Search Results (9,360)

The cultivated chrysanthemum is the most important ornamental species in the genus Chrysanthemum. However, because it is predominantly hexaploid and additionally exhibits self-incompatibility, it harbors numerous functionally redundant genes and displays extremely high heterozygosity. As a result, its genomic architecture is highly complex, making it challenging to interpret data obtained from omics analyses such as RNA-seq. To provide a genetically tractable model, we previously developed Gojo-0, a self-compatible, pure line of the diploid wild species C. seticuspe. In this study, we established Gojo-1, an improved self-compatible pure line derived from Gojo-0 and its sibling lines, exhibiting enhanced viability and culture performance. Leveraging these traits, we performed CRISPR–Cas9 editing of the AGAMOUS orthologs and successfully isolated mutants with altered floral organ morphology, demonstrating the line’s suitability for functional genomics. Comparative genome analysis showed that, aside from chromosome 1, the Gojo-1 genome is highly similar to that of Gojo-0, whose complete sequence has been determined. Taken together, these features indicate that Gojo-1 will serve as a valuable resource for future omics-based studies and a broad range of additional research applications. Full article

Long-Acting Buprenorphine Formulations (LAIB) have emerged as an alternative pharmacological approach for opioid use disorder, offering potential benefits extending beyond clinical stabilisation. Narrative medicine provides a unique approach to understand patients’ perspectives and experiences with sublingual buprenorphine and LAIB dispensed to fourteen patients across different Italian Addiction Services, examining how they impact the emotional, social, and motivational dimensions of recovery. Narratives were analysed by thematic content across eight domains: dependence on daily treatment regimen, emotional impact, self-perception, determination to change, quality of life, craving and withdrawal symptoms, treatment adherence, social burden, and therapeutic relationship. Statements were categorised by valence; experiential patterns were qualitatively analysed. Sublingual buprenorphine, although effective, was associated with reduced autonomy, symptom control, and difficulties in balancing treatment, work and life. These aspects were correlated with worse adherence. The stigma and burden of daily intake can reduce motivation and hinder identity reconstruction. In this setting, transitioning to LAIB resulted in improved self-autonomy, emotional balance, symptom control, self-esteem, and reduced daily and psychological burden, craving and stigma, facilitating social reintegration, and strengthening the therapeutic relationship. The results emphasise the importance of including both experiential and narrative elements in clinical care, as this helps create more tailored, recovery-focused treatment pathways. Full article

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) has classically been attributed to localized mechanical disruption following eccentric contractions. Emerging evidence, however, indicates that EIMD represents a systems-level failure of stress integration within skeletal muscle rather than a purely mechanical lesion. Mechanical loading initiates disturbances in intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis, which interact with metabolic stress, redox imbalance, and immune activation to form self-reinforcing feedback loops. When compensatory capacity is exceeded, transient injury may shift toward maladaptive remodeling marked by mitochondrial dysfunction, ferroptosis, chronic inflammation, and impaired regeneration. Recent studies identify reactive oxygen species accumulation, iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, dysregulated energy sensing, and aberrant immune polarization as key molecular tipping points governing injury reversibility. Beyond their regenerative role, satellite cells act as integrators of metabolic history and epigenetic memory, linking repetitive injury to reduced muscle adaptability, age-related sarcopenia, and heightened metabolic disease risk. Here, we synthesize evidence from animal models, clinical studies, and multi-omics analyses to establish a systems biology framework for EIMD. We delineate the spatiotemporal interactions among mechanical, metabolic, oxidative, immune, and regenerative modules; identify regulatory nodes that determine adaptive repair versus pathological outcomes; and critically evaluate current nutritional, physical, pharmacological, and regenerative interventions from a mechanism-oriented perspective. Finally, we discuss how multi-omics, digital monitoring, and individualized rehabilitation may enable precision management of EIMD and advance understanding of muscle stress resilience and adaptive limits. Full article

Cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major pathological contributor to neurological deterioration following ischemic stroke (IS) and remains a critical barrier to effective neuroprotection. Accumulating evidence indicates that cerebral I/R injury is driven not by isolated stress responses but by coordinated and dynamic interactions among multiple cellular pathways. Among these, the bidirectional crosstalk between mitophagy and oxidative stress has emerged as a central regulatory axis. Moderate oxidative stress can function as an adaptive signal, activating protective mitophagy through key pathways such as AMPK/ULK1 signaling and cardiolipin externalization, thereby facilitating mitochondrial quality control and maintaining cellular homeostasis. Conversely, appropriately regulated mitophagy limits excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by removing dysfunctional mitochondria, forming a negative feedback mechanism. However, dysregulation or excessive activation of either process disrupts this balance, leading to a self-amplifying cycle of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage that exacerbates neuronal injury. This review systematically summarizes the molecular mechanisms governing the oxidative stress–mitophagy crosstalk in cerebral I/R injury, highlighting key signaling nodes and regulatory pathways that determine protective versus detrimental outcomes. Furthermore, we discuss emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at precisely modulating this axis in a spatiotemporal- and intensity-dependent manner. By integrating mechanistic insights with translational perspectives, this review provides a conceptual framework for developing targeted neuroprotective interventions based on coordinated regulation of mitochondrial quality control and redox homeostasis. Full article

To investigate the effect of phenolic hydroxyl group number on the interaction between catechins and a plant-derived protein carrier, four catechins with varying hydroxyl numbers—epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—were investigated. The new plant-derived edible dock protein (EDP) was selected as a carrier matrix. EDP, when employed as a protein delivery carrier, possessed a hydrophobic amino acid content of 45%. This structural feature enabled it to provide more hydrophobic cavities for small molecule compounds, thereby facilitating better binding with them. The results indicated that the order of loading capacity of catechins within EDP was EGCG (9.7%) > ECG (9.1%) > EGC (8.8%) > EC (7.1%). This sequence was consistent with the number of hydroxyl groups in catechin: EGCG (8) > ECG (7) > EGC (6) > EC (5). Among the four catechins, EGCG had the highest binding constant (Ka = 2.6 × 10³ L/mol), leading to the largest quenching of EDP. During self-assembly, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions were the main driving forces, and the interaction between EGCG and EDP was the strongest. This study indicated that the hydroxyl group number of polyphenolic compounds can determine its binding affinity with proteins. Full article

Background: Chronic pain following thoracotomy remains a common and clinically significant complication that adversely affects functional recovery and quality of life. Despite advances in perioperative analgesic techniques, chronic post-thoracotomy pain continues to be under-recognized and insufficiently managed in routine clinical practice. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of chronic pain after thoracotomy and evaluate its impact on daily activities and postoperative pain management behaviors. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted after institutional ethics committee approval was received (approval no. 2023/61). Patients aged ≥15 years who underwent thoracotomy between 15 June 2022 and 15 June 2023 and had undergone an operation at least three months prior to the study were included. Patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were excluded. Demographic, surgical, anesthetic, and postoperative analgesia data were obtained from medical records. Patients were contacted by telephone to assess pain intensity using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), functional impact on daily activities, and analgesic medication use. The primary outcome was the incidence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain, defined as pain persisting beyond three months and reported at the time of the interview. Results: A total of 56 patients were included in the analysis. Chronic pain was reported by 55.4% of the patients. Pain that interfered with daily activities and required medication use was reported by 51.5% of the patients. Thirty-three patients (57.9%) reported an NRS score >3 during movement. Among patients with chronic pain, 64.7% reported self-medication without physician consultation, whereas only 11.8% sought medical advice for pain management. Conclusions: Chronic pain remains highly prevalent after thoracotomy and substantially interferes with daily functioning. A considerable proportion of patients self-manage their pain without medical supervision, underscoring the need for structured postoperative follow-up, early identification of high-risk patients, and individualized multimodal analgesic strategies to reduce the burden of chronic post-thoracotomy pain. Full article

Adolescents are heavy users of digital media but often lack critical skills, increasing their vulnerability to harmful online content. The integration of game elements into learning and training offers a promising strategy to support positive behavioural change and strengthen adolescents’ skills. This paper describes the development of a conceptual framework for Dress-DIGITARIAN, a serious game aimed at improving health literacy, coping skills, and self-esteem, grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT). The framework was constructed to generate higher-order understanding through a multi-level process: analyzing general theory (SDT), integrating mid-range models (the Octalysis framework), and incorporating empirical insights derived from two data collection phases with the target population. This integrative approach informed and guided the game’s design through participatory methods. Developed through collaboration between schools and research institutions, this approach bridges theory and practice by aligning game mechanics with adolescents’ psychological needs. It also underscores the value of involving adolescents in research, not only to enhance scientific rigour but also to empower them as agents of change capable of contributing to health promotion policies and educational innovation. This study does not report the results of a completed intervention or outcome evaluation, which will be conducted in the sixth phase at the end of the current school year. Future research is needed to assess the model’s effectiveness and scalability and to identify areas for further refinement. Full article

This paper introduces a reinforced learning-based supervisory control architecture that oversees multiple Recursive Least Squares (RLS) based self-tuning pump controllers and determines when each loop is permitted to adapt its gains. The supervisor learns adaptation policies that minimize interaction between loops while preserving responsiveness to changing hydraulic conditions. A two-loop pump station simulation is used to evaluate performance under product changes and transient flow disturbances. The results show that the supervisory layer reduces the number of simultaneous adaptation events by over 70%, leading to a 32% lower pressure-tracking error and 45% fewer gain-induced oscillations compared to conventional independent adaptive control. The reinforcement learning policy converges within 15 training episodes, resulting in stable adaptation scheduling and seamless transitions. The key novelty of this work lies in introducing decentralized reinforcement-learning-based coordination for adaptive pump control, enabling supervisory decision-making that actively prevents interference between controllers during transients. This approach provides a scalable and lightweight solution for coordinating multi-loop pump stations, enhancing robustness and operational performance in real-world pipeline systems. Full article

Background: Return to work (RTW) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or acute heart failure (HF) is a pivotal outcome reflecting functional recovery and quality of life (QoL). While survival after cardiac events has improved through reperfusion and guideline-directed pharmacotherapy, sustainable RTW depends on an integrated set of clinical, psychological, social, and occupational determinants. Objective: This study aimed to synthesize and expand the evidence on predictors of RTW, delineate practical workload-matching rules using METs and CPET, and position multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation (CR) as the bridge from clinical recovery to durable vocational reintegration. Key findings: Beyond left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), depression, anxiety, illness perceptions, and RTW self-efficacy are robust predictors of vocational outcomes. CPET-guided exercise prescriptions and MET-based job matching ensure adequate metabolic reserve; sustained task demand should remain at ≤35–40% of maximal capacity, with peak capacity ≥2× average job demand. CR (Class IA in the 2023 ESC ACS Guidelines) improves exercise tolerance, medication adherence, psychosocial well-being, and deployment of vocational support, including stepwise reintegration plans and ergonomic adaptations. Telerehabilitation extends monitoring and counseling into the workplace and maintains adherence after RTW. Conclusions: Comprehensive CR that integrates exercise training, psychosocial counseling, lifestyle modification, and vocational interventions offers the most effective pathway to stable RTW, improved QoL, and reduced socio-economic burden. Early identification of vulnerable subgroups and personalized, digitally supported follow-up are essential for long-term job retention. Full article

Aims: This study aims to assess the effect of a structured universal self-care practices module on improving self-care compliance and health maintenance behaviors among women with endometriosis, and to determine if it reduces pain severity. Design: A quasi-experimental design was used. Methods: A total of 90 women confirmed a diagnosis of endometriosis, who were free from any chronic medical or gynecological comorbidities, and who had not received any pain relief pharmacological interventions. Results: The study and control groups were comparable at baseline regarding socio-demographic and clinical characteristics (p > 0.05). Following the intervention, the study group demonstrated significant improvements in universal self-care practices compared to the control group at one month (M = 69.2 ± 11.6 vs. 58.3 ± 8.83; t = −4.93, p = 0.001) and three months (M = 76.4 ± 16.5 vs. 61.5 ± 12.2; t = −4.89, p = 0.001). A strong negative correlation was found between self-care and symptom severity at one month (r = −0.70, p < 0.001) and three months (r = −0.83, p < 0.001), indicating that improved self-care was associated with reduced symptoms. Conclusions: This study highlights the vital role of nursing-led, WHO-based self-care interventions in improving compliance and reducing pain among women with endometriosis. Integrating such programs into routine care can enhance self-management and overall quality of life. Patient or Public Contribution: Integrating individualized, nursing-led self-care programs into routine endometriosis management can improve symptom control through ongoing education and follow-up. Nurses play a pivotal role in empowering women’s self-management, while adopting the WHO Universal Self-Care Framework can strengthen gynecological care policies and practices. Full article

The balanced performance of fiber-reinforced flexible (FRF) pipes is essential for maintaining dimensional stability and structural integrity in pipelines. However, current theoretical approaches face challenges in simultaneously incorporating end effects, geometric nonlinearity, and material nonlinearity, resulting in a persistent reliance on engineering experience when determining balanced fiber winding angles. This work proposes a semi-analytical method for evaluating the balanced performance of thick-walled FRF pipes, based on the strain energy density function, with governing equations established by integrating finite deformation theory and the principle of minimum potential energy. A displacement trial function is adopted to approximate the actual displacement field, with its coefficients determined iteratively using the Newton–Raphson method. An eight-coefficient displacement trial function demonstrates effectiveness in characterizing the pipe’s deformation characteristics under the maximum working internal pressure, capturing key deformation features such as radial inward expansion with outward restraint gradient, nonlinear axial deformation, and axial end warping. The proposed method is validated against both experimental results and finite element simulations, and an analysis of the fiber winding angle’s influence on balanced performance is conducted, thereby establishing a theoretical basis for the design of self-balanced thick-walled FRF pipes. Full article

Background: This cross-sectional designed study aimed to identify the sources of oral health activities (OHA) by introducing a new OHA sources questionnaire (OHAQ-S). Methods: The OHAQ-S was developed from a sample of 658 university students and included measurements from nine sources: scales for parents, Dental medical doctors (DMDs), and primary school sources, as well as single-item measures for other sources. Using QHAQ-S measures, gender differences, determinants of OH activities, and differences between OH types were analysed. Results: Gender differences were observed in five OH sources (university, high school, self-learning, friends, and kindergarten). In both female and male subsamples, primary sources such as parents and DMD predicted overall OH activities, though with different secondary sources. In the female subsample, some differences in OHAQ-S sources appeared between the four OH types. The excellent OH type most notably differed from others by having higher reported incidence of self-learning—dental floss usage and DMD sources—and marginally higher reported use of university and parental sources. In the male subsample, multiple differences in OHAQ-S sources were found among the four OH types. The excellent OH type most distinguished itself by reporting higher levels of DMD, self-learning—dental floss usage, university—acquired OH knowledge, parental, and media and internet—health journal sources. Conclusions: Female students have differently expressed and more-pronounced OHA sources relative to male students and some sources encountered earlier (kindergarten and high school sources), and “independent” learning sources (self-learning versus friends sources). In both subsamples, predictive relationships of OHAQ-S measures with overall OH activities were verified. The findings on the elements of the discriminative and predictive validity of the pilot version of the questionnaire show that the OHAQ-S questionnaire represents a quality basis for constructing a questionnaire on sources of OH activities. Full article

The sum of diseases has been associated with many personal, behavioral, and psychological variables as well as with many biochemical, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and epigenetic biomarkers. However, the search for the association between some of these biomarkers and illness count is limited, particularly in Mexican individuals. (1) To determine the associations between personal, behavioral, biochemical, and molecular factors with the illness count in Mexican individuals, globally and segmented by sex, and (2) to determine the intercorrelation among the studied biomarkers. Mexican adults were invited to participate, and many personal, psychological, and biochemical variables were measured; in addition, the systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio were obtained. The self-report of 28 health conditions was measured, and the detection of 3 (diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) conditions was obtained with biochemical analyses and blood pressure measurement; with these reports, we obtained the variable illness count. A total of 157 individuals were included, of whom 83 (52.9%) were women; the median age and range were 24 (18–58) years old, and all participants were Mexican mestizo individuals. Women showed a higher number of self-reported/detected diseases than men. The multivariate analyses revealed that female sex, age, having children, risky eating behavior, poor sleep quality, systolic blood pressure, and lower levels of IL-10 were significantly correlated with the illness count. In the women’s sample, lower levels of IL-10, less free time, monthly earnings, and depression were positively correlated with illness count. In the men’s sample, the age, systolic blood pressure, poor sleep quality, 8-OHdG, IL-6, and plateletcrit, in addition to positive relations with others, were variables positively correlated with illness count. In the correlations of the studied biomarkers, we found that IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-8 showed a high positive correlation among them; in addition, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers showed low significant correlations among them. Many personal, biochemical, and psychological factors are associated with the number of diseases, while the associated biomarkers differed in each sex, highlighting the role of IL-10, 8-OHdG, IL-6, and plateletcrit. Full article

Emergency situations can cause sudden food shortages, which emphasize the need for preventive measures to ensure food security. The aim of this study was to determine the Slovenian population’s awareness of the official national recommendation for a 30-day emergency food supply, assess the adequacy of households’ food supplies, and identify factors influencing their quantity. An online survey was conducted among 815 Slovenian residents aged 18 to 89. The results showed that 81.0% were not aware of the national recommendations. Of the recommended foods, sugar, salt, cooking oil, jam, and pickled beet were most frequently stored, while rusks, water, canned meat sauces, bars, and dried yeast were least frequently stored. Only 17.0% of respondents had a sufficient supply of food to sustain their household members for a month or more, and only 19.1% had a supply of beverages for three days or more. Factors influencing the quantity of food supply included self-sufficiency assessment, knowledge of national recommendations, type of residence, region, household size, and number of children. This case study can serve more broadly as a basis for designing strategies to raise public awareness of the importance of emergency food supplies in improving food security during times of crisis. Full article

The adoption of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law (ANCWBL) has given birth to a framework for Indigenous communities in Ontario, Canada, to exercise self-determination in governing child and family services, including service delivery and authority over policy and funding. This means an end to child and family services agencies that serve First Nations on reserves and are bound by provincial standards and legislation following a protection-based model. Instead, it begins a system of customary care that genuinely respects and supports the primary role of parent/guardian, family, and community in prevention-focused child welfare in accordance with standards based on Anishinabek cultures and the practice of consent. This conceptual essay highlights an Indigenous feminist perspective on the ANCWBL’s significance and its ability to address the historical suffering stemming from colonial child welfare practices and to institute child and family services by reinstating the rights of Indigenous children and women’s leadership in care as a communal responsibility. Full article