Search Results (94,007)

Background/Objectives: This study examined associations between maternal misperception and information-seeking opportunities, behaviors, and sources among Japanese mothers of preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among mothers registered with a nationwide research panel. Mothers of children aged 3–5 years were included because, in Japan, this period follows the last early-childhood health checkup at age 3, after which caregivers are required to monitor child growth independently. In total, 1358 mothers were analyzed. Child anthropometric data were reported by mothers with reference to the Maternal and Child Health Handbook or childcare records. These measurements were originally obtained during routine health checkups conducted by healthcare professionals or childcare staff. Body mass index z-scores were categorized as high, middle, or low, and maternal perception as accurate, overestimated, or underestimated. Information-seeking behaviors were assessed using study-specific items informed by prior literature and reviewed by experts to ensure content and face validity. Health literacy was measured using the validated 12-item Japanese Health Literacy Scale, which has demonstrated reliability and validity in previous studies. Multinomial logistic regression was used. Results: Among children with high body size, 150/188 (80.8%) of mothers underestimated body size; among those with low body size, 20/35 (57.1%) overestimated it. In multivariable analyses, use of healthcare providers as an information source was statistically associated with maternal overestimation of child body size. Conclusions: Maternal misperception was common across body size categories. Further research is needed to determine whether support in interpreting objective growth indicators is associated with improved perception accuracy. Full article

The SARS-CoV-2 public health challenges have highlighted the urgent need for coronavirus-targeting life-saving therapeutics. Given the emergence of drug-resistant strains, the development of antivirals against viral proteins beyond the commonly targeted main protease or RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is critical. The SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 13 (nsp13) is a highly conserved RNA helicase and an essential component of the viral replication–transcription complex (RTC). It unwinds double-stranded RNA to facilitate viral transcription and replication, making it a strong target for drug development. To identify nsp13 inhibitors, we used an ultra-high-throughput nucleic acid unwinding assay to screen a library of FDA-approved drugs and bioactive compounds. We identified forty inhibitors with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.4 to 10 μM. Ten were further selected for biochemical and biophysical characterization. Four of these are bound to nsp13 without interacting with the nucleic acid substrate and without inhibiting the ATPase activity of nsp13. Hydrogen–deuterium exchange coupled with Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS) studies show compound binding causes differential exchange in two regions of nsp13. Furthermore, these compounds have antiviral activity against infectious SARS-CoV-2 in multiple cell lines, with cytotoxicity affecting, in some cases, the apparent antiviral effect. Future optimization efforts could help develop therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 and other potential coronavirus threats. Full article

Currently, one of the major trends in the construction industry is the creation of structures with increased strength and durability. The solution is the use of nanomaterials as modifiers for cementitious composites. The aim of this study is to produce concretes with a variable structure modified with a combination of aluminum oxide (NA) and titanium oxide (NT) nanoparticles with improved properties. A variatropic structure is characterized by differences in properties across the cross-section of the material. Concretes were produced using vibration (V), centrifugation (C), and vibrocentrifugation (VC) technologies. Modification was carried out with NA particles from 0% to 4.0% in increments of 1.0% and NT from 0% to 2.0% in increments of 0.5% of the binder mass. Through experimental study, the impact of combined nanomodification on the compressive strength, water absorption, and frost resistance of concrete created with different technologies was investigated. The most effective modification dosages with NA and NT particles were determined to be 2% and 1%. The determination of concrete properties and the statistical processing of experimental results were carried out in accordance with the requirements of standardized methods. Compared to control samples, the maximum compressive strengths for V, C, and VC concretes were 12.4%, 17.5%, and 20.3% higher, reaching 48.9 MPa, 58.4 MPa, and 62.9 MPa, respectively. The lowest water absorptions for V, C, and VC concretes were 5.21%, 4.24%, and 3.76%, which are 18.5%, 24.4%, and 29.2% lower than those of the control samples. After a series of freeze–thaw cycles—6 for V, 8 for C, and 10 for VC—the losses in compressive strength and mass of the nanomodified composites were less than those of the control samples, indicating an increase in the frost resistance of concrete. The influence of concrete production technology on the effect of nanomodification with NA and NT particles was proven. Nanomodified C and VC concretes have improved physical and mechanical properties compared to V concretes. Nanomodified concretes with a variable structure have a more organized microstructure with a greater number of clusters of calcium silicate hydroxides. The resulting variable-structure concrete has improved properties and can be used to manufacture columns, piles, and transmission line supports. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of lavender flower distillation residue powder (LRP) as a dietary supplement on performance, egg quality and yolk oxidative status in laying Japanese quail. Seventy-five 24-week-old hens were allocated to three dietary treatments (0, 1 or 2 g/kg residue powder) for 10 weeks, with five replicate cages per treatment and five birds per cage. Feed intake increased at the inclusion level of 1 g/kg but decreased at 2 g/kg compared with the control group (p < 0.01), whereas egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion ratio were not affected (p > 0.05). Dietary supplementation reduced the proportion of damaged eggs (p < 0.05) and increased eggshell breaking strength (p < 0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Yolk redness (a*) and Roche color score were higher in birds fed 1 g/kg of LRP (p < 0.01). Yolk radical-scavenging capacity (DPPH) increased at 1 g/kg (p < 0.01), while yolk malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased with increasing inclusion level (p < 0.01). Overall, LRP may be used as a natural feed additive to improve eggshell integrity, yolk color and yolk antioxidant status in laying quail; however, the inclusion level should be carefully considered due to its contrasting effects on feed intake. Full article

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) are essential intermediates in one-carbon metabolism and key regulators of cellular methylation capacity. Their concentrations and the SAM/SAH ratio are increasingly studied as biomarkers across metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, and cancer-related diseases. This review outlines validated analytical methods for quantifying SAM and SAH, focusing primarily on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), which is considered the gold standard in both clinical and research settings. A comprehensive literature search identified studies on method development, validation, and clinical use of SAM and SAH measurements. Special attention is given to analytical challenges arising from their high polarity, structural similarity, endogenous presence, and limited stability. The review also discusses preanalytical variables, including biological matrix selection, sample handling, and storage conditions. LC–MS/MS methods are compared with alternative techniques, such as immunoassays, with respect to sensitivity, specificity, matrix effects, and clinical relevance. Additionally, the review summarizes the concentration ranges of SAM and SAH, and their ratio, in healthy and patient populations, noting current standardization limitations. Overall, the review highlights the importance of harmonized analytical protocols and matrix-specific validation to enable reliable clinical interpretation of SAM and SAH as methylation biomarkers. Full article

Ball balancers are nonlinear, electromechanical, multivariable, open-loop unstable systems widely used in research laboratories, aerospace, military, and automotive industries to evaluate control mechanism effectiveness. The inherent difficulty in precisely managing ball position, combined with actuator saturation and system sensitivity to disturbances, makes trajectory tracking a persistent challenge. Conventional controllers often exhibit oscillatory responses with steady-state errors exceeding acceptable limits. Sliding mode control (SMC) offers robustness against model uncertainties; however, chattering finite-frequency, finite-amplitude oscillations near the sliding surface caused by switching imperfections, time delays, and actuator dynamics remain a significant limitation. This study addresses chattering through explicit vibration model compensation integrated into the SMC design for a 2-DOF ball balancer system using a visual servoing approach. A double-loop control architecture is implemented, where the inner loop handles servo angular position control and the outer loop manages ball position tracking through visual servoing feedback. The sliding mode controller is designed with a power rate reaching law, synthesizing two control laws: one with explicit vibration model compensation incorporating damping and stiffness terms, and one without. Experimental validation confirmed that SMC with compensation achieved significantly reduced steady-state error (0.034 mm vs. 0.386 mm) and lower overshoot (3.95% vs. 13.81%) compared to the uncompensated variant, with chattering amplitude reduced by approximately 72%. Full article

The hollow fiber membrane humidification modules are used for indoor humidification in hot–dry regions and heating in winter. The module is composed of several flexible hollow fiber membranes, which are bent and displaced by gravity and fluid forces. This paper is a further study of previous work that reveals the internal relationship between the forces generated by vortex shedding and fiber vibration. The central trajectories of fibers in the flow field are described for various pulsating flow and fiber structure parameters. The effects of fiber displacement on fluid flow, heat transfer, and mass transfer performance at different parameters are discussed. The results show that the fiber displacement in the flow field consists of two components: (i) deformation caused by fluid drag force and gravity and (ii) periodic vibration caused by periodic lift and drag force as vortices shed at the fiber surface. The fiber vibration facilitates the vortex shedding on the fiber surface, which enhances the convective heat and mass transfer performance on the fiber surface. The average friction factor (f_m,v), Nusselt number (Nu_m,v), and Sherwood number (Sh_m,v) increased by 12.9%, 39.3%, and 20.0%, respectively, when the fiber vibrated compared to non-vibration. This implies that inducing fiber vibration can optimize the heat and moisture transfer performance. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) glacier velocities capture the full dynamic behavior of ice masses. For marine-terminating glaciers, acquiring 3D velocity fields is particularly critical for quantifying ice discharge into the ocean, assessing the stability of floating ice tongues, and constraining ice–ocean interactions that govern submarine melting, calving processes, and freshwater fluxes to the ocean. To further investigate glacier dynamics and elucidate ice–ocean interaction mechanisms, this study analyzed the 3D velocity of the Petermann Glacier throughout 2021 using long-term Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations. First, two-dimensional velocity time series were derived from ascending and descending SAR images, and the glacier’s 3D velocity components were reconstructed based on the geometric relationships between the two viewing geometries. The estimated 3D velocities were then used as prior constraints, and glacier motion was treated as a continuously evolving state variable within a Kalman filtering framework. Multi-track, asynchronous remote sensing observations were integrated into a unified system to obtain a stable and temporally continuous 3D velocity field. Finally, statistical analyses of the 3D velocity time series were conducted to characterize spatiotemporal variations, seasonal patterns, and topographic influences on glacier motion, thereby providing quantitative insights into the dynamic coupling between glacier and ocean. Full article

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment of metastatic melanoma; however, predictive markers of therapeutic response remain poorly defined. This study systematically assesses clinical, histological, and molecular predictors associated with survival outcomes in melanoma patients treated with ICIs. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for studies published between January 2018 and October 2025. Eligible studies reported associations between predictive factors and overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) in adult melanoma patients receiving ICIs. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from univariate (UVA) and multivariate analyses (MVA) were synthesized using random-effects meta-analyses. Results: Sex was not a consistent predictor (contradictory effects; PFS heterogeneity I² ≈ 90%), whereas older age predicted worse OS (MVA continuous: HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.08; UVA ≥ 65 vs. <65: HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.36–2.12). Poor performance status, assessed using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale, strongly predicted inferior outcomes (ECOG ≥ 1 vs. 0: MVA OS HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.61–2.51; MVA PFS HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.18–1.88; ECOG ≥ 2 vs. <2: MVA OS HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.79–2.81). Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was consistently associated with poorer survival (MVA OS HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.53–1.91; MVA PFS HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.41–1.85), whereas body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m² was associated with improved OS (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.68–0.98). Higher disease burden predicted worse prognosis (Stage IV vs. III: MVA OS HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.16–2.13; >2 metastatic sites vs. ≤2: MVA OS HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.40–4.07; brain metastases: MVA OS HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.30–2.20; MVA PFS HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.00–2.33). Histologic and molecular factors showed prognostic value: ulceration worsened OS (UVA HR 2.08, 95% CI 1.25–3.44) and PFS (UVA HR 2.97, 95% CI 1.39–6.32); acral subtype had poorer OS than cutaneous melanoma (MVA HR 2.99, 95% CI 1.63–5.48); high tumor mutational burden (TMB) improved PFS (UVA HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.33–0.70); and cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were associated with favorable outcomes (skin disorders: UVA OS HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.14–0.47; UVA PFS HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.34–0.74). In contrast, detectable circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) predicted markedly worse PFS (MVA HR 4.72, 95% CI 2.31–9.65) and a non-significant trend toward worse OS (MVA HR 3.34, 95% CI 0.96–11.67). Liver metastases and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression were not significantly associated with survival. Discussion: This meta-analysis synthesizes evidence on clinicopathologic, laboratory, and histopathologic predictors of immunotherapy outcomes in metastatic melanoma. Performance status, age, LDH, BMI, and metastatic burden consistently correlated with prognosis, while ulceration, disease stage, and TMB emerged as key histologic determinants. Conversely, PD-L1 and gender showed no consistent predictive value, whereas cutaneous immune-related adverse events and ctDNA reflected favorable and poor outcomes, respectively. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of immunotherapy response and support the further development of integrated prognostic models to refine patient stratification and optimize treatment outcomes. Full article

Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, represents a major public health challenge in aging populations. This condition affects approximately 10–16% of community-dwelling older adults and is associated with increased risks of falls, frailty, functional decline, and mortality. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia involves chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging), oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and anabolic resistance. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have emerged as promising nutritional interventions due to their anti-inflammatory properties and potential anabolic effects on skeletal muscle. This comprehensive review evaluates the current evidence on omega-3 PUFA supplementation for the attenuation and management of sarcopenia. Mechanistically, omega-3 PUFAs appear to enhance muscle protein synthesis through activation of the mTOR-p70S6K signaling pathway, reduce inflammation via specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), improve mitochondrial bioenergetics, and attenuate muscle disuse atrophy. Clinical trials demonstrate that omega-3 supplementation, particularly at doses exceeding 2 g/day of combined EPA and DHA, can increase thigh muscle volume, handgrip strength, and one-repetition maximum strength in older adults. When combined with resistance exercise training, the benefits appear more pronounced, especially in women. However, heterogeneity in study designs, intervention durations, dosages, and outcome measures has produced some conflicting results. Large-scale trials, such as the MAPT study, have shown null findings for long-term supplementation alone, suggesting that omega-3s may be most effective as part of multimodal interventions. The evidence also supports benefits in clinical populations at risk for muscle wasting, including cancer patients experiencing cachexia and individuals with neuromuscular disorders. Future research should focus on identifying optimal dosing strategies, understanding sex-specific responses, and elucidating the mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of omega-3s with exercise. Overall, omega-3 PUFA supplementation represents a safe, accessible, and potentially effective nutritional strategy for attenuating muscle decline in aging and clinical populations, though its benefits appear most pronounced when combined with resistance exercise as part of a multimodal approach. Full article

This study aimed to develop a pH-responsive microencapsulation system using complex coacervation with chitosan (CS) and hydrolyzed karaya gum (HKG) as natural wall materials to encapsulate ginger essential oil (GEO) as a core material. Key parameters influencing coacervate formation and encapsulation efficiency were studied and optimized. The results indicated that the maximum complexation yield (77.3%) was achieved at a pH of 4.6 with a CS:HKG mass ratio of 1:2. Under these optimal conditions, microcapsules were fabricated at various wall-to-core ratios, with the 3:1 ratio demonstrating the highest encapsulation efficiency (65.73%) and process yield (75.7%). Physicochemical characterization revealed that the microcapsules possessed low hygroscopicity and a pH-dependent solubility profile. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that freeze-dried microcapsules had a more porous, amorphous structure compared to the denser, irregular particles produced by oven-drying. Crucially, in vitro release studies demonstrated a pronounced pH-responsive behavior: GEO release was significantly faster and more extensive in simulated gastric fluid (pH 2.0) than in neutral or simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4). These findings highlight the successful fabrication of a stable CS-HKG micro-delivery system that effectively protects GEO and facilitates its controlled, targeted release in acidic environments, indicating strong potential for applications in gastric targeted functional food and pharmaceutical products. Full article

Biochar is a porous material which can be produced by biomass waste pyrolysis and modified using metal oxide to improve its adsorption performance. Activated biochar (AB) was synthesized from patchouli biomass waste to study the effect of calcination tempera-ture on its potency as a drug pollutant adsorbent. Research processes included the bio-mass pyrolysis with CoCl₂ activator, AB impregnation with FeCl₃, FeCl₃/AB calcination at various temperatures, product characterizations (X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectrometry), and paracetamol adsorption test at various concentrations. The paracetamol concentra-tions were analyzed using UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The adsorption data was treated using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR) models. The diffracto-grams indicated the α-Fe₂O₃, γ-Fe₂O₃, FeFe₂O₄, and carbon turbostratic structures. The Fe_xO_y crystallinity increased by increasing temperature. The FTIR spectra significantly indicated the functional group changing at 600 °C. In the adsorption test, the Fe_xO_y/AB-800 compo-site gave the highest adsorption capacity of 53.087 mg/g (Langmuir) with a correlation co-efficient of 0.964 (very high correlation), and the physical adsorption mechanism based on adsorption energy of 530.330 J/mol (DR) and 1/n value of 0.62 (Freundlich) provided the favorable adsorption based on both the RL of 0.457 (Langmuir) and the n constant of 1.579 (Freundlich). Thus, the Fe_xO_y/AB-800 composite has potential as an adsorbent of organic pollutants such as paracetamol. Full article

The manipulation of the electrocatalyst nanoarchitecture, particularly transition metal compounds, regarding size, shape, facets, and composition, significantly enhances the electrocatalytic activity in energy transformations. This study introduces a novel methodology for the precipitation of mesoporous nanoparticles of nickel tungstate (meso-NiWO₄) using direct chemical deposition from a template of Brij^®78 surfactant liquid crystal. Physicochemical analyses revealed the formation of amorphous meso-NiWO₄ nanoparticles with dual sizes of 10 ± 3 and 120 ± 8 nm and a specific surface area of 34.2 m²/g, exceeding that of nickel tungstate deposited in the absence of surfactant (bare-NiWO₄, 4.0 m²/g). The meso-NiWO₄ nanoparticles exhibit improved electrocatalytic stability, reduced charge-transfer resistance (R_ct = 1.11 ohm), and a current mass activity of ~365 mA/cm² mg at 1.6 V vs. RHE during the electrolysis of urea in alkaline solution. Furthermore, by employing meso-NiWO₄ in a two-electrode urea electrolyzer, a remarkable 4.8-fold increase in the cathodic hydrogen concurrent production rate was achieved (373.40 µmol/h at a bias potential of 2.0 V), compared to that of the bare-NiWO₄ catalyst. The exceptional urea oxidation electroactivity and the enhanced hydrogen evolution rate arise from substantial specific surface area and mesoporous structure, facilitating effective charge transfer and mass transport through the meso-NiWO₄ catalyst. Using the surfactant liquid crystal template for electrocatalyst synthesis enables a one-pot deposition of diverse nanoarchitectures and compositions with high surface area at ambient conditions for an improved electrocatalytic and hydrogen green production process. Full article

Irradiation creep of engineering alloys in nuclear reactor cores differs from the creep that is observed outside of the irradiation environment. It exhibits characteristics like high temperature thermal creep because it occurs in an environment of elevated vacancy point defect concentrations, but one must also consider the effect of interstitial point defects and the effect of both vacancy and interstitial concentrations, which are greater than the thermal equilibrium values, on an evolving microstructure. Irradiation creep is dependent on the point defect flux to different sinks and can be modelled using conventional rate theory. The net interstitial or vacancy point defect flux to different sinks determines the strain rate in a direction that can be considered perpendicular to the plane of the sink, which is the extra half plane of an edge dislocation or the plane of a grain boundary. There has been increasing evidence that, for complex alloys such as Zr-2.5Nb pressure tubing in CANDU reactors, the irradiation creep is largely dependent on the grain structure (size and shape). While the maximum amount of thermal creep by dislocation slip will be proportional to the distance a dislocation travels, i.e., proportional to the grain dimension in the direction of slip, observations indicate that the magnitude of irradiation creep is inversely proportional to the grain dimensions, indicating a creep mechanism dependent on diffusional mass transport. Mechanistic modelling of irradiation creep based on rate theory is described and used to account for high diametral creep rates observed for pressure tubes with unusual microstructures fabricated by non-standard fabrication routes. Full article

This study aims to examine the impact of empathetic leadership in corporate communication, focusing on its role in enhancing employee well-being and fostering a positive workplace culture. It explores how empathetic communication contributes to trust, engagement, and long-term organizational success. Based on an international survey conducted among communication professionals in Canada and the United States (n = 1055), our analyses revealed significant gender disparities in the perception of empathy among senior communication leaders, with male professionals reporting higher perceived empathy compared to female professionals. Additionally, hierarchical position influenced perceptions, with higher-ranking employees reporting stronger empathic leadership. Perceptions of increased empathic communication over the past year were notably higher among men, older employees, and those with more experience. Empathetic leadership demonstrated a strong positive correlation with employee engagement and organizational commitment but did not significantly impact burnout. Findings from this study contribute to a broader understanding of how leadership empathy varies across professional environments and demographic groups, underscoring the complex dynamics of gender and organizational structure in shaping workplace experiences. Findings in our study contribute to both the advancement of leadership theory and the improvement of corporate communication practice. Full article