Ashwagandha, a revered herb in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3000 years, is recognized for its potential benefits in regulating sleep and supporting overall vitality. This study evaluated the comparative effects of Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) and melatonin (MLT) on sleep quality in adults. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 200 men and women aged 18–50 years were randomized to receive ARE (300 mg twice daily; n = 50), MLT (3 mg/day; n = 50), a combination of ARE (600 mg/day) and MLT (3 mg/day; n = 50), or placebo (n = 50) for eight weeks. The primary outcome was the change in sleep onset latency (SOL) from baseline to week eight, measured by actigraphy. Secondary outcomes included actigraphy-based changes in total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE), as well as subjective measures such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). At week eight, SOL was significantly reduced across treatment groups, with the ARE–MLT (p < 0.0001) combination showing the greatest improvement. The combination group also demonstrated significant improvements in TST (p < 0.0001), WASO (p < 0.0001), and SE (p < 0.0001), whereas ARE and MLT monotherapy produced moderate but comparable benefits. Inferential analyses confirmed statistically significant improvements in objective and subjective sleep measures (p < 0.0001). Safety analyses indicated that mild adverse events occurred across all groups, with no clinically significant between-group differences. Overall, both Ashwagandha and melatonin improved sleep disturbances in adults, with combination therapy producing the most consistent and pronounced benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Human Basic Research & Neuroimaging)

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10 pages, 226 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physical vs. Behavioral Clinical Signs in Horses with Squamous and Glandular Gastric Ulcers

by José Pimenta, Bruna Martins, Alexandre Mexedo, Rita Campilho, Filipe Silva and Mário Cotovio

Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(4), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13040328 (registering DOI) - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome is a highly prevalent condition, yet its clinical diagnosis remains challenging due to the nonspecific nature of many associated signs. The relationship between the anatomical location of gastric ulcers and clinical presentation is still poorly defined. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the association between gastric ulcer location and the clinical signs observed in horses. Medical records of 52 horses diagnosed with gastric ulcers by gastroscopy were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical signs were classified as physical, behavioral, or mixed, and ulcer localization was categorized as Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD), Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD), or mixed. Associations between variables were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, with p < 0.05 considered significant. A significant association was identified between the type of clinical signs and ulcer location (p < 0.001). Physical clinical signs were predominantly associated with ESGD, whereas behavioral and mixed signs were more frequently observed in horses with EGGD or mixed ulceration. Furthermore, both the type of clinical signs and ulcer location were associated with the horse’s sport activity. No association was found between ulcer severity and clinical signs nor between ulcer location and sex. These findings suggest that gastric ulcer location influences clinical presentation, indicating that ESGD and EGGD may be associated with different clinical sign patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostics and Medical Therapies in Equine Health)

21 pages, 1435 KB

Open AccessArticle

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 as a Biomarker of Cardiovascular Burden and Mortality in a Population-Based Cohort

by Beatriz Martín-Carro, Leticia Nieto-García, Clara Sánchez-Pablo, Alfonso Romero, Candelas Pérez del Villar, José Carlos Moyano-Maza, José María de Dios, David Cembrero-Fuciños, Estefanía Iglesias-Colino, Paz Muriel, Sara Cascón, Amalia Martín-Gallego, Baltasara Blázquez, Inmaculada Santolino, Lydia González-González, María Concepción Ledesma, Javier Maillo-Seco, Jesús Rodríguez-Nieto, Luis M. Rincón, María Isidoro-García and Pedro L Sánchez Show full author list Hide full author list

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(7), 3078; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27073078 (registering DOI) - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a stress-responsive cytokine strongly associated with aging, multimorbidity, and cardiovascular disease. Although prior studies have established its prognostic value in high-risk populations, its role in the general population remains less defined. The aim of this study was to determine if there is an association between plasma GDF15 levels, heart disease and mortality in a representative population-based cohort. We analyzed 1532 participants (mean age 55 years; 54.6% women) with available baseline plasma GDF15 concentrations. Participants were stratified according to an optimal cutoff of 1081 pg/mL, derived from ROC curve analysis for mortality. Associations with prevalent heart disease were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and NT-proBNP. Mortality was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, with model performance evaluated by C-index and time-dependent ROC curves. Individuals with GDF15 > 1081 pg/mL were older and exhibited a more adverse cardiometabolic profile with higher prevalence of comorbidities. Elevated GDF15 was independently associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy (OR 3.34, 95% CI: 1.38–8.11), particularly in men (OR 4.26, 95% CI: 1.40–12.96), but not in women. No independent associations were observed with arrhythmias, valvulopathy, or heart failure after adjustment for NT-proBNP. During a median follow-up of 6.2 years, 51 deaths occurred. Elevated GDF15 independently predicted all-cause mortality (HR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.19–5.13), though the effect was attenuated after adjustment for NT-proBNP. GDF15 improved model discrimination (ΔC-index = +0.01; LRT p = 0.011) and showed robust time-dependent predictive ability, with AUCs of 0.76, 0.82, and 0.85 at 2, 4, and 6 years, respectively. In this population-based cohort, elevated GDF15 identified individuals with an adverse health profile, was independently associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy in men, and predicted mortality. Although its incremental predictive value over NT-proBNP was modest, GDF15 could provide complementary biological information and may enhance multimarker strategies for cardiovascular risk stratification in the general population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment and Myocardial Injury)

45 pages, 3443 KB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Hybrid Nature-Inspired Metaheuristic Algorithm for Global and Engineering Design Optimization

by Hasan Kanaker, Osama Al Sayaydeh, Essam Alhroob, Nader Abdel Karim, Sami Smadi and Nurul Halimatul Asmak Ismail

Computers 2026, 15(4), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/computers15040211 (registering DOI) - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Metaheuristic algorithms have become indispensable for solving high-dimensional, non-convex, and constrained optimization problems arising in science and engineering. However, no single method can simultaneously provide strong global exploration, accurate local exploitation, and robust performance across diverse problem classes. This paper proposes JADEFLO, a new hybrid nature-inspired metaheuristic that couples Adaptive Differential Evolution with Optional External Archive (JADE) and Frilled Lizard Optimization (FLO) in a two-stage search framework. In the first stage, JADE drives global exploration using p-best mutation, an external archive, and adaptive control of the mutation factor and crossover rate to maintain population diversity. In the second stage, FLO performs intensive local refinement by mimicking the hunting and tree-climbing behaviors of frilled lizards through dedicated exploration and exploitation moves. The resulting algorithm has linear time complexity with respect to the population size, dimensionality, and number of iterations. JADEFLO is evaluated on the IEEE CEC 2022 single-objective benchmark suite (F1–F12) and three constrained engineering design problems (Pressure Vessel, tension/compression spring, and speed reducer), using 30 independent runs and comparisons against more than thirty state-of-the-art metaheuristics, including GA, PSO, DE variants, GWO, WOA, MFO, and FLO. The results show that JADEFLO attains the best overall rank on the CEC functions, delivers faster convergence and higher accuracy on most test cases, and matches or improves the best-known designs with markedly reduced variance. These findings indicate that JADEFLO is a promising general-purpose optimizer and a flexible foundation for future extensions to multi-objective and large-scale optimization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Operations Research: Trends and Applications)

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17 pages, 1166 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Integrated 60 GHz Radar and AI-Guided Infrared System for Non-Contact Heart Rate and Body Temperature Monitoring

by Sangwook Sim and Changgyun Kim

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 3272; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16073272 (registering DOI) - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

The growing need for remote patient monitoring, accelerated by the global pandemic and an aging population, necessitates the development of advanced non-contact technologies for measuring vital signs. In this study, an integrated, non-contact system for accurately measuring heart rate (HR) and body temperature (BT) is developed and validated. The proposed system combines a 60 GHz radar sensor and infrared (IR) sensor for HR and BT measurements, respectively, enhanced with advanced signal processing and an AI-based computer vision algorithm. A Window Filter and a Peak Uniformity algorithm were applied to the raw radar signal to mitigate noise and motion artifacts. For Temp measurement, an IR sensor with a narrow five-degree field of view (FOV) was integrated with a YOLO Pose-based tracking system using a camera and servo motors to automatically orient the sensor towards the user’s face. The system was validated with 30 healthy adult participants, benchmarked against a MAX30102 PPG sensor and Braun ThermoScan 7 for BT and BT measurements, respectively. The advanced signal processing reduced the HR Mean Absolute Error from 13.73 BPM to 5.28 BPM (p = 0.002), while the AI-guided IR sensor reduced the BT MAE from 4.10 °C to 1.64 °C (p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate that integrating 60 GHz radar with AI-driven tracking provides a promising approach for home-based trend monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI-Based Biomedical Signal Processing—2nd Edition)

14 pages, 2326 KB

Open AccessArticle

Steel Surface Defect Detection Based on Improved YOLOv8 with Multi-Scale Feature Fusion and Attention Mechanism

by Yalei Jia, Xian Zhang, Jianhui Meng and Jisong Zang

Electronics 2026, 15(7), 1408; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15071408 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Identifying microscopic textural anomalies and filtering out complicated industrial background noise remain significant hurdles in inspecting metallic surfaces. To tackle these operational bottlenecks, our research introduces a refined multi-scale detection framework built upon the YOLOv8l architecture. Specifically, we engineer a fine-grained detection pathway utilizing the P2 layer, which aims to preserve critical details of miniature flaws that are otherwise discarded during feature extraction. Furthermore, a Bi-directional Feature Pyramid Network model is embedded to reconstruct the feature fusion path, balancing the preservation of shallow geometric textures with enhanced multi-scale representation capabilities. To bolster anti-interference performance, a Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is integrated prior to the detection head, employing adaptive channel and spatial weighting to suppress unstructured background noise. Experimental results utilizing TTA demonstrate that the mAP@0.5 reached 76.3%. Detection accuracies for patches and inclusions reached 93.1% and 85.3%. Full article

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16 pages, 1834 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Fiber-Optic Fabry–Perot Absolute Pressure Sensor Based on Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Interferometry

by Zhenqiang Li, Hongtao Zhang, Ancun Shi, Fang Li and Yongjie Wang

Photonics 2026, 13(4), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13040329 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Accurate absolute pressure measurement is of great importance in industrial control, environmental monitoring, and aerospace. Traditional fiber-optic Fabry–Perot (F-P) pressure sensors usually involve complex microfabrication and high-cost demodulation systems, while conventional diaphragm capsule sensors are limited in sensitivity and resolution. This work presents a low-cost, high-resolution fiber-optic F-P absolute pressure sensor. The sensor uses a vacuum capsule as one reflective surface and a partially reflective fiber collimator as the other, forming a low-finesse F-P interferometer. The cavity length is linearly modulated by the elastic deformation of the capsule under pressure, and high-precision demodulation is realized using frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) interferometry instead of conventional spectral methods. Static experiments from 10 to 110 kPa show that the sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 15,105 nm/kPa and a resolution of 3.3 Pa. Furthermore, the sensor operates normally within the range of −20 °C to 70 °C, exhibiting a pressure–temperature cross-sensitivity of 0.081 kPa/°C and a cavity length drift of 496 nm/h. With the advantages of high performance, simple structure, low cost, and good scalability by selecting different capsules, the proposed sensor has promising potential for practical applications in pressure measurement fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Applications in Optical Fiber Sensing)

19 pages, 3311 KB

Open AccessArticle

Vertical Distribution Patterns and Pollution Gradient-Driven Responses of Prokaryotic Microbial Communities in Northern Contaminated Sites

by Wenqing Zhang, Zhenhua Zhao, Liling Xia, Binglu Teng, Yuanchi Wang, Jiayuan Cheng and Yuqiong Yang

Processes 2026, 14(7), 1083; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14071083 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

The combined effects of organic pollutants and vertical soil gradients on microbial community assembly in long-term contaminated sites remain insufficiently understood. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to characterize prokaryotic communities across depth-resolved soil profiles at a contaminated site in Tianjin, China. Microbial diversity, taxonomic composition, and predicted functional traits varied significantly with soil depth and pollutant distribution. Surface soils exhibited higher richness and diversity, with Shannon, Sobs, and PD indices decreasing with depth (p = 0.020, p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). Redundancy analysis showed that the first two axes explained 89.91% of the total variance, indicating strong associations between microbial community structure and environmental variables. Community differentiation was related to pollutant type, with aromatic hydrocarbons more strongly linked to surface assemblages and chlorinated compounds associated with deeper horizons. Although the overall abundance of predicted metabolic genes decreased with depth, the distribution of major functional categories, including pathways related to organic matter degradation, remained comparatively stable. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed a progressive decline in network connectivity and complexity along the vertical gradient, with the number of edges decreasing from 853 (L1) to 447 (L3) and average degree decreasing from 16.404 to 9.122. These findings highlight depth-related environmental filtering as a key mechanism structuring microbial communities under long-term organic contamination and provide a scientific basis for optimizing depth-specific in situ bioremediation strategies, such as targeting aromatic hydrocarbon degradation in surface soils and chlorinated compound remediation in deeper layers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro–Nano Bubble Technology and Its Applications)

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14 pages, 516 KB

Open AccessArticle

Immersion Matters: User Experience in Educational Virtual Tours Based on 360° Images and 3D Models

by Ángel López-Ramos, Jose Luis Saorín, Dámari Melian-Díaz, Alejandro Bonnet-de-León and Cecile Meier

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 3270; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16073270 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Virtual tours are increasingly used in education, particularly when access to real environments is limited. This study examined how display mode and representation format affect subjective user experience in an educational virtual tour of a hospital operating room. A within-subject 2 × 2 design compared two representation formats (360° photographs vs. 3D models) and two display modes (desktop PC vs. immersive virtual reality using Meta Quest 2). Eighty-four university students completed the four visualization conditions and evaluated each experience using an adapted version of the QUXiVE questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and internal consistency indices were calculated, and each questionnaire dimension was analyzed using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with display mode and representation format as within-subject factors. A significant main effect of display mode was found for presence, engagement, immersion, flow, emotion, judgment, physical consequences, and perceived educational usefulness (all p < 0.001), but not for usability (p = 0.273). A significant main effect of representation format was observed for presence (p = 0.003), emotion (p = 0.018), and perceived educational usefulness (p = 0.015), whereas no significant interaction effects were found. These findings indicate that immersive VR had the strongest and most consistent effect on subjective user experience across both 360° and 3D virtual tours, although it was also associated with higher physical-consequence scores. By contrast, the effect of representation format was more limited. Overall, both approaches appear to be complementary educational resources, depending on pedagogical goals, available infrastructure, and desired levels of interactivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality: Immersive Applications and Innovative Techniques: 3rd Edition)

22 pages, 3725 KB

Open AccessArticle

Diurnal Variation, Topographical Distribution and Day-to-Day Repeatability of Ocular Surface Epithelial Immune Cells in Individuals with Dry Eye Disease

by Soumen Sadhu, Isabelle Jalbert, Blanka Golebiowski and Fiona Stapleton

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(7), 2582; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15072582 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Objectives: To assess diurnal changes, topographical differences, and day-to-day repeatability of ocular surface epithelial immune cell (EIC) density and morphology in dry eye disease (DED). Methods: Sixteen participants with moderate-to-severe DED (mean (SE) age 49.4 (4.2) years) underwent in vivo confocal microscopy at three timepoints (day-1 morning and evening and day-2 morning) at six locations: central cornea, inferior whorl, inferior cornea, and temporal cornea, limbus and conjunctiva. Diurnal and topographical variation in EIC density and morphology were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with adjusted pairwise comparisons. Day-to-day repeatability was assessed using the coefficient of repeatability (CoR) for density and Cohen’s kappa for morphology. Results: EIC density and morphology varied by location (p < 0.001) but not by timepoint at any location (p = 0.59–0.90). Density was highest at the inferior cornea (model-estimated mean: 101.2 (SE: 21.7) cells/mm²) and temporal limbus (104.3 (22.7) cells/mm²), and lowest at the central cornea (26.8 [5.1] cells/mm² and inferior whorl (38.3 [8.2] cells/mm²; all pairwise, p < 0.001). EICs with large bodies were more frequent in conjunctiva (100%), inferior cornea (94%), and temporal cornea (87%), than in central cornea (34%) and whorl (19%) (all p ≤ 0.007). EICs with dendrites, and with long dendrites were similarly distributed (p < 0.001). Bland–Altman analysis showed low mean bias and EIC density was more repeatable at the central (CoR ± 23.8 cells/mm²) and temporal cornea (±27.5 cells/mm²) than the inferior cornea (±47.9 cells/mm²) or temporal conjunctiva (±42.3 cells/mm²). Morphology agreement was substantial to near-perfect (κ = 0.71–0.97). Conclusions: In DED, EIC density and morphology are diurnally stable and maintain topographic distribution patterns similar to healthy eyes. Day-to-day repeatability show location dependent patterns. The study provides feasibility data for using IVCM for EIC metrics in disease monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Surface Disease: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Management)

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23 pages, 2875 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of High Moisture Corn Feeding on Weight Performance, Serum Immune Indices, Rumen Fermentation, and Metabolomics in Kazakh Rams

by Buweiaizhaer Maimaitimin, Tong Li, Subinuer Abuduli, Kadeliya Abudureyimu, Linhai Song, Liang Yang, Wei Shao and Wanping Ren

Animals 2026, 16(7), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16071030 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of feeding high-moisture corn (HMC) on weight performance, serum immune and antioxidant indices, rumen fermentation, microbial community, and metabolomics in Kazakh rams. A total of 32 healthy Kazakh rams were randomly divided into a control group (CT, diet with only ordinary crushed corn) and an experimental group (GS, diet with 50% ordinary crushed corn + 50% HMC), following a 7-day adaptation period and a 120-day trial period. Results showed that the F/G was significantly lower in the GS group than in the CT group (p < 0.05). FBW, net weight gain and ADG increased by 4.58%, 8.69%, and 8.70%, respectively, while ADFI decreased by 7.04% (p > 0.05). Regarding serum immune indices, IgA in the GS group was significantly higher at 40 d (p < 0.01), and IgM was significantly higher at 40, 80, and 120 d (p < 0.05). For antioxidant indices, the SOD activity in the GS group was significantly higher than that in the CT group at 120 d (p < 0.01). The CAT activity in the GS group was significantly higher at 40, 80, and 120 d (p < 0.01). Among rumen fermentation parameters, the concentration of butyric acid in the GS group was significantly lower than in the CT group (p < 0.01). Microbial diversity analysis indicated no significant differences in Alpha- and Beta-diversity of rumen microorganisms between the two groups. However, the relative abundance of Firmicutes_A at the phylum level was significantly higher in the GS group (p < 0.05), and the abundance of Cryptobacteroides was significantly higher than in the CT group (p < 0.01). Rumen metabolomic analysis identified a total of 1357 differential metabolites, among which 1130 showed significant differences, with 459 upregulated and 671 downregulated. These were mainly enriched in pathways such as Glutathione metabolism, Beta-alanine metabolism, Sphingolipid metabolism, and lysine degradation. In conclusion, feeding HMC can improve feed conversion efficiency and weight performance in Kazakh rams, regulate the structure of dominant rumen microorganisms, and enhance immune and antioxidant capacities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Sustainable Animal Nutrition: From Feed Evaluation to Precision Feeding)

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45 pages, 2811 KB

Open AccessArticle

TXA11114: Discovery of an In Vivo Efficacious Efflux Pump Inhibitor (EPI) That Potentiates Levofloxacin Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

by Jesus D. Rosado-Lugo, Pratik Datta, Ahmad Altiti, Yongzheng Zhang, Jun Lu, Yi Yuan and Ajit K. Parhi

Antibiotics 2026, 15(4), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15040346 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Objectives: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa represents a major clinical challenge, driven in part by resistance–nodulation–division (RND) efflux pumps that reduce intracellular antibiotic concentrations and limit the efficacy of many antibacterial agents, including fluoroquinolones. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize TXA11114 as a small-molecule efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) capable of restoring the activity of the fluoroquinolone levofloxacin against MDR P. aeruginosa. Methods: The antibacterial activity of the TXA11114–levofloxacin combination was evaluated using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays against panels of clinical isolates. Mechanistic studies included levofloxacin accumulation assays, ethidium bromide accumulation assays, outer-membrane permeability measurements, and whole-genome sequencing of mutants with altered potentiation phenotypes. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in murine thigh and lung infection models, while preliminary safety and drug-like properties were assessed using cytotoxicity assays and in vitro ADME profiling. Results: The TXA11114–levofloxacin combination produced > 1 log₁₀ CFU reductions in bacterial burden in murine thigh and lung infection models, exceeding the activity of levofloxacin monotherapy. TXA11114 markedly potentiated levofloxacin activity, producing substantial reductions in levofloxacin MIC values across multiple MDR clinical isolates, and also enhanced the activity of several additional efflux pump substrates, including β-lactams, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. Mechanistic experiments demonstrated increased intracellular accumulation of efflux substrates without evidence of nonspecific membrane disruption, and mutations in ompH were associated with altered potentiation phenotypes. Conclusions: The TXA11114–levofloxacin combination produced significantly greater bacterial reductions than levofloxacin monotherapy in murine infection models. Levofloxacin was selected because fluoroquinolone resistance in P. aeruginosa is frequently driven by efflux-mediated mechanisms. While this study focused on levofloxacin potentiation, future work will evaluate additional efflux pump substrates and further define the molecular target of TXA11114. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Antibiotic Therapy in Infectious Diseases)

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13 pages, 634 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Micro-Communities in Post-Disaster Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Selman Bolukbasi

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16040503 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Background: Older adults are highly vulnerable to adverse psychological outcomes following large-scale disasters. Social micro-communities are often assumed to play a protective role in post-disaster recovery. This study examined the association between perceived micro-community support and psychological outcomes among older adults after the 2023 earthquakes in Malatya, Türkiye. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 287 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older from the Battalgazi and Yesilyurt districts. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a sociodemographic form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Non-parametric statistical analyses were applied. Results: Younger participants reported significantly higher perceived social support and psychological well-being (p < 0.05). Male and married participants demonstrated greater life satisfaction (p < 0.05). Educational status was significantly associated with family support and total perceived social support (p < 0.05). Although most participants perceived micro-communities as important, perceived importance was not significantly associated with psychological well-being or life satisfaction. Health problems and economic hardship were the most common post-disaster stressors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Psychology)

20 pages, 10341 KB

Open AccessArticle

GSK-J4 Suppresses Tumorigenesis by Targeting the PERK-c-Myc Pathway Through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Activation in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

by Xin Lei, Tao Lang, Ping Li and Changxin Wu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(7), 3067; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27073067 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

The limited and inconsistent efficacy of existing therapies for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) has driven the exploration of novel strategies, including epigenetic regulation. GSK-J4, an inducer of global H3K27me3 accumulation, shows broad anti-tumor activity. However, its therapeutic potential in TSC remains unclear. In the study, we reported that GSK-J4 inhibited cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis in primary Tsc1^+/− and Tsc2^+/− MEFs. Mechanistically, Tsc1 or Tsc2 deletion reduced global H3K27me3, correlating with increased viability, accelerated cell cycle, and suppressed apoptosis-phenotypes reversed by GSK-J4. Moreover, GSK-J4 triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) by activating the PERK-ATF4-CHOP axis, which concurrently downregulated the proto-oncogene c-Myc, outlining a GSK-J4→p-PERK→c-Myc inhibitory pathway. Notably, GSK-J4 synergized with rapamycin to enhance cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In vivo, this combination alleviated renal impairment in Tsc1- or Tsc2-deficient models, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for TSC patients with suboptimal response to mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors. Our study elucidates a specific ERS-dependent anti-tumor mechanism of GSK-J4 in Tsc-deficient contexts and demonstrates the synergistic efficacy of combining epigenetic and mTORC1 inhibitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

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12 pages, 268 KB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship Between Dietary Protein Source (Soybean Meal vs. Canola Meal) and Meat Quality Traits in Feedlot-Fattened Indigenous Dairy Lambs

by Panagiotis Simitzis, Michael Goliomytis, Eirini Tsimpouri, Aphrodite I. Kalogianni, Marianna Lagonikou, Agori Karageorgou, Gregoria Dandoulaki, Efthimios Touranakos and Athanasios I. Gelasakis

Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(4), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13040327 - 27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Although soybean meal (SBM) is generally used as the main protein source in livestock diets, canola meal (CM) appears as a sustainable alternative, since it lowers diet cost, especially when regionally produced, while still meeting animal nutritional needs. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the effects of dietary protein source (SBM vs. CM) on carcass traits and meat quality characteristics of feedlot-fattened dairy lambs. A total of 193 weaned lambs, approximately 3 months of age, from two indigenous Greek dairy breeds (75 Chios and 118 Serres), were used. Lambs were randomly assigned to one of two isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments: a control ration containing SBM as the primary protein source, and an alternative ration in which SBM was completely replaced by CM. After a fattening period of 13 weeks for Chios lambs and 15 weeks for Serres lambs, animals were slaughtered upon reaching a live weight of 35–40 kg, and hot and cold carcass weights were recorded. After 24 h of carcass storage at 4 °C, Longissimus lumborum muscle was sampled and used for the measurement of pH, colour attributes, cooking loss, shear force, and intramuscular fat content. Lipid oxidation was evaluated on days 1, 3, 6, and 9 of refrigerated storage at 4 °C. The substitution of SBM by CM as the main dietary protein source did not affect carcass traits in Serres lambs, whereas CM- treated Chios lambs showed an increased hot and cold carcass weight (p < 0.05). Meat quality characteristics were not affected by the dietary treatment in either Chios or Serres lambs, with the exception of meat oxidative stability that was deteriorated in CM compared to SBM Serres lambs (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the utilization of canola instead of soybean meal did not negatively influence carcass traits or meat quality characteristics in either Chios or Serres lambs, with the exception of lipid oxidation which was significantly higher in CM supplemented Serres lambs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Barn to Table: Animal Health, Welfare, and Food Safety)

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