Search Results (4,107)

Background: Biostimulants naturally improve plant growth, stress tolerance, and nutrient use efficiency and activate defenses by increasing protective metabolites (phenols, anthocyanins) in grapes. In viticulture, especially when using inactive yeasts, they modulate genetic expression and improve the skin resistance, color, and aroma profile of wine grapes in line with sustainable practices. Methods: Two wine grape cultivars, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, were sprayed with the inactive yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a single treatment in pre-veraison or in a double treatment in pre-veraison and veraison. Berry weight, must, total polyphenols, anthocyanins, and mechanical and colorimetric properties were measured on fresh grapes. Results: Two-way ANOVA revealed that titratable acidity (TA), pH, and total polyphenol content (TPC) were not affected, while mean berry weight and anthocyanin content varied by cultivar, treatment, and interaction; total soluble solids (TSS) differed only by cultivar. Inactive yeasts reduced weight in the single-treatment thesis but stabilized it in the double-treatment one; anthocyanins decreased in Cabernet Sauvignon but increased in Merlot. Mechanical and colorimetric analyses showed cultivar-dependent responses, with significant improvements in elasticity, skin thickness, and hue of berries, especially in Merlot when the treatment was applied twice. Conclusions: Inactive yeasts (IYs) showed an effect on the weight of the berries, the anthocyanins, the mechanics, and the color; Merlot significantly improved skin thickness, elasticity, and hue; and Cabernet remained less reactive to treatments. Full article

Background: The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) represents an important public health challenge, especially among education workers, whose intense routine can negatively impact eating habits. This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with the regular consumption of UPF among employees of the Federal Network of Professional, Scientific and Technological Education (RFEPCT) in Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, carried out with 1563 education workers. Validated instruments on eating habits (PeNSE), mental health (DASS-21) and quality of life (WHOQOL-bref) were used. The regular consumption of UPF was defined as intake on ≥5 days in the last seven days. The association between the regular consumption of UPF and sociodemographic, occupational, behavioral, mental health and quality of life variables was assessed by Poisson regression with robust variance, generating adjusted prevalence ratios (PRadj) and respective 95% confidence intervals. Results: The regular consumption of UPF was associated mainly with female gender, a lower age group, Southeast and Midwest regions, dissatisfaction with sleep and the body, physical inactivity and poor sleep quality. In addition, the findings suggested a significant relationship between the worst stress scores and soft drinks (PRadj: 2.11; CI: 1.43–3.13), anxiety and soft drinks (PRadj: 1.83; CI: 1.24–2.70) and depression and industrialized/ultra-processed salty foods (PRadj: 2.43; CI: 1.82–3.26). The same was observed in the scores for the worst perception of quality of life, where there was a prevalence of up to 2.32 in the psychological domain and the consumption of industrialized/ultra-processed salty foods. Conclusions: The findings indicate that multiple interrelated factors—individual, psychosocial and occupational—are associated with the consumption of UPF among education workers. These results reinforce the importance of institutional policies that integrate actions to promote dietary health, mental health care and improved working conditions in the education sector. Full article

Environmental enrichment is essential for promoting species-specific behaviors and enhancing the welfare of zoo-housed animals. This study examined the behavioral responses of two juvenile male binturongs (Arctictis binturong) at the Minnesota Zoo to three enrichment stimuli: lavender oil (olfactory), thawed fish (olfactory and dietary), and hard-boiled egg (olfactory and dietary). Their behaviors were recorded using scan sampling before and after enrichment exposure, focusing on locomotion, foraging, resting, and visitor visibility. Food-based enrichments, particularly the hard-boiled egg, significantly increased foraging behavior, while lavender oil and thawed fish produced minimal behavioral changes. Locomotion and visibility remained stable across the conditions, although a slight increase in resting was observed with lavender oil. No evidence of scent-marking disruption was noted, and individual differences appeared to influence inactivity levels. These findings highlight the potential of biologically relevant, food-based enrichment to stimulate natural behaviors in binturongs and emphasize the importance of species-specific enrichment strategies. Future research should explore a broader range of olfactory cues, assess long-term behavioral responses, and incorporate physiological measures to further evaluate enrichment impacts on binturong welfare. Full article

In this study, four types of fall detection systems for seniors living alone using x-y scatter and Doppler range images measured from frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) millimeter-wave (mmWave) sensors were introduced. Despite advancements in fall detection, existing long short-term memory (LSTM)-based approaches often struggle with effectively distinguishing falls from similar activities of daily living (ADLs) due to their uniform treatment of all time steps, potentially overlooking critical motion cues. To address this limitation, an attention mechanism has been integrated. Data was collected from seven participants, resulting in a dataset of 669 samples, including 285 falls and 384 ADLs with walking, lying, inactivity, and sitting. Four LSTM-based architectures for fall detection were proposed and evaluated: Raw-LSTM, Raw-LSTM-Attention, HOG-LSTM, and HOG-LSTM-Attention. The histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) method was used for feature extraction, while LSTM networks captured temporal dependencies. The attention mechanism further enhanced model performance by focusing on relevant input features. The Raw-LSTM model processed raw mmWave radar images through LSTM layers and dense layers for classification. The Raw-LSTM-Attention model extended Raw-LSTM with an added self-attention mechanism within the traditional attention framework. The HOG-LSTM model included an additional preprocessing step upon the RAW-LSTM model where HOG features were extracted and classified using an SVM. The HOG-LSTM-Attention model built upon the HOG-LSTM model by incorporating a self-attention mechanism to enhance the model’s ability to accurately classify activities. Evaluation metrics such as Sensitivity, Precision, Accuracy, and F1-Score were used to compare four architectural models. The results showed that the HOG-LSTM-Attention model achieved the highest performance, with an Accuracy of 95.3% and an F1-Score of 95.5%. Optimal self-attention configuration was found at a 2:64 ratio of number of attention heads to channels for keys and queries. Full article

Background/Objectives: Oncogenic KRAS drives ~30% of solid tumours, yet the only approved G12C-specific drugs benefit ≈ 13% of KRAS-mutant patients, leaving a major clinical gap. We sought mutation-agnostic natural ligands from Ziziphus lotus, whose stereochemically rich phenolics may overcome this limitation by occupying the SI/II (Switch I/Switch II) groove and locking KRAS in its inactive state. Methods: Phytochemical mining yielded five recurrent phenolics, such as (+)-catechin, hyperin, astragalin, eriodictyol, and the prenylated benzoate amorfrutin A, benchmarked against the covalent inhibitor sotorasib. An in silico cascade combined SI/II docking, multi-parameter ADME/T (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) filtering, and 100 ns explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations. Pharmacokinetic modelling predicted oral absorption, Lipinski compliance, mutagenicity, and acute-toxicity class. Results: Hyperin and astragalin showed the strongest non-covalent affinities (−8.6 kcal mol⁻¹) by forging quadridentate hydrogen-bond networks that bridge the P-loop (Asp30/Glu31) to the α3-loop cleft (Asp119/Ala146). Catechin (−8.5 kcal mol⁻¹) balanced polar anchoring with entropic economy. ADME ranked amorfrutin A the highest for predicted oral absorption (93%) but highlighted lipophilic solubility limits; glycosylated flavonols breached Lipinski rules yet remained non-mutagenic with class-5 acute-toxicity liability. Molecular dynamics trajectories confirmed that hyperin clamps the SI/II groove, suppressing loop RMSF below 0.20 nm and maintaining backbone RMSD stability, whereas astragalin retains pocket residence with transient re-orientation. Conclusions: Hyperin emerges as a low-toxicity, mutation-agnostic scaffold that rigidifies inactive KRAS. Deglycosylation, nano-encapsulation, or soft fluorination could reconcile permeability with durable target engagement, advancing Z. lotus phenolics toward broad-spectrum KRAS therapeutics. Full article

This paper explores the complex power dynamics of UK social work higher education through an autoethnographic account of a Black woman course leader’s experiences over a period of two years, focusing on issues related to race, internalized oppression, and class. Drawing on Critical Race Theory (CRT), narrative analysis, and lived experience, it examines how systemic inequities manifest through three interlinked themes: (a) academic contrapower harassment (ACPH), (b) internalized oppression and toxic team dynamics, and (c) the interplay of harassment, institutional failure, managerial inaction, and the marginalization of social work as a discipline. This study illustrates how the intersectionality of multiple identities—namely, race, gender, and professional identity—impacts career progression, well-being, and institutional inclusion. This study examines the tensions between social work’s ethical foundations and performance-driven academic environments, advocating for systemic and policy interventions to stimulate institutional reform and cultivate a more equitable culture that enhances educational outcomes and, ultimately, improves social work practice. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major global health concern influenced by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. This study compared T2D risk scores between commerce and industry sectors and assessed the associations of age, sex, education, physical activity, diet, and smoking with elevated risk. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 56,856 men and 12,872 women employed in the commerce (n = 27,448) and industry (n = 42,280) sectors across Spain. Anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical data were collected. Four validated T2D risk scores (QDscore, Finrisk, Canrisk, and TRAQ-D) were calculated. Multinomial logistic regression models estimated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for high-risk categories by sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Results: Women in the industrial sector had significantly higher age, BMI, waist circumference, and lipid levels than those in commerce; differences among men were less marked. Across all participants, higher T2D risk scores were independently associated with physical inactivity (OR up to 12.49), poor Mediterranean diet adherence (OR up to 6.62), industrial employment (OR up to 1.98), and older age. Male sex was strongly associated with high Canrisk scores (OR = 6.31; 95% CI: 5.12–7.51). Conclusions: Employment in the industrial sector, combined with sedentary behavior and poor dietary habits, is independently associated with higher predicted T2D risk. Workplace prevention strategies should prioritize multicomponent interventions targeting modifiable risk factors, especially in high-risk subgroups such as older, less-educated, and inactive workers. Full article

The article analyzes the effects of psychosocial interventions on adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment among vulnerable populations in Romania. The study includes 4104 patients from disadvantaged groups (rural, injecting drug users, homeless), beneficiaries of a national multidisciplinary support program. Multivariate analyses conducted on drug-susceptible TB (DS-TB) patients within this cohort identified some predictors of therapeutic success, such as extrapulmonary diagnosis, peer-to-peer educational support, and a higher level of education. At the same time, men, occupationally inactive people and those in the initial phase of treatment at project entry showed lower adherence. The results support the integration of psychosocial interventions in TB management. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with factors such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as TP53 mutations, which are observed in a broad spectrum of CRC. Additionally, alteration in the composition of the gut microbiome community and metabolism plays a significant role in the development of colorectal cancer and its therapeutic effects. It is well known that treatment with sodium butyrate (NaB), an intestinal microbial metabolite, can induce apoptosis by activating histone deacetylase (HDAC) in cancer cells. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between NaB-induced apoptosis and p53 protein level in colorectal cancer cells. Treatment with NaB triggered cell death in the HCT116 cell line. Furthermore, a notable elevation in p53 protein level was detected following treatment with a high concentration of NaB, compared to both the control group and the low concentration NaB. Furthermore, apoptotic cell death was diminished in a p53-deficient cell line (HCT 116 p53^−/−) and p53 protein expression was more stabilized. Although p53 mRNA expression was not affected, acetylation of p53 protein was clearly observed by high concentration NaB treatment. To demonstrate the relationship between p53 acetylation and cell death, HT29 cells were treated with a high concentration of NaB. In HT29 cells with a mutation in the p53 gene, increased cell viability, overproduction p53 protein, and hyperacetylation of p53 were observed compared to the control. The results of this study suggest that p53 protein expression plays an important role in the effectiveness of therapy utilizing gut microbiota metabolites. Full article

This study investigated associations of inflammation-based biomarkers with endothelial dysfunction and lipids and their predictive value for clinical outcome parameters in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). A total of 138 patients with inactive GCA were retrospectively analyzed to investigate potential differences in inflammatory biomarkers regarding clinical GCA subtypes and potential correlations between inflammatory parameters with markers of endothelial dysfunction and lipid parameters. Additionally, the predictive role of inflammatory biomarkers for clinical outcomes, including disease relapse, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and glucocorticoid adverse effects, was analyzed. GCA individuals without concomitant symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica and those who received initial glucocorticoid pulse therapy exhibited significantly higher levels of white blood cells and neutrophils (all with p < 0.05). No other significant differences were observed between inflammatory biomarkers and clinical GCA subtypes. Additionally, significant correlations were identified between selected inflammation-based ratios and specific markers of endothelial dysfunction and lipid parameters (all with p < 0.05). Elevated white blood cells and neutrophils were significant and independent predictors of disease relapse in GCA (all with p < 0.05) in multiple logistic regression analysis. No significant associations were found between any other inflammatory biomarker and the occurrence of cardiovascular events, mortality, or glucocorticoid-related adverse effects. In patients with inactive GCA, selected inflammatory parameters correlated with endothelial dysfunction and dyslipidemia and may be predictive of disease relapse. Full article

Pain is a common condition among older adults and a key factor influencing daily functioning. This cross-sectional study examined how pain presence and distribution (no pain, localized pain [LP], and widespread pain [WP]) are related to limitations in Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (BADLs and IADLs). Data were drawn from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) Wave 9, including 68,839 participants aged 50 or older. A clear gradient of functional limitation was observed: Individuals with WP reported the highest number of limitations, followed by those with LP, while those with no pain showed minimal impairment. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, cognitive status, physical health, and psychosocial factors, with adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for WP of 1.77 for BADLs and 1.22 for IADLs (p < 0.001). Notably, depression, perceived loneliness, long-term illness, physical inactivity, and mobility limitations were especially relevant among participants with WP. The findings suggest the clinical value of assessing and implementing interventions not only in the presence but also in the extent of pain to better identify individuals at greater risk of losing independence in daily life. Full article

Biological control employs beneficial microorganisms to suppress phytopathogens and mitigate the incidence of associated plant diseases. This study investigated the in vitro development and survival of Trichoderma spp. isolates derived from commercial formulations under different temperatures, pH levels, and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations and with synthetic fungicides with distinct modes of action. Three isolates were analyzed: URM-5911 and TRA-0048 (T. asperellum) and TRL-0102 (T. longibrachiatum). The results revealed substantial variability among the isolates, with the optimal mycelial growth temperatures ranging from 24.56 to 29.42 °C. All the isolates exhibited broad tolerance to the tested pH (5–9) and salinity levels (250–1000 mM), with TRL-0102 demonstrating the highest salt resistance. The fungicide treatments negatively affected mycelial growth across all the isolates, with Azoxystrobin + Difenoconazole and Boscalid causing growth reductions of up to 50%. Notably, Boscalid enhanced conidial production more compared to the control (126.0% for URM-5911, 13.7% for TRA-0048, and 148.5% for TRL-0102) and decreased the percentage of inactive conidia to less than 10% in all the isolates. These results provide strategic information for the application of Trichoderma spp. in agricultural systems, supporting the selection of more adapted and suitable isolates for integrated disease management programs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents significant health challenges, especially among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study uses machine learning models to predict NAFLD in patients with inactive CHB. It builds on previous research by employing classification algorithms to analyze demographic, clinical, and laboratory data to identify NAFLD predictors. Methods: A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted, including 450 inactive CHB patients from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. Five ML models were developed: Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). Results: The prevalence of NAFLD was 50.22%. Among the machine learning models, Random Forest achieved the highest performance with an ROC AUC of 0.983 (95% CI: 0.952–0.999), followed by XGBoost at 0.977 (95% CI: 0.938–0.999) and MLP at 0.963 (95% CI: 0.915–0.995). SVM also showed strong performance with an AUC of 0.949 (95% CI: 0.897–0.985), while Logistic Regression demonstrated comparatively lower discrimination with an AUC of 0.886 (95% CI: 0.799–0.952). Key predictive features identified included platelet count, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), hemoglobin, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Logistic Regression highlighted platelet count as the most significant negative predictor, while LDL and ALT were positive contributors. Conclusions: This study shows the utility of ML in improving the identification and management of NAFLD in CHB patients, enabling targeted interventions. Future research should expand on these findings, integrating genetic and lifestyle factors to enhance predictive accuracy across diverse populations. Full article

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the colon, triggering persistent inflammation and ulceration, resulting in a severe impact on patients’ quality of life. Currently, the standard diagnostic methods for UC include invasive procedures such as colonoscopy and the use of non-specific inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, which can be inconvenient or painful and lack specificity. This underscores the need for non-invasive and highly specific biomarkers for UC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, typically 22 nucleotides in length, which are well described as gene expression regulators. Several studies have reported their differential expression in various pathological conditions, including UC. Due to their role in gene regulation and stability in biological fluids, miRNAs present a promising opportunity as biomarkers. This systematic review explores the potential use of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish between active and inactive ulcerative colitis. Following PRISMA guidelines and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies, encompassing a total of 514 participants (181 with active UC and 116 with inactive UC), were included. Multiple miRNAs exhibiting differential expression between active and inactive UC were identified. Most notably, miR-21, miR-126, miR-146b-5p, and miR-223 exhibited consistent upregulation in active UC, suggesting their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Supporting these findings is the fact that these miRNAs are involved in inflammatory pathways, further highlighting their relevance to the pathogenesis of UC. This review emphasizes the need for further validation studies with larger cohorts to confirm the utility of miRNAs as diagnostic tools for UC disease activity differentiation, which could enhance non-invasive disease monitoring and inform therapeutic decision-making. Future research should also evaluate the prognostic potential of these miRNAs for predicting treatment responses and long-term disease outcomes. Full article

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests connections between CVD risk factors―including hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLP), diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, and physical inactivity―and AD. The Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) dietary pattern has recently garnered considerable attention as a key preventive strategy for both CVDs and AD. While previous studies have examined the connections between CVD risk factors and AD, they have not thoroughly explored their underlying mechanisms. Therefore, the current literature review aims to synthesize the literature and highlight underlying mechanisms from preclinical to clinical studies to elucidate the relationship between CVD risk factors, AD, and the role of the MIND dietary pattern in these conditions. The MIND dietary pattern emphasizes foods rich in antioxidants and brain-healthy nutrients such as vitamin E, folate, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, fiber, monounsaturated fatty acids, and omega-3 fatty acids. These components have been associated with reduced amyloid-β accumulation in preclinical studies and may contribute to the prevention of AD, either directly or indirectly by affecting CVD risk factors. Despite the extensive evidence from preclinical and observational studies, few clinical trials have investigated the effects of the MIND dietary pattern on cognitive health. Therefore, long-term clinical trials are required to better understand and establish the potential role of the MIND dietary pattern in preventing and managing AD. Full article