Search Results (921)

The thermo-chemical treatment of dental implants leads to the formation of sodium titanate crystals on their surface. When in contact with blood, these crystals dissolve and trigger an ionic exchange cascade, resulting in the formation of a calcium apatite layer. This study, carried out both in vitro and in an animal model, aimed to determine whether the cooling rate of the treatment affects the size of the deposited crystals, and whether this in turn influences wettability and early bone-to-implant contact (BIC). A total of 50 dental implants and 50 titanium discs were treated using four different cooling rates, along with a control group. Crystal size was analyzed on implant surfaces using scanning electron microscopy, and wettability was assessed on titanium discs using a goniometer. Finally, the implants were placed in the tibiae of 13 rabbits, and histological analysis was performed after three weeks to compare BIC among groups. Results suggest that a cooling rate of 75 °C/h produces smaller sodium titanate crystals, which are associated with significantly improved surface wettability and a higher percentage of bone-to-implant contact after 3 weeks of healing (p < 0.05). Full article

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral hydroxysulfones, key pharmaceutical intermediates, is challenging. We report an efficient synthesis from readily available materials via a one-pot photo-biocatalytic cascade reaction in aqueous conditions, utilizing visible light as an energy source. This sustainable process achieves up to 84% yields and 99% ee. Engineered ketoreductase produces R-configured products with high conversion and enantioselectivity across diverse substrates. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations explored enzyme–substrate interactions and their influence on reaction activity and stereoselectivity. Full article

Traffic accidents pose a significant threat to public safety, resulting in numerous fatalities, injuries, and a substantial economic burden each year. The development of predictive models capable of the real-time forecasting of post-accident impact using readily available data can play a crucial role in preventing adverse outcomes and enhancing overall safety. However, existing accident predictive models encounter two main challenges: first, a reliance on either costly or non-real-time data, and second, the absence of a comprehensive metric to measure post-accident impact accurately. To address these limitations, this study proposes a deep neural network model known as the cascade model. It leverages readily available real-world data from Los Angeles County to predict post-accident impacts. The model consists of two components: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The LSTM model captures temporal patterns, while the CNN extracts patterns from the sparse accident dataset. Furthermore, an external traffic congestion dataset is incorporated to derive a new feature called the “accident impact” factor, which quantifies the influence of an accident on surrounding traffic flow. Extensive experiments were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid machine learning method in predicting the post-accident impact compared to state-of-the-art baselines. The results reveal a higher precision in predicting minimal impacts (i.e., cases with no reported accidents) and a higher recall in predicting more significant impacts (i.e., cases with reported accidents). Full article

High-resolution mooring observations captured diverse upper-ocean responses during typhoon passage, showing strong agreement with satellite-derived sea surface temperature and salinity. Analysis indicates that significant wind-induced mixing drove pronounced near-surface cooling and salinity increases at the mooring site. This mixing enhancement was predominantly governed by rapid intensification of near-inertial shear in the surface layer, revealed by mooring observations. Unlike shear instability, near-inertial horizontal kinetic energy displays a unique vertical distribution, decreasing with depth before rising again. Interestingly, the subsurface peak in diurnal tidal energy coincides vertically with the minimum in near-inertial energy. While both barotropic tidal forcing and stratification changes negligibly influence diurnal tidal energy emergence, significant energy transfer occurs from near-inertial internal waves to the diurnal tide. This finding highlights a critical tide–wave interaction process and demonstrates energy cascading within the oceanic internal wave spectrum. Full article

Parasitoid venom significantly influences host physiology and development. Our previous research identified high levels of insulin-binding protein IMP-L2 in the venom of Scleroderma guani. IMP-L2 may inhibit the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) cascade by competitively binding insulin-like peptides (ILPs) with insulin receptor (InR). However, how to regulate IIS transduction is unclear. We speculate that venom-derived IMP-L2 may bind ILPs to inhibit IIS transduction. Consequently, we investigated the regulation of the IIS/TOR pathway by venom-derived IMP-L2. An expression analysis of IIS/TOR pathway genes across various developmental stages of Tenebrio molitor demonstrated that this pathway governs the entire developmental process. By examining gene expression before and after parasitism, we determined that S. guani predominantly inhibits TOR pathway signaling in T. molitor post-parasitism. Bioinformatics and expression analyses revealed that IMP-L2 is critically involved in Hymenoptera insects, exhibiting high expression in the venom apparatus, and is upregulated in response to S. guani parasitism factors. Additionally, recombinant IMP-L2 was produced via eukaryotic expression. Finally, the recombinant IMP-L2 was found to inhibit the TOR and IIS/TOR signaling pathways at early (6 h) and late (24 h) stages post-injection. Knockdown of IMP-L2 in S. guani parasitized T. molitor pupae, resulting in accelerated death of T. molitor. During parasitism, S. guani may suppress host growth and development by modulating the IIS/TOR signaling pathway through venom-derived IMP-L2, potentially affecting host lifespan. Full article

This paper presents an accurate analysis of the power losses of an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor fed by a cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter. The main goal of this study is to investigate the impact of the cascaded h-bridge inverter, multicarrier PWM strategies, and inverter switching frequency on the synchronous motor power losses. With this aim in mind, a detailed frequency domain power analysis was carried out on motor power losses at different operating points in the frequency–torque plane. Motor power losses were further categorized into fundamental and harmonic power losses. This evaluation involved driving the power converter using six distinct multicarrier PWM strategies at four different switching frequencies. Additionally, a comparison was conducted with a conventional two-level PWM inverter to quantify the reduction in motor power losses. The experimental results show that the cascaded h-bridge inverter guarantees a notable increase in the motor efficiency, up to 7%, and losses in segregation at the fundamental frequency, if compared to the standard two-level PWM inverter, especially at low speed and with partial-load conditions. Such results mark out the cascaded H-bridge inverter as a valuable choice, also with regard to low-voltage drive applications. Full article

The hypothalamus belongs to the central brain structure designed for the neuroendocrine regulation of many organismal functions, including the stress response, cardiovascular system, and blood pressure, and it is well known that the serotonergic hypothalamic system plays a significant role in these processes. Unfortunately, the genetic determination of serotonergic hypothalamic mechanisms has been little studied. The aim of this article is to describe the expression profile of the genes in the hypothalamic serotonergic synapses in hypertensive ISIAH rats in comparison with normotensive WAG rats in control conditions and under the influence of a single short-term restraint stress. It was found that 14 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) may provide the inter-strain differences in the serotonergic synaptic function in the hypothalamus between the hyper- and normotensive rats studied. In hypertensive rats, downregulation of Slc18a1 gene in the presynaptic serotoninergic ends and decreased expression of Cacna1s and Htr3a genes determining the postsynaptic membrane conductance may be considered as a main factors causing differences in the function of hypothalamic serotoninergic synapses in hypertensive ISIAH and normotensive WAG rats at the basal conditions. Under basal conditions, glial cell genes were not involved in the formation of inter-strain differences in serotonergic synaptic function. The analysis of transcriptional responses to restraint stress revealed key genes whose expression is involved in the regulation of serotonergic signaling, and a cascade of interrelated changes in biological processes and metabolic pathways. Stress-dependent changes in the expression of some DEGs are similar in the hypothalamus of hypertensive and normotensive rats, but the expression of a number of genes changes in a strain-specific manner. The results suggest that in hypothalamic glial cells of both strains, restraint stress induces changes in the expression of DEGs associated with the synthesis of Ip3 and its receptors. Many of the identified serotonergic DEGs participate in the regulation of not only serotonergic synapses but may also be involved in the regulation of cholinergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic, and dopaminergic synapses. The results of the study provide new information on the genetic mechanisms of inter-strain differences in the functioning of the hypothalamic serotonergic system in hypertensive ISIAH and normotensive WAG rats at rest and under the influence of a single short-term restraint (emotional) stress. Full article

Despite the successes achieved in recent years in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), high-risk ALL in particular still represents a considerable challenge, with poorer outcomes. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is frequently constitutively activated in ALL and consequently leads to unrestricted cell proliferation, without showing frequent mutations in the most important representatives of the signaling pathway. Recent studies have shown that fine balanced protein expression is a common way to adjust oncogenic B cell directed receptor signaling and to mediate malignant cell proliferation and survival in leukemic cells. Too low expression of inhibitory phosphatases can lead to constitutive signaling of kinases, which are important for cell proliferation and survival. In contrast, marked high expression levels of key phosphatases enable cells with distinct pronounced oncogenic B cell directed receptor signaling to escape negative selection by attenuating signal strength and thus raising the threshold for deletion checkpoint activation. One of the most important B cell receptor-dependent signaling cascades is the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, with its important antagonist SHIP1. However, recent data show that the inositol-5-phosphatase SHIP1 is differentially expressed across the heterogeneity of the ALL subtypes, making the overall therapeutic strategy targeting SHIP1 more complex. The aim of this article is therefore to provide an overview of the current knowledge about SHIP1, its expression in the various subtypes of ALL, its regulation, and the molecules that influence its gene and protein expression, to better understand its role in the pathogenesis of leukemia and other human cancers. Full article

Maintenance scheduling of hydropower units is essential for ensuring the operational security and stability of large-scale cascaded hydropower systems and for improving the efficiency of water energy utilization. This study takes the Cascaded Hydropower System of the Lower Jinsha River (CHSJS) as a representative case, identifying four key challenges facing maintenance planning: multi-dimensional influencing factor coupling, spatial and temporal conflicts with generation dispatch, coordination with transmission line maintenance, and compound uncertainties of inflow and load. To address these issues, four strategic recommendations are proposed: (1) identifying and quantifying the impacts of multi-factor influences on maintenance planning; (2) developing integrated models for the co-optimization of power generation dispatch and maintenance scheduling; (3) formulating coordinated maintenance strategies for hydropower units and associated transmission infrastructure; and (4) constructing joint models to manage the coupled uncertainties of inflow and load. The strategy proposed in this study was applied to the CHSJS, obtaining the weight of the impact factor. The coordinated unit maintenance arrangements of transmission line maintenance periods increased from 56% to 97%. This study highlights the critical need for synergistic optimization of generation dispatch and maintenance scheduling in large-scale cascaded hydropower systems and provides a methodological foundation for future research and practical applications. Full article

In this perspective, we highlight the relevance of the FA-Hippo signaling pathway and its regulation of the Yes-associated protein (YAP) and the transcriptional coactivator with a PDZ-binding domain (TAZ) as main players in the process of implants integration. The modulation and responses of YAP/TAZ triggered by substrate and ECM stiffness are of particular interest in the construction of materials used for medical implants. YAP/TAZ nuclear localization and activity respond to the substrate stiffness by several mechanisms that involve the canonical and non-canonical Hippo signaling and independently of the Hippo cascade. YAP/TAZ regulate the expression of genes involved in several mechanisms of relevance for implant integration such as the proliferation and differentiation of cell precursors and the immune response to the implant. The influence of substrate stiffness on the regulation of the immune response is not completely understood and the progress in this field can contribute to the designing of an adequate implant design. Though the use of nano-biomaterials has been proved to contribute to implant success, the relationship between grain size and stiffness of the material has not been explored in the biomedical field; filling these gaps in the knowledge of biomaterials will highly contribute to the design of biomaterials that could take advantage of the cells sensing and response to the stiffness at the implant interface. Full article

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are cell-surface-localized proteins mediating interactions of cells with other cells and the extracellular matrix. CAMs influence cell behavior and survival by inducing various intracellular signaling cascades that regulate diverse cellular processes including cytoskeleton remodeling and gene expression. Here, we review the evidence demonstrating that the levels, subcellular distribution, and binding affinities of CAMs of several major families including integrins, cadherins, immunoglobulin superfamily, and selectins are regulated by intracellularly generated or extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Remarkably, CAMs themselves induce ROS production in response to binding to their ligands by activating lipoxygenases or NADPH oxidases or influencing ROS generation in mitochondria. CAM-dependent ROS production is essential for CAM-mediated cell adhesion and CAM-dependent intracellular signaling. Importantly, CAMs also protect cells from the ROS-induced cell death by stimulating the synthesis of antioxidants and suppressing the cell death signaling. A better understanding of the role ROS play in controlling CAM functions and mechanisms of this control may pave the way to modulating the functions of CAMs in various disorders associated with abnormal cell adhesion. Full article

Lysolecithin is a performance-enhancing product for livestock. Lysolecithins contain functional phospholipids (PLs) and lysophospholipids (LPLs) and have been used in monogastric feed formulations because they can enhance lipid emulsification, digestion, and absorption (surface chemistry). Another underexplored aspect is that lysolecithin mixtures can serve as signaling via so-called nutritional gene expression-regulating action. The scope of this study was to fully understand the potential of a lysolecithin source derived from soybeans to influence intestinal nutrient transport in the intestinal tract. In this context, in vitro cell culture data with intestinal Caco-2 cells revealed that a lysolecithin-based product can significantly improve intestinal cell viability. Furthermore, a Transwell culture experiment showed that lysolecithins can significantly trigger gene expression. The most significantly affected genes could be correlated with G-coupled protein cascades. Enrichment analyses showed that amino acid transport and lipid metabolism pathways are significantly affected. Furthermore, the polarized cell culture revealed that the studied lysolecithin could affect the abundance of metabolites/nutrients in the basolateral compartment when applied apically, indicating that its action exceeds surface chemistry. In conclusion, the data on intestinal cell viability, gene expression, and metabolite abundance seem to reveal the bioactivities of lysolecithin. The latter data suggest that the specific lysolecithin source used here is more than a biosurfactant; more specifically, it seems to be a potent bioactive mixture of amphiphilic compounds triggering cell signaling pathways. Full article

Background: Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic disease perpetuated through key pro-inflammatory molecules, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) may contribute to inflammation cascades. This study aimed to investigate how ANGPTL8 levels are influenced in patients with CD prior to and following anti-TNF therapy. Methods: Patients were divided into 3 groups. Patients with CD in clinical remission receiving IFX for at least 24 weeks (IFX-experienced group), patients scheduled to start IFX (IFX-naïve group), and healthy controls (control group). In the IFX-experienced group, ANGPTL8 levels were measured 24 h before the next maintenance IFX dose. In the IFX-naïve group, levels were measured at week 0 and week 24, and in the control group, they were measured randomly. Results: The total number of participants was 166. The numbers of IFX-experienced, IFX-naïve patients, and healthy controls were 82, 13, and 71, respectively. Mean age ranged from 27 to 33 years of age across the three groups. Eighty-four (51%) participants were female. ANGPTL8 levels were significantly higher in patients with CD (138.26 ± 8.47 pmol) compared to the healthy control group (102.52 ± 5.99 pmol, p = 0.001). Among IFX-naïve patients receiving anti-TNFα treatment, ANGPTL8 levels decreased significantly from 145.06 ± 17.93 pmol pre-treatment (week 0) to 81.78 ± 10.61 pmol post-treatment (week 24), p = 0.007. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ANGPTL8 levels are elevated in CD and may be involved in the inflammatory process. The marked reduction in ANGPTL8 levels following anti-TNFα treatment indicates its potential as a biomarker for treatment response. Further research should focus on the exact mechanisms through which ANGPTL8 influences CD progression and its utility in clinical practice. Full article

This paper presents a modeling framework for hysteretically nonlinear piezoelectric composite beams using functional differential equations (FDEs). While linear piezoelectric models are well established, they fail to capture the complex nonlinear behaviors that emerge at higher electric field strengths, particularly history-dependent hysteresis effects. This paper develops a cascade model that integrates a high-dimensional linear piezoelectric composite beam representation with a nonlinear Krasnosel’skii–Pokrovskii (KP) hysteresis operator. The resulting system is formulated using a state-space model where the input voltage undergoes a history-dependent transformation. Through modal expansion and discretization of the Preisach plane, we derive a tractable numerical implementation that preserves essential nonlinear phenomena. Numerical investigations demonstrate how system parameters, including the input voltage amplitude, and hysteresis parameters significantly influence the dynamic response, particularly the shape and amplitude of limit cycles. The results reveal that while the model accurately captures memory-dependent nonlinearities, it depends on numerous real and distributed parameters, highlighting the need for efficient reduced-order modeling approaches. This work provides a foundation for understanding and predicting the complex behavior of piezoelectric systems with hysteresis, with potential applications in vibration control, energy harvesting, and precision actuation. Full article

Mental health is an increasing concern, particularly among the younger population. Given that university life is a critical stage in the personal and academic development of some young individuals, identifying the factors that contribute to their well-being is essential. This study focused on exploring the role of emotional intelligence and resilience in the perceived stress of a sample of 338 university students from the University of Alicante. To this end, a structural equation analysis was used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the variables included in the model. The instruments used were the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Based on the dimensions of the cascading model of emotional intelligence, the results indicate that emotional attention had a direct and positive effect on stress, while both emotional clarity and emotional repair influenced resilience directly and positively. In turn, resilience had a direct and negative effect on stress, acting as a mediator between the dimensions of emotional intelligence and stress. The final proposed model explained 49.3% of the variance in stress. This study provides empirical evidence regarding how these variables interact and underscores the importance of emotional abilities in stress regulation in the university setting. Full article