertainty (intrinsic variability from ore fluctuations and sensor noise) and epistemic uncertainty (incomplete feature representation and local data heterogeneity) and generalization challenges for prediction models. This paper proposes an uncertainty quantification regression framework based on cross-modal interaction fusion, which integrates the complementary advantages of Selective Kernel Networks (SKNet) and Vision Transformers (ViT). By designing a cross-modal interaction module, the method achieves deep fusion of local and global features, reducing epistemic uncertainty caused by incomplete feature expression in single-models. Meanwhile, by combining adaptive calibrated quantile regression—using exponential moving average (EMA) to track real-time coverage and adjust parameters dynamically—the prediction interval coverage is optimized, addressing the inability of static quantile regression to adapt to aleatoric uncertainty. And through the localized conformal prediction module, sensitivity to local data distributions is enhanced, avoiding the limitation of global conformal methods in ignoring local heterogeneity. Experimental results demonstrate that this method significantly improves the robustness of uncertainty estimation while maintaining high prediction accuracy, providing strong support for intelligent optimization and decision-making in industrial flotation processes. Full article

Biochar is widely recognized for its ability to immobilize heavy metals in soil, yet its direct effect on plant physiological metal-sequestration capacity remains poorly understood. This study explores a critical distinction between two mechanisms: direct, concurrent metal immobilization by biochar versus its capacity to physiologically precondition plants, altering their inherent metal uptake and distribution. Using a hydroponic design with pH-matched controls, the latter was isolated by preconditioning rice plants with peanut straw biochar (PSB) or corn straw biochar (CSB) and subsequently removing amendments before cadmium (Cd) exposure. Our results reveal that biochar (PSB) preconditioning may modify root architecture and surface chemistry, enhancing negative zeta potential and functional group density. This modification increased root Cd adsorption capacity by 50.1% and 142.7% within 2 h or 2.2% and 52.6% within 48 h compared to the normal and pH-adjusted controls, respectively, with shifted metal speciation toward stable complexes. However, this enhanced root sequestration coincided with an increased translocation factor, elevating shoot Cd content by 78% compared to the normal control. In contrast, CSB preconditioning showed negligible effects. Our findings suggest that biochar’s net impact on metal distribution is probably the product of two temporally distinct processes: chemical immobilization in growth media versus physiological preconditioning effects. This dual mechanism framework may explain the variability in literature reports on the effect of biochar on heavy metal uptake by plants. It also highlights the need for holistic biochar risk assessment that considers both chemical and plant physiological pathways in both soil and hydroponic systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: The influence of the vitreoretinal interface on neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) remains poorly characterized. Most previous studies relied solely on macular optical coherence tomography (OCT), which provides limited information about global posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). This study evaluated (1) whether ultrasonography-defined PVD status differs between nAMD eyes and healthy controls, and (2) whether baseline PVD influences macular neovascularization (MNV) phenotype and functional outcomes following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, treatment-naïve nAMD eyes and population-based healthy controls underwent dynamic B-scan ultrasonography and spectral-domain OCT. PVD was categorized as absent, partial, or complete. nAMD eyes received intravitreal aflibercept according to a treat-and-extend protocol and were followed for 12 months. Structural parameters—including subretinal fluid (SRF), intraretinal fluid (IRF), and central foveal thickness—along with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded. A multivariable linear regression model was performed to assess whether PVD independently predicted BCVA gain after adjusting for age, baseline BCVA, MNV subtype, SRF, atrophy, and number of injections. Results: Absence of PVD was significantly more frequent in nAMD eyes than in controls (p < 0.001), whereas complete PVD prevalence was comparable. In nAMD, absence of PVD was associated with a higher prevalence of MNV type 2 (p = 0.032), while partial/complete PVD correlated with type 1 lesions. After 12 months, eyes without PVD achieved the greatest visual improvement (mean BCVA gain +0.34 ± 0.26), outperforming eyes with complete PVD (p = 0.026). A multivariable model confirmed that absence of PVD was an independent predictor of greater BCVA gain (β = −0.27; 95% CI −0.42 to −0.12; p = 0.0008). Eyes with complete PVD required more injections (p = 0.046). SRF and foveal-thickness reductions occurred across groups, whereas IRF changes were similar. Conclusions: Ultrasonography-defined PVD status differs markedly between nAMD and healthy eyes and independently influences neovascular phenotype and functional response to anti-VEGF therapy. These findings underscore the physiological importance of the vitreoretinal interface and support the use of ocular ultrasonography as an adjunct tool for assessing global vitreous status in selected nAMD settings. Full article

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a heterogeneous disease with variable clinical outcomes. PDCD4 functions as a tumor suppressor, but its role in RCC prognosis remains unclear. We aimed to develop and validate a PDCD4-based gene expression signature for predicting overall survival in RCC. We analyzed RNA-seq data from 541 clear cell RCC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-KIRC). We identified 100 genes (50 positively and 50 negatively correlated with PDCD4) to create a prognostic signature. Patients were stratified into high- and low-signature groups using median cutoff. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox regression models assessed prognostic value. External validation was performed in four independent cohorts: GSE29609, GSE73731, GSE53757, and GSE40435. Low PDCD4 signature scores were associated with significantly worse overall survival (HR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.58–2.98, p < 0.001) and advanced tumor stage. The median survival difference was approximately 46 months. In multivariate analysis adjusting for age, gender, stage, and grade, the signature remained an independent prognostic factor (HR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.11–2.22, p = 0.011). The signature demonstrated consistent prognostic patterns across platforms, with high signature scores associated with early-stage disease and low-grade tumors, and with potential clinical utility for risk stratification and treatment planning. Full article

Resource endowment serves as the foundational condition and strategic pillar for the sustainable improvement of rural project quality, determining the capacity for sustainable development. Clarifying the intrinsic mechanisms through which resource endowment influences the sustainable improvement of rural project quality not only demystifies the “black box” of resource conversion but also reshapes the project development paradigm centered on endowment matching. Based on panel data from 30 provinces in China spanning from 2015 to 2024, this paper empirically examines the impact of resource endowment on the sustainable improvement of rural project quality using a double machine learning model. The results indicate that resource endowment has significant promoting effect. Furthermore, the baseline regression results remain robust after various robustness checks, including adjustment to the research sample, reestablishment of machine learning model, and endogeneity tests involving the introduction of instrumental variable and lagged core variable. Mechanism analysis indicates that resource endowment primarily achieves promoting effect through government attention. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the impact of resource endowment varies depending on geographic location and the type of project. The SHAP method is also employed to reveal the key factors driving the sustainable improvement of rural project quality in resource endowment. Full article

This study examined how perceived tax–benefit reciprocity and identification with the country explain tax morale of immigrants versus the native-born population, and how immigrants’ tax morale evolves over time. The study used data from an online survey of 536 people of working age, which were analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis in AMOS, the PROCESS procedure, and ANOVA with Scheffe tests in SPSS ver. 28. The results showed that immigrants have lower tax morale than natives, which is partly explained by their weaker identification with the host country. Low dissatisfaction of immigrants with received benefits versus paid taxes partially buffers the negative relationship between identification and tax morale. After 25 years of residing in the host country, differences in tax morale between immigrants and natives largely disappear, suggesting a gradual process of adjustment and alignment with host society norms. Policy implications of the study suggest that tax morale among immigrants can be improved by strengthening their identification with the host country and enhancing perceptions of fairness in the tax–benefit exchange. Full article

The shift from secondary school or college to university represents a period of change characterised by multiple transitions, educationally, socially, and emotionally. As students move from strictly regulated school environments to the relative independence of university study, they arrive at their expectations of university life. For some, their expectations of university will not change across the course of their degree, while for others, partial or total expectation shifts may occur. The current study conducted nine focus group sessions in 2018 with a total of 46 undergraduate psychology students (32 first-year and 14 third-year students), seeking to explore the academic factors that shape students’ experiences across their degree. Using thematic analysis, the study conceptualised five main themes: prior experience, adjustment to university, staff relationships, the experience of studying, and future career plans. By exploring the entry year and the final study year, we have shown how students’ expectations change across their undergraduate studies. We suggest that managing first-year students’ expectations would help in their initial transition. Ongoing support such as between-module check-ins and continued employability support across the span of each student’s degree would be beneficial for their overall experience. Additionally, the findings also highlight the key role played by staff in developing a feeling of belonging. Full article

Objectives: Oxidative stress after cardiac surgery may disrupt the blood–brain barrier and contribute to postoperative delirium (POD). Although associations between oxidative stress and POD are recognized, whether vitamin C (VC) can prevent POD remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the association of VC administration with POD after cardiac surgery. Methods: Eighty-four patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery at our hospital were enrolled. The non-VC group (NVC, n = 40) consisted of patients treated between October 2021 and March 2022, while the VC group (n = 44) included those treated between April and September 2022 who received 2 g intravenous VC at intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The primary outcome was POD incidence. Electron spin resonance (ESR) measured AFR/DMSO, which reflected VC before induction, after CPB withdrawal, at ICU admission, and on postoperative day 1. Results: Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and intraoperative factors were similar between groups. Postoperative organ dysfunction and inflammation were also comparable, although lactate levels were 40% higher in the VC group. POD incidence was significantly lower with VC (35.0% vs. 11.4%, p < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that VC reduced POD risk (adjusted odds ratio 0.22, 95% CI 0.07–0.69, p < 0.01). ESR showed that postoperative AFR/DMSO levels dropped sharply but normalized by day 1 in VC-treated patients. Conclusions: This study suggests that 2 g of VC administered at ICU admission may reduce POD incidence. In the future, these findings require confirmation in randomized trials. Full article

Nutrition is a fundamental aspect of consumer behavior, closely linked to the satisfaction of basic household needs and strategies for purchasing food products. This study aimed to examine how fundamental food needs—specifically survival (daily food) and food security (food stocks)—shape purchasing behaviors, enabling the identification of vulnerable consumer segments and the delineation of patterns useful for producers and retailers. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey (N = 1060) and analyzed using the Rao & Scott-adjusted Pearson chi-square test (R, version 4.4.3), considering key socio-demographic factors including gender, age, educational level, marital status, residence, and income. Results indicate that gender, age, and education significantly influence food purchases driven by the need for food security, whereas marital status is a significant factor only for survival-related purchases. Differences observed in other contexts were not statistically significant. Additionally, two multinomial logistic regression models were developed to predict consumer food purchases driven by fundamental needs, demonstrating high explanatory power. Each socio-demographic factor emerged as a significant predictor for at least one response category on the Likert scale, and the relative influence of each predictor was quantified. These models provide actionable insights for marketing strategies, including the identification of optimal store locations and the adjustment, diversification, or optimization of product ranges based on the characteristics of specific consumer segments and geographic areas. Full article

Maximal fat oxidation (MFO) rate and the intensity at which it occurs (Fatmax) are key indicators of metabolic flexibility, yet their assessment in obese populations poses methodological challenges. This scoping review synthesizes evidence from 23 studies investigating protocols for determining Fatmax and MFO during cycle ergometry. Across studies, obese and sedentary participants followed testing procedures, typically involving lower initial workloads, smaller workload increments, and longer stage durations than those used for fitter individuals. In obese populations, Fatmax generally occurred at 30–50% of VO₂ peak, compared with values exceeding 60% in trained participants. While the reliability of Fatmax was acceptable, greater variability was observed for MFO rate. Fitness level appeared to exert a stronger influence than adiposity on fat oxidation, with obesity often associated with a left-shifted fat oxidation curve. Additional factors such as gender, developmental stage, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes further modulated these responses. Importantly, short-term training interventions, including moderate-intensity exercise, high-intensity interval training, and Fatmax-targeted protocols, consistently enhanced MFO and shifted Fatmax toward higher intensities, with favorable effects on insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. In contrast, nutritional and supplementation studies provided limited evidence of additional benefits. Overall, Fatmax assessment is feasible in obese populations when appropriate methodological adjustments are applied, and exercise interventions can rapidly enhance fat oxidation capacity. Future research should focus on protocol standardization, mechanistic exploration, and long-term interventions to clarify the role of Fatmax in obesity management and its potential clinical applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pediatric osteoporosis is a multifactorial condition characterized by impaired bone mineralization and increased fracture risk, particularly vertebral compression fractures. This study aims to evaluate the diverse etiology, diagnostic challenges, and treatment options for pediatric osteoporosis in a cohort of affected children. Methods: We reviewed eleven pediatric patients (aged 5–16 years) diagnosed with vertebral fractures and osteoporosis, who were hospitalized between 2020 and 2024 at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at PMMH-RI in Lodz. Clinical evaluation included medical history, physical examination, biochemical markers of bone metabolism, and imaging techniques such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine underlying causes of bone fragility. Results: The cohort presented a broad etiological spectrum, including seven patients with genetic disorders (e.g., mutations in COL1A1, LRP5, SGMS2, and ALPL genes) and secondary osteoporosis due to chronic diseases requiring prolonged glucocorticoid therapy (two patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), one patient with Crohn’s disease) or endocrinological disorders (one patient with Cushing disease). Vertebral fractures were confirmed in all patients, with back pain as the predominant symptom. Low bone mass (BMD Z-score < −2.0) was observed in eight individuals; in others, clinical signs of skeletal fragility were present despite Z-scores above this threshold. Mild biochemical abnormalities included hypercalciuria (3/11 cases) and vitamin D deficiency (6/11 cases). Height adjustment improved BMD interpretation in short-stature patients. Most children received bisphosphonate therapy, supplemented with calcium and vitamin D. In two patients, bisphosphonates were not used due to lack of parental consent or underlying conditions in which such treatment is not recommended. Conclusions: Pediatric osteoporosis requires a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach, integrating clinical, biochemical, and genetic factors. It is a heterogeneous and often underrecognized condition, with vertebral fractures frequently serving as its earliest sign—even in the absence of overt symptoms or low bone mass. This underscores the need for clinical vigilance, as significant skeletal fragility may occur despite normal BMD values. Importantly, pediatric osteoporosis may also impact the attainment of peak bone mass and ultimately affect final adult height. Early diagnosis through thorough assessment, including height-adjusted DXA, and a multidisciplinary approach are essential to ensure timely management and prevent long-term complications. Full article