Search Results (223)

Background/Objectives: Minipuberty represents the second phase of physiological activation of the reproductive axis and may play a role in postnatal genital development. Its course has been shown to be affected by untreated or inadequately treated maternal hypothyroidism. The aim of the present study was to investigate minipuberty in the sons of women with euthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis during pregnancy. Methods: This prospective matched cohort study included three groups of apparently healthy infant boys. Two groups comprised the male offspring of levothyroxine-naive, euthyroid women with autoimmune thyroiditis: one group was unsupplemented, and the other received vitamin D and selenium supplementation. The control group consisted of boys born to healthy women. Salivary concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione, DHEA-S, estradiol, and progesterone, along with urinary FSH and LH levels, were assessed longitudinally over the first 12 months of life. These hormonal measurements were evaluated in relation to genital development, including testicular volume and penile length, which were recorded at each study visit. Results: Compared with the offspring of healthy mothers, sons of women with autoimmune thyroiditis who did not receive supplementation exhibited lower concentrations of LH and testosterone, without a distinct peak, while the duration of hormone detectability did not differ between the groups. These hormonal alterations were accompanied by reduced penile length, with no differences observed in testicular volume. This group also exhibited lower DHEA-S concentrations, whereas levels of other hormones were comparable. In contrast, in the group receiving vitamin D and selenium supplementation, the dynamics of hormonal changes and genital organ growth did not differ from those observed in the control group. LH concentrations were inversely correlated with thyroid peroxidase antibody titers, which were lower in the supplemented group. Conclusions: The findings indicate an altered course of minipuberty in the sons of women with euthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis during pregnancy and suggest a potential benefit of exogenous vitamin D and selenium supplementation in this population. Full article

The corrosion phenomenon can cause negative allergic and cytotoxic reactions in the human body, inflammation, and, in the future, the development of cancer. Their sources may be corrosion products, metal ions released during the corrosion process, and galvanic currents that penetrate the surrounding tissues. In order to avoid the negative effects of using metal alloys, their surface can be modified by applying coatings. The aim of this study is to determine and compare the amount of ion release from Si(C,N) coatings with varying carbon and nitrogen contents, as well as from the uncoated substrate alloy (Group A) in various aqueous environments. Si(C,N) coatings were applied to the surface of the prosthetic alloy. Si(C,N) coatings with different carbon and nitrogen contents were deposited using the reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS) method. The research included determining the amount of ions released into the environment: distilled water, 0.9% NaCl and artificial saliva. Assessments were made at 10, 30 and 90 days. All tested Si(C,N) coatings significantly limit the amount of metal ions in the surrounding medium. Due to the lack of statistically significant differences in the number of ions released by individual coatings, when selecting them, other properties related to the operating conditions of the elements should also be taken into account. Full article

Human cervical cancer and pre-cancer research relies on datasets scattered across modality-specific archives, imaging repositories, benchmark platforms, trial registries, and controlled-access catalogs. This fragmentation—combined with heterogeneous metadata, ambiguous use of “cervical” terminology, and inconsistent indexing of pre-cancer and screening/triage resources—limits reproducible discovery, access planning, and cross-modal benchmarking. We present the Cervical Cancer Dataset Catalog (CCDCAT), a machine-readable, versioned dataset of datasets that enumerates host-specific dataset-instance records anchored to stable identifiers and resolvable landing records within an explicitly declared discoverable source universe (U_v1.0) and a frozen discovery/labeling lexicon (Q_v1.0). The CCDCAT spans invasive cervical cancer, pre-cancer/dysplasia, and cervix-focused screening and triage phenotypes, and it covers molecular omics, imaging and microscopy (including cervix photography, cytology, and digital pathology), trial registry records, benchmark resources, and controlled-access catalogs represented as metadata with explicit access pathways. Eligibility and labels are assigned conservatively from source-provided metadata; when evidence is insufficient, the CCDCAT abstains rather than infers. In the initial release (CCDCAT-U_v1.0; v0.1), we enumerate 14 eligible dataset instances across 11 host systems within a declared universe of 21 sources. Releases include manuscript-ready tables and interoperable artifacts (schema, controlled vocabularies, provenance logs, abstention ledgers, and a queryable database), enabling reproducible filtering, linkage, and auditable reuse planning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Minipuberty is a transient activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis in infancy that contributes to the postnatal development of sexual organs. Its course has been shown to be influenced by maternal hypothyroidism. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive axis and genital development in infant girls born to women with euthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis. Methods: The study involved three groups of infants: two groups were daughters of euthyroid women with autoimmune thyroiditis, while the third group (control) consisted of daughters of women without thyroid disease during pregnancy. Half of the mothers with thyroiditis received additional vitamin D and selenium supplementation during pregnancy, whereas the other half did not. During the first 18 months of life, periodic assessments were conducted of gonadotropin concentrations in urine, as well as salivary levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEA-S. Additionally, ovarian volume, uterine length, and breast diameter were measured in the infants. Results: Daughters of women with autoimmune thyroiditis who did not receive supplementation during pregnancy exhibited lower levels of LH, estradiol, and progesterone, as well as a more rapid decline in LH and estradiol to below detectable levels, compared with daughters of healthy women. These hormonal differences were accompanied by smaller uterine length and breast diameter in this group. No differences were observed between the offspring of non-supplemented women with thyroiditis and daughters of healthy women regarding the levels of other hormones or ovarian volume. The dynamics of all assessed hormone levels and organ measurements did not differ between daughters of euthyroid women with thyroiditis who received vitamin D and selenium supplementation and daughters of healthy women. LH and progesterone levels showed inverse correlations with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody titers, whereas uterine and breast dimensions positively correlated with estradiol levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest that maternal euthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis can affect the progression of female minipuberty, while supplementation with vitamin D and selenium during pregnancy may mitigate this effect. Full article

In developing countries, sustainable development strategies are increasingly shifting toward a green economy that integrates economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Despite the growing importance of green economic growth, comparative empirical studies examining its determinants in Turkey and Romania remain limited. This study investigates the dynamic relationships between environmentally sustainable growth, carbon emissions, life expectancy, renewable energy consumption, education, and technological innovation in Turkey and Romania over the period 1980–2023. Using annual time series data, the analysis applies the Augmented Dickey–Fuller and Zivot–Andrews unit root tests to examine stationarity and potential structural breaks. The empirical framework is based on the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach, which allows the estimation of both long-run equilibrium relationships and short-run dynamics. The results provide partial evidence of long-run relationships among the variables. Although the ARDL bounds test results fall within the inconclusive region, the negative and statistically significant error correction terms indicate that deviations from long-run equilibrium are corrected over time. The findings also reveal heterogeneous short-run causal interactions across the two countries, suggesting that the drivers of environmentally sustainable growth differ between Turkey and Romania. Overall, the results highlight the importance of country-specific policy frameworks, institutional structures, and energy transition pathways in promoting green economic growth. Full article

Toponyms, i.e., place names, are fundamental for reconstructing the diachronic development of communities without written records, encoding unique historical and cultural data of any civilisation; however, they are vulnerable to loss as languages decline. This also happens for the scarcely documented language Kula (or Tanglapui), a Papuan Alor-Pantar language (Trans-New Guinea macro-family) from Eastern Alor, Southeastern Indonesia (Alor-Pantar Archipelago, Timor area). The spatial knowledge encapsulated in Kula toponyms has been critically threatened by resettlement since the 1960s, alongside its declining daily usage. To preserve this heritage, this article presents a systemised dataset of Kula place names derived from oral traditions, documented for the first time during fieldwork between 2023 and 2026. Data collection followed established language documentation methodologies, utilising semi-structured interviews and community verification with elder native speakers and local consultants to ensure adherence to ethical standards and cultural accuracy of recording practices. The dataset comprises 31 entries of place names, each detailing toponymic variants, glosses/folk etymologies, associated natural resources, stories/historical elements, settlement type, location, habitation status, and internal and external tribal links when information is available. This paper fills a critical gap in Timor-Alor-Pantar linguistics, offering an open-access resource for reconstructing migration patterns and preserving the Kula people’s collective memory against accelerating language endangerment. Full article

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity; however, its relationship with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected incidentally on routine chest computed tomography (CT) remains incompletely defined. We aimed to evaluate the association between questionnaire-based OSA risk and moderate-to-severe coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients without known cardiac disease undergoing non-contrast chest CT for non-cardiac indications. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 268 consecutive adults undergoing routine non-contrast chest CT were included. OSA risk was assessed using the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) and a modified BQ (mBQ), excluding hypertension and obesity components. CAC was quantified using the Agatston method on non-gated CT images, and moderate-to-severe CAC was defined as a score > 100. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, alcohol use, obesity, lung disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Results: Moderate-to-severe CAC was substantially more prevalent among patients at high risk for OSA than among those at low risk (43.1% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.001). In unadjusted analyses, high-risk OSA was strongly associated with CAC > 100. After multivariable adjustment, BQ-defined high-risk OSA remained independently associated with moderate-to-severe CAC (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29–5.78, p = 0.008). Similar results were observed with the mBQ (adjusted OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.27–5.41, p = 0.009). Increased snoring intensity was also independently associated with CAC > 100 (adjusted OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.07–4.72, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Questionnaire-defined high-risk OSA is independently associated with moderate-to-severe incidental CAC detected on routine chest CT. These findings support the integration of sleep-related risk assessment into opportunistic cardiovascular imaging frameworks and highlight the potential role of thoracic CT in multidimensional cardiovascular risk stratification. Full article

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have emerged as transformative approaches to address societal challenges, support biodiversity, and enhance human well-being. Globally, NbS are recognized for their potential to mitigate climate change impacts such as coastal flooding. Despite growing policy interest, limited empirical evidence exists on their real-world effectiveness, particularly in Africa. The core objective of this study was to evaluate how community perceptions, awareness, and demographic factors influence the acceptance and effectiveness of NbS for flood risk reduction in selected coastal communities of Rivers State, Nigeria. Specifically, it aimed to assess community perceptions and awareness of NbS, identify demographic, geographic, and psychosocial factors influencing these perceptions, and analyze how risk perception and local knowledge affect acceptance. The study addressed three key questions: (1) How do community perceptions affect NbS acceptance and implementation? (2) What factors shape awareness and understanding of NbS in Kula, Oyorokoto, and Bonny? (3) How do perceptions vary across demographic groups? To answer these, a structured survey of 1224 respondents was conducted: 61% were male and 39% female, with most aged 31–50 years (80%). Education emerged as a key factor—about 49% of respondents had at least secondary or post-secondary education, which showed a significant link with positive perceptions of NbS (χ² = 460.98, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.434). Occupation also shaped views: traders (36.8%) and fishers (24.5%) formed the majority, with occupational patterns showing moderate influence (χ² = 112.68, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.215). Overall, awareness was the strongest predictor, with communities reporting higher NbS awareness demonstrating significantly greater acceptance (OR = 0.06, p < 0.001). These findings highlight that targeted awareness-raising, education, and community engagement are critical to promoting mangrove conservation, afforestation, and ecosystem restoration, ultimately strengthening resilience to climate-induced risks in coastal communities. Full article

The human microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key determinant of health and disease, yet methodological variability continues to limit reproducibility and clinical translation of findings. This review synthesizes current approaches in microbiome research, critically evaluating each step from sampling to sequencing and downstream bioinformatics. Pre-analytical factors such as sample type, collection method, preservation, and storage conditions profoundly affect microbial community profiles and remain a major source of bias. Nucleic acid extraction protocols and quality assessment strategies are discussed with emphasis on optimized lysis techniques, contamination controls, and DNA yield evaluation. Advances in sequencing technologies are highlighted, including 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, third-generation long-read platforms, and emerging single-cell and minimal-input methods, each with specific advantages and limitations in taxonomic and functional resolution. Bioinformatics pipelines for taxonomic profiling, variant detection, phylogenetic inference, and functional annotation are compared, with attention to widely used reference databases such as RefSeq, GTDB, and SILVA. Integrative multi-omics approaches, including metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and genome-scale metabolic modeling, are presented as powerful tools for linking microbial community structure to host physiology and disease mechanisms. Despite these advances, the lack of standardized workflows across pre-analytical, sequencing, and computational steps continues to hinder inter-study comparability and biomarker validation. This review aims to provide a methodological framework that highlights both strengths and limitations of current technologies while underlining the need for harmonized protocols to ensure reproducibility and accelerate the translation of microbiome research into clinical practice. Full article

TIGIT and its ligand CD155 (PVR) are emerging immune checkpoints in colorectal cancer (CRC), but their associations with mutational subtypes and the tumor immune milieu remain unclear. We quantified TIGIT and CD155 proteins by ELISA in paired CRC tumors and matched surgical margins (n = 131) and evaluated associations with clinicopathological features, MSI status, and KRAS/NRAS/BRAF/PIK3CA/AKT1 mutations (n = 104). Both TIGIT and CD155 were significantly elevated in tumor tissue versus margins (p < 0.0001) and showed no association with TNM stage, clinical stage, grade, or tumor location. TIGIT levels were higher in MSI than MSS tumors and in BRAF-mutant compared to BRAF wild-type tumors, while CD155 expression showed no consistent MSI- or mutation-dependent differences. Cytokine profiling identified IFN-g as the only shared positive associate of TIGIT and CD155; CD155 additionally associated with TRAIL, IL-1Ra, M-CSF, and PDGF-bb. In external transcriptomic validation (TCGA-CRC), GSEA indicated enrichment of interferon/inflammatory programs in TIGIT-high tumors, while CD155-high tumors preferentially showed proliferation-related MYC/E2F/G2M signatures. Together, these findings support tumor-wide upregulation of the TIGIT/CD155 axis in CRC and suggest that TIGIT, more than CD155, tracks with MSI/BRAF-associated immune activation, providing a rationale for patient stratification in checkpoint-directed immunotherapy. Full article

The presence and development of pathogens in the human body remains a serious problem. The existence of microorganisms is primarily related to their ability to adhere to various surfaces. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Si(C,N) coatings on a nickel-chromium alloy surface to reduce bacterial and fungal adhesion and to provide antimicrobial activity. This publication also focused on determining which coating variant is most effective in reducing microbial adhesion. Si(C,N) coatings were sputtered onto the surface of the prosthetic alloy using the magnetron sputtering method. Observation was performed using a fluorescence microscope and a flow cytometer. The number of adhered bacterial cells decreased compared to the samples without coating (sample series A) by approximately 84% in sample series B and by 29% in sample series F. In the case of adhesion of fungal cells, their number decreased compared to the samples without coating (sample series A) by approximately 76% in sample series B and by 47% in sample series F. The applied one-way analysis of variance test indicated a statistically significant effect of the tested factor at a level below 0.001. Based on the conducted research, it was noticed that the use of Si(C,N) layers on the surface of the prosthetic alloy limits the adhesion of bacteria and fungi. Full article

Effective municipal waste management is fundamental to environmental sustainability and the circular economy. This case study assesses the operational effectiveness of the Recycling/Civic Amenity Site (CAS) network in Białostocki county, Poland, during the 2014–2018 national waste management transition. A multi-criteria assessment was employed, integrating compliance audits, infrastructure checks, and spatial analysis of waste type distributions to evaluate CAS operations. The findings reveal a socio-economic divergence between more urbanised (town-and-village) and purely rural (village) municipalities, which is directly reflected in their distinct waste composition patterns. The town-and-village areas produced homogeneous, high-quality packaging waste streams that support recycling goals. Conversely, the village municipalities generated more commingled, heterogeneous streams that challenge recycling efforts. An optimised CAS model was proposed for the county to enhance sustainability by adaptively differentiating CAS services to local needs. However, a direct stock-take of all 16 CASs revealed significant infrastructural disparities, limiting the model’s potential. The study concludes that overcoming both the qualitative waste stream divergence and quantitative infrastructure disparities through tailored strategies is essential for meeting national recycling targets and achieving long-term sustainability. The methodology provides a replicable framework for pinpointing the root causes of inefficient operations, offering local authorities evidence-based tools to optimise CAS design and ensure infrastructure investments directly support overarching sustainability goals. Full article

Does position matter? In many respects, it certainly does, but does it also matter in the case of a functional group such as 4-diethylaminophenyl in the structure of phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole derivatives? We attempt to answer this question in this article by considering selected physicochemical properties of the presented compounds. Therefore, in this work, four phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole derivatives (AM-0–AM-3) were obtained by Debus-Radziszewski condensation. All derivatives were purified, and their structures were confirmed using NMR spectroscopy. The synthesized compounds were then compared for their thermal, electrochemical, and optical properties. This demonstrated that the derivatives (AM-0 and AM-1) containing a 4-diethylaminophenyl substituent at the C2 position exhibit better physicochemical parameters than the other compounds, particularly in terms of thermal stability, energy gap, and even quantum yield. In the case of the latter parameter, derivatives containing 4-diethylaminophenyl at the C2 position show an increase of up to 15–30% (depending on the solvent used) compared to the compound containing the considered substituent at N1. The obtained research results were compared with DFT calculations to gain a deeper understanding of the experiments performed. Full article

In this work, the regio- and stereochemistry as well as the molecular mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction of nitrones with (E)-3-(methylsulfonyl)-propenoic acid derivatives were analyzed based on ωb97xD/6-311G(d,p) quantum chemical calculations. In light of these data, it is possible to propose selectivity of the analyzed processes, which was not clearly determined in light of previous experimental studies. Furthermore, the mechanism of the process was diagnosed. CDFT descriptors indicate that the reaction is triggered by a nucleophilic attack of the nitrone oxygen atom on the electrophilic carbon atom of (E)-3-(methylsulfonyl)-propenoic acid derivatives. In turn, PES analysis shows that, despite the nucleophilic-electrophilic character of the reactants, the corresponding transition states are only weakly polar and highly synchronous. IRC calculations rule out zwitterionic or biradical intermediates, confirming a single-step mechanism. The in silico ADME and PASS predictions indicate that the resulting isoxazolidines possess promising biological profiles, showing potential modulation of the serotonin system through 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C antagonism and stimulation of serotonin release, with structural features compatible with P450-mediated metabolism. Considering this attractive application potential, a detailed mechanistic investigation of their formation becomes essential for understanding and ultimately controlling the reaction pathways leading to these heterocycles. Full article

Background: Recently, the use of volatile compounds as spatial repellents have received special attention as a promising strategy for adult An. gambiae s.l control. Anopheles gambiae s.l is a primary vector of malaria, an arthropod-borne disease of global significance. Current strategies for controlling mosquitoes heavily rely on vector control methods. Understanding the responses of these vectors to volatile compounds will be helpful in the formulation of repellants or attractants for control vector populations. This study was conducted in Nwoya district, Uganda, one of the high-malaria-transmission areas in the northern part of Uganda, as one of the ways of reducing contact between the parasite, vector, and malaria outbreak. Materials and Methods: In this study, a laboratory-reared female An. gambiae Kisumu strain from Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) insectaries were used to examine spatial behavior responses of An. gambiae to selected EOs of Eucalyptus grandis and Cymbopogon citratus. Spatial activity responses were measured using a Y-tube olfactometer under controlled conditions using three replicates in various concentrations of the tested EOs. These oils were extracted by steam distillation and the main constituents identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results: Mosquito response curves indicating effective repellency concentrations are reported, as well as the gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry analysis results. For Eucalyptus grandis, the two components with the highest composition were L-α terpineol and Eucalyptol, while those for Cymbopogon citratus were Lavandulol, methyl ether, and citral. Other components had a percentage composition less than five but they might play a big role in repellent activity against mosquito species. Conclusions: The mosquito repellency results in this study indicate that Eucalyptus grandis and Cymbopogon citratus EOs could be used as mosquito repellents, providing more evidence that natural products have promising lead compounds for further development of botanical spatial repellents. Further characterization of EOs and testing on mosquito behavior related to the prevention of malaria and other vector-borne diseases will promote innovation in vector control and provide new vector control tools that are needed in this era of insecticide resistance. Full article