Search Results (60)

Background/Objectives: Amlodipine, a widely prescribed calcium channel blocker, has been associated with gingival enlargement, yet the mechanisms underlying this adverse effect remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore molecular and histopathological factors potentially contributing to gingival changes in patients receiving amlodipine therapy, with a particular focus on molecules implicated in extracellular matrix turnover and tissue remodeling. Methods: The study included three groups of participants: patients with amlodipine-induced gingival enlargement, patients with gingival enlargement of inflammatory origin, and amlodipine-treated patients without gingival overgrowth. Gingival tissue samples were analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin staining to assess inflammatory changes and general tissue architecture, and Picrosirius Red staining to visualize collagen fibers. Relative gene expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), IL-13, MMP-1, and procollagen was determined by real-time PCR, while collagen content was quantified using ImageJ software. Results: Histopathological evaluation revealed a less pronounced inflammatory response in amlodipine-related gingival enlargement compared to those who did not use amlodipine. The highest expression of α-SMA was detected in patients who did not receive amlodipine, whereas IL-13 and procollagen expression were markedly elevated in the amlodipine-induced group compared to others. MMP-1 expression was significantly lower in amlodipine-treated patients relative to those who did not use amlodipine, suggesting impaired collagen degradation. These findings, together with our previous results indicating enhanced expression of profibrotic mediators, suggest that altered extracellular matrix metabolism is potentially dominant in this condition. Conclusions: Amlodipine-induced gingival enlargement appears to involve a multifactorial process characterized by a prominent fibrotic component, reduced matrix degradation, and secondary inflammation. Full article

As enterprises increasingly depend on software systems, security defects such as vulnerability disclosures, exploitations, and misconfigurations have become economically relevant risk events. However, their short-term impacts on capital markets remain insufficiently understood. This study examines how different types of software security defects affect short-horizon stock market behavior. Using a multi-model event-study framework that integrates the Constant Mean Return Model (CMRM), Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), we estimate abnormal returns and trading-activity responses around security-related events. The results show that vulnerability disclosures are associated with negative abnormal returns and reduced trading activity, while exploitation events lead to larger price declines accompanied by significant increases in trading activity. Misconfiguration incidents exhibit weaker price effects but persistent turnover increases, suggesting that markets interpret them primarily as governance-related issues. Further analyses reveal that market reactions vary with technical severity, exposure scope, industry context, and firm role, and that cyber shocks propagate through both price adjustment and liquidity migration channels. Overall, the findings indicate that software security defects act as short-term information shocks in financial markets, with heterogeneous effects depending on event type. This study contributes to the literature on cybersecurity economics and provides insights for firms, investors, and policymakers in managing software-related risks. Full article

Biodiversity loss poses a threat to corporate performance and social welfare. Biodiversity disclosure enables investors to evaluate firms’ biodiversity status. However, it remains unclear whether and how biodiversity disclosure affects capital market efficiency. In this paper, we employ a binary variable derived from a word-frequency analysis of annual reports to determine whether a firm has disclosed biodiversity information. Using a panel of Chinese listed companies from 2011 to 2022, we provide robust evidence that Companies that disclose biodiversity information have experienced sustained improvements in stock liquidity. Furthermore, the effect is significantly amplified after the 2020 UN Biodiversity Summit, suggesting that investors respond positively to biodiversity disclosure. Channel analysis reveals that higher inventory turnover reinforces this positive effect, while greater financing constraints and higher management ownership weaken it. Heterogeneity analysis further indicates that this effect is more pronounced among firms with higher environmental information asymmetry, lower supply chain transparency, and lower patient capital. This study sheds light on how biodiversity disclosure affects market efficiency and offers important insights for future research and policy. Full article

Plasmodesmata (PD) are dynamic nanochannels interconnecting plant cells and coordinating development, nutrient distribution, and systemic defense. Their permeability is tightly regulated by callose turnover, PD-localized proteins, lipid microdomains, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–plasma membrane (PM) tethers, which together form regulatory nodes that gate symplastic exchange. Increasing evidence demonstrates that effectors from diverse kingdoms—fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, nematodes, insects, parasitic plants, and symbiotic microbes—converge on these same nodes to modulate PD gating. Pathogens typically suppress callose deposition or destabilize PD regulators to keep channels open, whereas mutualists fine-tune PD conductivity to balance resource exchange with host immunity. This review synthesizes current knowledge of effector strategies that remodel PD architecture or exploit PD for intercellular movement, highlighting novel cross-kingdom commonalities–callose manipulation, reprogramming of PD proteins, lipid rewiring, and co-option of ER-PM tethers. We outline unresolved questions on effector–PD target specificity and dynamics, and identify prospects in imaging, proteomics, and synthetic control of PD. Understanding how effectors reprogram PD connectivity can enable engineering of crops that block pathogenic trafficking while safeguarding beneficial symbioses. Full article

This study explores how digitalization by focal firms affects carbon performance across the entire supply chain, advancing the literature by adopting a holistic supply chain perspective rather than a single-firm lens. We further draw on dynamic capability theory to explain the mechanisms through which digitalization enhances supply chain carbon performance. Based on an unbalanced panel dataset of Chinese listed firms from 2008 to 2022, we construct a three-tier supply chain panel linking upstream, focal, and downstream firms. The benchmark regression results show that focal firm digitalization significantly enhances overall supply chain carbon performance. Mechanism analyses identify two critical transmission channels: (1) optimizing supply chain resource allocation efficiency, through improved inventory turnover and strengthened supply chain finance; and (2) enabling collaborative technological upgrading, by enhancing the total factor productivity of upstream and downstream partners. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that the effect of digitalization on improving carbon performance is more pronounced in regions with stronger environmental regulation and in non-regulated industries. In addition, we analyze the moderating role of the Supply-Chain Pilot-Cities Program. The findings provide practical insights for firm managers globally seeking to leverage digitalization for supply chain decarbonization and for policymakers across jurisdictions aiming to design supportive mechanisms that facilitate digital and green integration. Full article

Active Speaker Localization (ASL) involves identifying both who is speaking and where they are speaking from within audiovisual content. This capability is crucial in constrained and acoustically challenging environments, such as aircraft cabins during in-flight medical emergencies. In this paper, we propose a novel end-to-end Cross-Modal Audio–Visual Fusion Network (CMAVFN) designed specifically for ASL under real-world aviation conditions, which are characterized by engine noise, dynamic lighting, occlusions from seats or oxygen masks, and frequent speaker turnover. Our model directly processes raw video frames and multi-channel ambient audio, eliminating the need for intermediate face detection pipelines. It anchors spatially resolved visual features with directional audio cues using a cross-modal attention mechanism. To enhance spatiotemporal reasoning, we introduce a dual-branch localization decoder and a cross-modal auxiliary supervision loss. Extensive experiments on public datasets (AVA-ActiveSpeaker, EasyCom) and our domain-specific AirCabin-ASL benchmark demonstrate that CMAVFN achieves robust speaker localization in noisy, occluded, and multi-speaker aviation scenarios. This framework offers a practical foundation for speech-driven interaction systems in aircraft cabins, enabling applications such as real-time crew assistance, voice-based medical documentation, and intelligent in-flight health monitoring. Full article

Selective proteasome inhibitors, used to model Parkinsonian-like pathology, are known to disrupt calcium homeostasis, but the role of calcium ions in dopaminergic neuron degeneration remains unclear. The present in vivo study examined the effects of a 7-day intraperitoneal administration of cinnarizine (10 or 30 mg/kg), a voltage-gated calcium channel blocker, in rats unilaterally injected into the substantia nigra compacta (SNc) with lactacystin (Lac; 1 µg/2 µL) or vehicle. Dopamine (DA) and its metabolites were quantified in striatal homogenates via high-performance liquid chromatography. The SN of rats treated with 10 mg/kg cinnarizine was used for Western blot analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), while tissue from animals receiving 30 mg/kg was processed for histological analysis of TH-immunoreactive (TH-ir) and cresyl violet (CV)-stained neurons. Significant reductions in striatal DA and its metabolites were observed one week after Lac injection, along with increased DA catabolism. Cinnarizine at both doses partially prevented DA loss and attenuated enhanced DA turnover. Moreover, 10 mg/kg cinnarizine partially preserved TH protein levels, while 30 mg/kg provided histological protection of TH-ir neurons in the SN. Cinnarizine was also tested in vitro in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and primary mouse cortical neurons exposed to Lac or rotenone to further assess its neuroprotective potential. In SH-SY5Y cells, cinnarizine (1–10 µM) significantly increased cell viability and reduced lactate dehydrogenase release after toxin exposure. Cinnarizine failed to counteract lactacystin-induced toxicity in primary cortical neurons but markedly reduced rotenone-evoked cell death at similar concentrations. These findings indicate that cinnarizine exerts dose-dependent neuroprotective effects in vivo and selective protective actions in vitro, supporting the potential utility of voltage-gated calcium channel blockers in treating Parkinson’s disease. Full article

Heme enzymes that bind and reduce O₂ are susceptible to poisoning by NO. The high reactivity and affinity of NO for ferrous heme produces stable ferrous-NO complexes, which in theory should preclude O₂ binding and turnover. However, NO inhibition is often competitive with respect to O₂ and rapidly reversible, thus providing cellular and organismal survival advantages. This kinetic paradox has prompted a search for mechanisms for reversal and hence resistance. Here, I critically review proposed resistance mechanisms for NO dioxygenase (NOD) and cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), which substantiate reduction or oxidation of the tightly bound NO but nevertheless fail to provide kinetically viable solutions. A ferrous heme intermediate is clearly not available during rapid steady-state turnover. Reversible inhibition can be attributed to NO competing with O₂ in transient low-affinity interactions with either the ferric heme in NOD or the ferric heme-cupric center in CcO. Toward resolution, I review the underlying principles and evidence for kinetic control of ferric heme reduction via an O₂-triggered ferric heme spin crossover and an electronically-forced motion of the heme and structurally-linked protein side chains that elicit electron transfer and activate O₂ in the flavohemoglobin-type NOD. For CcO, kinetics, structures, and density functional theory point to the existence of an analogous O₂ and reduced oxygen intermediate-controlled electron-transfer gate with a linked proton pump function. A catalytic cycle and mechanism for CcO is finally at hand that links each of the four O₂-reducing electrons to each of the four pumped protons in time and space. A novel proton-conducting tunnel and channel, electron path, and pump mechanism, most notably first hypothesized by Mårten Wikström in 1977 and pursued since, are laid out for further scrutiny. In both models, low-energy spin-orbit couplings or ‘spintronic’ interactions with O₂ and NO or copper trigger the electronic motions within heme that activate electron transfer to O₂, and the exergonic reactions of transient reactive oxygen intermediates ultimately drive all enzyme, electron, and proton motions. Full article

Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) levels in Enterobacterales from pigs in Ghana prompted us to investigate farm feed, pig slurry, and farm water for Enterobacterales isolates, their antimicrobial resistance patterns, and antimicrobial residues. Between August and November 2024, we collected one sample each of feed, slurry, and water from 14 pig farms for microbiological analysis. Out of 42 samples, Enterobacterales (E. coli and Enterobacter spp.) were isolated from 30 (71.4%) samples, with the highest prevalence found in feed (85.7%), followed by slurry (78.6%) and water (50.0%). The prevalence of AMR to tetracyclines, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin was high, with over 50% of isolates from slurry and water and 40% from feed exhibiting tetracycline resistance. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was identified in nine (27.3%) isolates of Enterobacterales, with the highest prevalence found in feed (38.5%), then slurry (23.1%), and water (14.3%). Among 42 farm samples screened for colistin-resistant Enterobacterales, 10 (23.8%) exhibited phenotypic colistin resistance. No antimicrobial residues were detected. Risk factors associated with MDR included large farms with high pig turnover (p < 0.05) and the channelling of slurry into both covered and uncovered pits on the farm (p < 0.05). These high resistance levels underscore the urgent need for improved hygiene in feed, water, and slurry management, stricter antibiotic stewardship with veterinary oversight, and better enforcement of existing antibiotic use regulations on pig farms. Full article

The research literature presents divergent opinions regarding the role of dissipation in living systems, with views ranging from it being useless to it being essential for driving life. The implications of universal thermodynamic evolution are often overlooked or considered controversial. A higher rate of entropy production indicates faster thermodynamic evolution. We calculated enzyme-associated dissipation under steady-state conditions using minimalistic models of enzyme kinetics when all microscopic rate constants are known. We found that dissipation is roughly proportional to the turnover number, and a log-log power-law relationship exists between dissipation and the catalytic efficiency of enzymes. “Perfect” specialized enzymes exhibit the highest dissipation levels and represent the pinnacle of biological evolution. The examples that we analyzed suggested two key points: (a) more evolved enzymes excel in free-energy dissipation, and (b) the proposed evolutionary trajectory from generalist to specialized enzymes should involve increased dissipation for the latter. Introducing stochastic noise in the kinetics of individual enzymes may lead to optimal performance parameters that exceed the observed values. Our findings indicate that biological evolution has opened new channels for dissipation through specialized enzymes. We also discuss the implications of our results concerning scaling laws and the seamless coupling between thermodynamic and biological evolution in living systems immersed in out-of-equilibrium environments. Full article

Dyslipidemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by quantitative and/or qualitative abnormalities in serum lipid levels. Elevated serum cholesterol levels can modify the turnover and recruitment of ionic channels in myocytes and cellular homeostasis, including those of inflammatory cells. Experimental and clinical data indicate that inflammation is implicated in the pathophysiology of atrial remodeling, which is the substrate of atrial fibrillation (AF). Data about the association between increased lipid serum levels and AF are few and contrasting. Lipoprotein (a), adiposity, and inflammation seem to be the main drivers of AF; in contrast, low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides are not directly involved in AF onset. The present review aimed to describe the pathophysiological link between dyslipidemia and AF, the efficacy of lipid-lowering therapies in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients with and without AF, and the impact of lipid-lowering therapies on AF incidence. Full article

In recent years, the rapid growth in electric vehicle ownership has resulted in a significant number of decommissioned traction batteries that will require recycling in the future. As consumer expectations for electric vehicle range continue to rise, the turnover of traction batteries has accelerated substantially. Consequently, there is an urgent need for electric vehicle manufacturers to establish an efficient, recyclable supply chain for the return of end-of-life (EOL) electric vehicle (EV) traction batteries. In this paper, we investigate the closed-loop recycling supply chain for retired power batteries in electric vehicle manufacturers, taking into account blockchain technology and the high range preferences in the electric vehicle market, which are influenced by varying demand for different levels of electric vehicle capacitance. Blockchain, as a distributed and decentralized technology, offers features such as consensus mechanisms, traceability, and security, which have been effectively applied across various fields. In this study, we construct four models involving EV battery manufacturers, EV retailers, and battery comprehensive utilization (BCU) enterprises participating in the recycling process. Through the analysis of a Stackelberg response model, we find that (1) single-channel recycling is less efficient than dual-channel recycling models, a difference driven by the diversity of recycling channels and the variability in recycling markets; (2) Recycling models incorporating blockchain technology demonstrate superior performance compared to those that do not utilize blockchain technology, particularly when the intensity of recycling competition is below 0.76; (3) Traction batteries integrated with blockchain technology exhibit higher recycling rates when the optimization index is below 0.96. Electric vehicle battery manufacturers must evaluate the benefits and costs of adopting blockchain technology; (4) With lower recycling incentive levels and EV range preferences, the single-channel recycling model yields better returns than the other three recycling models. EV manufacturers can enhance overall battery supply chain revenues by establishing varying incentive levels based on market demand for different capacitance levels. Full article

As a representative of China’s fashion market, the second-hand luxury market in Shanghai is experiencing significant growth. To deepen the understanding of sustainable fashion consumption, this study adopts grounded theory methodology and utilizes semi-structured interviews with 40 interviewees who have purchased second-hand luxury goods. Through theoretical sampling and step-by-step coding using Nvivo12, a comprehensive model was developed, identifying five main categories of factors influencing consumer purchasing behavior in Shanghai: three external factors—store factors, product factors, and social environments—and two internal factors—benefit cognition and personal factors. Based on these factors, we propose the following managerial implications: managers should explore new digital channels to expand service chains, leveraging celebrity endorsements to promote sustainability initiatives. Additionally, broadening product sourcing channels and establishing a standardized recycling system, while enhancing the management and monitoring of high-risk products, are essential steps. Maintaining competitive pricing, high inventory turnover, and a diverse product range are also critical measures. Furthermore, the government should increase support for second-hand luxury sales in urban commerce, fostering a competitive and sustainable business ecosystem. Full article

Piezo proteins have been identified as mechanosensitive ion channels involved in mechanotransduction. Several ion channel dysfunctions may be associated with diseases (including deafness and pain); thus, studying them is critical to understand their role in mechanosensitive disorders and to establish new therapeutic strategies. The current study investigated for the first time the expression patterns of Piezo proteins in zebrafish octavolateralis mechanosensory organs. Piezo 1 and 2 were immunoreactive in the sensory epithelia of the lateral line system and the inner ear. Piezo 1 (28.7 ± 1.55 cells) and Piezo 2 (28.8 ± 3.31 cells) immunopositive neuromast cells were identified based on their ultrastructural features, and their overlapping immunoreactivity to the s100p specific marker (28.6 ± 1.62 cells), as sensory cells. These findings are in favor of Piezo proteins’ potential role in sensory cell activation, while their expression on mantle cells reflects their implication in the maintenance and regeneration of the neuromast during cell turnover. In the inner ear, Piezo proteins’ colocalization with BDNF introduces their potential implication in neuronal plasticity and regenerative events, typical of zebrafish mechanosensory epithelia. Assessing these proteins in zebrafish could open up new scenarios for the roles of these important ionic membrane channels, for example in treating impairments of sensory systems. Full article

The resilience of economic and social systems to shocks is one of the fundamental goals of sustainable development. One such event that seriously disrupted the global economy was the COVID-19 pandemic. It posed a direct threat to people’s health and lives and also caused an economic crisis. One of the effects of the crisis was the loss of stability in agricultural production with the resulting threat to food security. The foreign trade channel played a vital role in the mechanism of pandemic transmission to the agricultural sector in the world and Poland. This article aims to assess the significance of changes in international trade in agri-food commodities conducted by Polish entities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research period covers the years 2017–2021, focusing on the years 2020–2021, the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a research period allows comparative analyses during the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. The following research methods are used in this study: a critical analysis of the literature, the descriptive approach, the comparative method, and verbal logic and descriptive statistical methods. The data used in this article come from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and cover Poland’s foreign trade turnover according to the International Standard Trade Classification (SITC) used by the United Nations Statistics Department. The COVID-19 pandemic period did not cause a drastic collapse in Polish foreign trade. Short-lived blockages in the flow of goods, which appeared in Q2 2020, resulted in a 14% drop in the value of Polish exports. Already in Q3 2020, foreign trade turnover returned to pre-pandemic levels. In Q2 2020, the value of the exports of agri-food goods decreased by only 3%. For other commodity groups, the export values were 7–40% lower. Agri-food trade proved more resilient to pandemic shocks than trade in non-agricultural sectors. The foreign trade crisis affected the imports of goods more than exports. Full article