Search Results (43,003)

Background: This study compared the effects of 8 weeks of hypertrophy-oriented resistance training (R_T) under normoxia (N), moderate hypobaric hypoxia (HH), and moderate normobaric hypoxia (NH) on functional, neuromuscular and structural adaptations of the quadriceps. Methods: Twenty-nine resistance-trained males (22.5 ± 3.4 years) were assigned to N (n = 10), HH at 2320 m (n = 8), or equivalent NH (FiO₂ = 15.9%; ~2320 m; n = 11). Participants completed 22 supervised R_T sessions across 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were corticospinal excitability (CSE), assessed via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and neuromuscular activation, assessed with femoral nerve stimulation and surface electromyography. Secondary measures included back squat one-repetition maximum (1RM_SQ) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness (MTh) via ultrasound. Results: All groups improved maximal squat performance (p < 0.001; NH Δ29.10 kg, d = −1.72; HH Δ22.61 kg, d = −1.34; N Δ16.82 kg, d = −0.99), VL MTh (p < 0.001; HH Δ0.25 cm, d = −0.66; N Δ0.24 cm, d = −0.63; NH Δ0.10 cm, d = −0.25), and VL maximal compound muscle action potential (Mmax) (p = 0.035; HH Δ1.13 mV, d = −0.65; NH Δ1.07 mV, d = −0.61; N Δ0.61 mV, d = −0.35), regardless of environmental condition. Conversely, the maximum motor-evoked potential obtained from the recruitment curve (RC_MEPmax) decreased following RT (p < 0.001; NH Δ−0.16, d = 1.39; HH Δ−0.08, d = 0.73; N Δ−0.04, d = 0.36). Other CSE markers remained unchanged. Conclusions: Eight weeks of RT under moderate hypoxia induced increases in Mmax and reductions in RC_MEPmax, suggesting training-related neuromuscular adjustments enhancing motor efficiency under hypoxic stress. These adaptations were accompanied by meaningful strength gains, although the mechanisms underlying their relationship remain to be fully elucidated. Full article

This study evaluates the operational potential of modernizing intraplant material flow by integrating an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) with lean logistics principles at Schneider Electric Elda SA. The baseline manual transport system was diagnosed through a quantitative red-green waste assessment, revealing capacity constraints, non-value-adding activities, and traffic congestion. To address these inefficiencies, an AMR-assisted transport architecture was developed by decoupling finished goods transport from component delivery. The proposed system was evaluated through a non-deterministic discrete-event simulation model in FlexSim, incorporating structural sensitivity analysis and stochastic Pareto-governed handling overheads. The findings suggest that a single AMR is capable of executing a simulated 24 transport operations per shift compared to the 21 pallets observed in the baseline setup while maintaining a theoretical operational reserve of 41%. However, stress-testing reveals that a 20% production surge or heavy-tailed operational disturbances compress this buffer to 26.0% and 37.5%, respectively, triggering localized average waiting times at line D13 of up to 36.0 min. As an exploratory examination of the design behavior, the limitations of a single vehicle operating without localized safety zones or ambient traffic interference under these specific structural strains are exposed. By combining Lean logistics principles with unit modeling and sensitivity analysis, the study generates scalable data and detailing completed transport and waiting times across specific scenarios, highlighting the critical limits of the simplified single-vehicle simulation. Full article

In Italy, the role of the voluntary legal guardian for unaccompanied foreign minors was introduced by Law no. 47 of 7 April 2017 (the so-called Zampa Law). The article is positioned within the studies on voluntary guardianship, which have explored various aspects of this emerging social role, adopting a hermeneutic focus not yet addressed: it asks whether the choice of voluntary guardians can or cannot be interpreted through the theoretical model of the gift, and what ambiguities, risks and opportunities come into play once the activity of guardianship is analyzed from this perspective. In the hypothesis, the choice made by voluntary guardians could be traced back to the model of the gift to strangers—not to a generalized stranger (as, for example, in blood donation) but to a specific individual. The social action of voluntary guardians could therefore risk the so-called perverse effect of acts of charity: the impossibility of completing the Maussian cycle through reciprocation may generate frustration and hostility in the recipient. However, since the gift, in this case, is directed by an adult towards a minor, the relationship could end up resembling a form of social parenthood which, like biological parenthood, entails a particular kind of unbalanced and deferred reciprocity, related to the following generations. We shall therefore investigate whether it is possible to apply the category of the gift to the choice of voluntary guardianship, and if so, what is the most suitable variant to interpret it (gift to strangers, parental gift, etc.) and with what consequences. The research will attempt to offer answers based on qualitative research methods—30 semi-structured interviews with privileged witnesses and 2 focus groups, from 2019 to 2026, in Calabria, Sicily, Latium and Tuscany. Drawing on the results, we will show that applying the “gift model” to the work of volunteer guardians is not straightforward, prompting the interviewees to make distinctions and, at times, express opposition. The resulting picture is multifaceted, highlighting little-explored aspects of this social role, such as issues related to the mutual expectations of guardians and minors. Full article

Background: Peripheral nerve injury causes substantial functional impairment and represents a major health concern worldwide. Peripheral nerve injuries are sequelae of iatrogenic injuries, occupational trauma, and motor vehicle crashes. The available therapeutic approaches, including pharmacological treatment, surgical repair, and rehabilitation, are mostly management therapies rather than curative treatments. Consequently, functional recovery is never achieved. There is a dire need for new therapeutic approaches to facilitate functional restoration. Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (K3R) is a plant-derived flavonoid glycoside known for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Flavonoids may promote tissue recovery following injury by modulating inflammatory responses and reducing oxidative stress. However, the effect of K3R on functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury has not yet been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of K3R on early functional recovery following sciatic nerve crush injury in mice. Methods: Twenty-four BALB/c mice were equally allocated to three groups (n = 8): (1) Sham, (2) Ctrl (Control), and (3) K3R treatment group. K3R (2.5 mg/kg) was dissolved in DMSO and administered intraperitoneally once a day from the time of sciatic nerve injury until the conclusion of the experiment. The Ctrl and sham groups received an equal volume of DMSO according to the same dosing schedule. Sensorimotor function recovery was assessed using behavioral tests, including grip strength, pinprick, sciatic functional index (SFI), and hot plate tests. Hematological and biochemical assays were performed to assess total blood count and oxidative stress markers. Muscle fiber morphology was evaluated by morphometric analysis. Proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were measured as indicators of the systemic inflammatory response, whereas S100β protein levels were measured as a marker associated with neural injury and glial responses following sciatic nerve injury. Results: K3R treatment significantly enhanced early sensorimotor function recovery compared with the Ctrl group (p < 0.001). Significant differences in oxidative stress markers TAC (p < 0.001), TOS (p < 0.001), MDA (p = 0.003), and CAT (p = 0.007) were observed among the experimental groups. When comparing the K3R-treated group to the Ctrl group, morphometric analysis revealed an increase in the diameter of muscle fibers (p = 0.011). The levels of IL-6 (p = 0.042) and TNF-α (p = 0.005) indicated attenuation of the systemic inflammatory response, while reduced S100β levels (p = 0.002) were observed in the K3R-treated group, consistent with reduced injury-associated changes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that K3R may facilitate early functional recovery following sciatic nerve injury, potentially by attenuating oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory responses. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this remain to be elucidated. Future studies should therefore focus on identifying the molecular pathways involved in K3R-mediated recovery, as well as axonal regeneration, Schwann cell activity, and remyelination. Long-term investigations incorporating structural, morphometric, and molecular assessments will be essential to understand its regenerative efficacy and translational potential. Full article

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common malignancy among men worldwide and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, highlighting the need for novel molecular tools for diagnosis and targeted therapy. In this study, five DNA aptamers (AptaP1–AptaP5) generated by Cell-SELEX against the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line were characterized for their structural features, tumor recognition, and biological activity. Secondary structure prediction and thermodynamic stability were evaluated in silico. Aptamer recognition was evaluated by flow cytometry in prostate cancer cell lines and by complementary aptafluorescence analyses in both cell lines and a prostate tissue microarray (TMA), while functional effects were evaluated by assessment of metabolic activity and proliferation assays. The selected aptamers preferentially recognized LNCaP and DU145 cells over RWPE-1, whereas no tumor-selective binding was observed for PC3 cells. Aptafluorescence analyses in the prostate TMA demonstrated differential tissue recognition, with signals detected across both primary and metastatic prostate cancer specimens. Moreover, all aptamers significantly reduced metabolic activity and proliferation in prostate cancer cells after 48 h of treatment. Collectively, these findings characterized novel DNA aptamers with promising potential as tools for prostate cancer detection and provide a basis for further investigation of their binding properties and biological effects in clinically relevant models. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) printing expand the design space for nano-enabled soft robots intended for cancer diagnosis and therapy. This structured narrative review separates three evidence classes: core systems satisfying all scope criteria, adjacent technologies satisfying only part of the definition, and enabling technologies not yet integrated as oncology soft robots. The revised evidence set contains 12 core reports, 7 adjacent comparators and 68 enabling methods, standards or background reports. Study-level analysis using independent manufacturing, biological, workflow and safety (M/B/W/S) axes shows that the core literature is dominated by single-platform, in vitro therapeutic demonstrations with absent or short-term safety evidence (S0-S1). No core study established cancer-specific diagnostic sensitivity or specificity, no human validation was identified, and only two systems were classified as genuine or candidate 4D platforms under a strict programmed-transformation definition. Hydrogel, magnetic, photothermal, conductive, imaging-active and melanin-based materials are evaluated together with printability, dose, localization, sterilization, retrieval, degradation and nanoparticle fate. Translation requires reproducible manufacture, quantitative application endpoints, exposure-matched safety testing and comparison with established oncology workflows. The principal gap is not the availability of additional functions, but the lack of integrated evidence connecting controlled manufacture to clinically meaningful diagnosis or therapy. These findings apply only to the studies identified within the predefined search and eligibility framework and do not establish the absence of relevant evidence elsewhere. Full article

This article presents the results of a research study on the development and evaluation of a mineral modifying additive for concrete produced from mineral processing tailings, shale waste from shungite production, and silica fume. Compositions of both the modifying additive and concretes based on it were developed. The properties of the mineral modifying additive were studied; mechanochemical activation was applied to increase and modify its activity, and its pozzolanic activity was determined. Depending on the component ratio, CaO absorption ranged from 7.9% to 94%. In the technology of high-strength and functional concretes, high-carbon slag with a fraction of 10–20 mm was used as a partial replacement for natural coarse aggregate. The introduction of 3–15% mineral modifying additive into B40 concrete increased the 28-day compressive strength by 0.19–16%. The greatest increase was observed for concrete containing 8% mineral modifying additive by cement mass. Because compressive strength is not directly correlated with freeze–thaw resistance and water impermeability, capillary suction tests were performed. This non-destructive durability indicator makes it possible to assess concrete permeability, characterize the pore structure, indirectly evaluate freeze–thaw resistance through water-absorption behavior, and estimate the potential resistance of concrete to repeated freezing and thawing. After 24 h, the maximum increase in capillary suction ranged from 4.13% to 5.17%. Direct freeze–thaw testing confirmed a freeze–thaw resistance grade of F400. Three main criteria were used to assign the freeze–thaw resistance grade: average mass loss not exceeding 2%; compliance with the compressive strength ratio XminII >= 0.9 XminI; and the absence of cracks, spalling, and edge-scaling on the specimens. Full article

Fruit and vegetable processing generates large amounts of underutilized waste that can be valorized as functional food ingredients. This study evaluated the effects of incorporating hot-air-dried powders obtained from carrot and broccoli industrial residues on the color, texture, antioxidant properties, and other physicochemical attributes of sponge cakes formulated with wheat flour (gluten-containing) and gluten-free chickpea (legume)- and rice (cereal)-based flours. Cakes containing no vegetable powder or 5, 10, 20 or 30% flour replacement by vegetable powder were evaluated within 24 h after baking and after one week of storage. Overall, the effects of vegetable powder incorporation depended on flour type, powder type, and replacement level. Carrot powder improved water retention and preserved cake height, whereas broccoli powder produced denser structures with reduced expansion. Both powders enhanced phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner, with broccoli powder showing the greatest effect. Storage had limited effects on antioxidant properties but increased hardness, with carrot powder mitigating firmness development in chickpea-based cakes. Considering the interest in developing gluten-free products, rice-based cakes with 20% flour replacement by carrot powder emerged as promising formulations, showing characteristics closer to those of wheat-based control cakes while providing enhanced antioxidant properties. Full article

A series of ten geranylated benzaldehydes (11–20) was designed, synthesized via Suzuki cross-coupling for the C–C series and S_N2 substitution for the C–O derivatives, and structurally characterized. The antifungal activity of all compounds against the phytopathogens Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora cinnamomi, two important plant pathogens associated with substantial agricultural and economic losses worldwide, was evaluated in vitro using a mycelial growth inhibition assay. Dose–response treatment of the data indicates that (E)-2-((3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)oxy)-5-hydroxybenzaldehyde (19) is the most active compound exhibiting EC₅₀ values of 83 µg/mL and 7.34 µg/mL against B. cinerea and P. cinnamomi, respectively. To gain insight into the molecular basis of the observed antifungal activity, molecular docking studies were performed targeting the active site of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH, PDB ID: 2FBW), a key enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and a validated fungicide target. The calculated docking scores ranged from −6.0 to −7.5 kcal/mol, with compound 19 showing the highest binding affinity. Docking analysis reveals that compound 19 is stabilized within the SDH binding pocket through a network of hydrogen bonding and π–cation interactions involving the heme prosthetic group and key amino acid residues, providing a plausible structural rationale for its high antifungal activity, particularly against P. cinnamomi. Full article

In the broiler production industry, antibiotics such as florfenicol are widely used. Although these antibiotics exert therapeutic effects against bacterial diseases, they can induce a series of physiological alterations in broilers under certain exposure scenarios. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chicory aqueous extract (CAE) on broiler growth performance, immune function, and intestinal health, and to compare the impacts of CAE and florfenicol exposure on the physiological status of broilers. A total of 200 one-day-old broilers were randomly divided into five groups (5 replicates per group): the blank control group (NC) drank tap water freely, the florfenicol group (FFC) was given 0.15 g/L of florfenicol solution in the drinking water, the CAE groups were given 1.25 g/L (LCAE), 2.5 g/L (MCAE), and 5 g/L (HCAE) of CAE in the drinking water, respectively. The experimental period was 42 days. The results showed that the addition of CAE to drinking water could significantly improve the growth performance of broilers, specifically manifested as increased body weight and a significantly decreased feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) (p < 0.05). Regarding immune function, CAE enhanced immune capacity by increasing immune organ indices, serum antibody titers, and serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) (p < 0.05). In terms of intestinal function, CAE significantly increased villus height (VH) and villus-crypt ratio (V/C), elevated activities of digestive enzymes including chymotrypsin, α-amylase, and lipase, and raised both secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) content and Occludin mRNA relative expression levels (p < 0.05), thereby improving intestinal digestion and absorption. Additionally, CAE enhanced serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < 0.05), effectively enhancing the antioxidant capacity of broilers. Notably, compared with the NC group and all CAE-treated groups, broilers in the FFC group exhibited significantly reduced growth performance, suppressed immune function, and evident damage to intestinal tissue structure and physiological functions. Comprehensive analysis indicates that CAE can effectively promote broiler growth and development, enhance immune status and intestinal digestive-absorptive function, and enrich gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, thus optimizing intestinal microbiota composition. Among the gradient doses tested in this study, the 2.5 g/L dose of CAE demonstrated the best overall effect, suggesting that CAE may exert beneficial physiological effects under the present experimental conditions, and further investigations are needed to assess its practical application potential. Full article

Curing and conditioning are processing variables in geopolymer and alkali-activated materials. Reaction kinetics, phase assemblage, pore development, and later mechanical and durability responses all depend on the environmental history of the binder. Published procedures, however, are often compressed into labels that do not allow the thermal, moisture, and timing paths to be reconstructed. This critical review examines recurring problems in the reporting and interpretation of curing terminology, thermal regimes, moisture and humidity control, pre- and post-curing timing, transfer of curing practices between chemically distinct binder families, and attribution of property changes to curing. Studies on fly ash, slag, metakaolin, red mud, volcanic ash, one-part binders, and phosphate-activated systems show that similar curing labels can conceal important differences in sealing, water availability, heating history, pressure, relative humidity, and specimen state. These differences may alter reaction development and microstructure enough to compromise reproducibility, cross-study comparison, and mechanistic interpretation. Curing is therefore considered here as a processing path that should be reconstructable from the reported procedure. A tiered framework is proposed for minimum, recommended, and comprehensive reporting. Clearer definition of curing paths should improve structure–property interpretation and provide the methodological basis for future comparisons of the resource intensity of thermal and moisture conditioning. Full article

Conventional superhydrophobic coatings on aluminum alloys are frequently limited by inadequate coating–substrate adhesion, poor mechanical robustness, and the vulnerability of their surface micro/nanostructures to mechanical damage. To address these challenges, a hydroxyl-rich anodic oxide interlayer was formed via hard anodization followed by a hydroxylation treatment, thereby enhancing interfacial bonding and providing abundant active anchoring sites for coating deposition. Using this interface-engineering strategy, a mechanically durable superhydrophobic F-SiO₂@polyurethane (PU) composite coating with hierarchical micro/nanostructures was successfully fabricated on aluminum alloy substrates through a facile spray-coating process. The anodized substrate provides abundant hydroxyl groups and interfacial anchoring sites, while the PU matrix enhances structural integrity and facilitates particle fixation. Incorporating fluorinated SiO₂ nanoparticles produced a hierarchical micro/nanostructure with low surface energy. After 10,000 cm of abrasion and 200 tape-peeling cycles, the coating maintained contact angles above 150°. The coating maintained superior corrosion resistance during prolonged immersion in acidic, alkaline, and saline environments. The improved durability and corrosion resistance originate from the synergistic effects of strong interfacial bonding, polymer barrier protection, and the fluorinated hierarchical structure. This study offers a promising strategy for developing durable superhydrophobic coatings for long-term protection of aluminum alloys. Full article

Sustainable urban mobility requires school routes that support active travel while limiting traffic-related pollution and infrastructure barriers. This study presents a low-cost, open-source pipeline for assessing air quality and cycling infrastructure to inform sustainable school-mobility planning. The platform integrates environmental sensing with on-device computer vision, complemented by structured field observation. An exploratory campaign covered five primary schools and connecting bicycle routes in Bolzano, Italy, collecting 9879 records over 9.2 h. The recorded mean PM_2.5 concentrations ranged from 0.40 to 9.45 µg m⁻³ at school sites and reached 24.14 µg m⁻³ during bicycle-mounted transit, highlighting the importance of examining routes alongside school surroundings. Field observations identified cycling provision at all sites, with unidirectional access at one school. Computer vision demonstrated integration feasibility rather than validated infrastructure assessment. The sustainability contribution is an accessible approach to generating local evidence for healthier active travel, school-street interventions, and cycling-network improvements. With calibration and repeated term-time monitoring, the approach could support municipalities in integrating environmental quality into child-friendly, sustainable urban planning. Full article

Bromelain is a widely used as model for papain-like cysteine proteases and shares significant sequence homology with bacterial and viral counterparts, making it a suitable target for computational screening of potential modulators. In this study, we performed molecular docking and protein–ligand interaction profiling for eight synthetic derivatives containing 6-chloroquinolone (compounds 1–4), 1,3,5 triazine (compounds 5–7) or furopyrrole (8) scaffolds. In the quinoline series, the position of the methyl group on the piperidine ring appeared to influence efficacy (4 methyl > unsubstituted > 2 methyl). Molecular docking and PLIP interaction profiling revealed that the highest computed binding affinities (up to –12.4 kcal/mol for 5) did not directly correlate with experimental inhibition, but identified the residues predicted by docking and PLIP to contribute to ligand interactions: Lys18, Phe29, Ile163, Trp180, Tyr185, and Ile186. Ligands 6 and 7 formed H-bonds with catalytic residues His158 and Cys26, respectively. Sequence alignment revealed 42–49% identity between bromelain and bacterial cysteine proteases from Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, suggesting that bromelain may serve as a tentative model system for the preliminary study of pathogen cysteine proteases, although direct extrapolation would require experimental validation. To experimentally assess these predictions, we conducted a preliminary activity screen using an azocasein proteolytic assay. Compound 1 exhibited a moderate inhibitory effect, whereas compounds 2–8 produced only marginal changes, which lacked statistical significance after correction for multiple comparisons. These findings provide a structural basis for the rational design of new protease inhibitors and identify compound 1 as a preliminary screening hit and a possible starting point for further optimization. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rabies remains a fatal viral disease, and current conventional vaccine strategies face significant challenges regarding structural stability and large-scale manufacturing. This study aimed to design a novel messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine candidate targeting the rabies virus glycoprotein G (RABV-G) using an integrated immunoinformatic and structural modeling framework. Methods: The RABV-G sequence was systematically evaluated for evolutionary conservation and safety, followed by 3D structural modeling. Highly antigenic B-cell and T-cell epitopes were identified based on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) binding, toxicity, and glycosylation shielding analyses. Functional interactions were assessed via molecular docking with the Toll-like Receptor 4/Myeloid Differentiation factor 2 (TLR4-MD2) complex. Finally, a full-length mRNA construct was engineered and computationally evaluated for translational efficiency, structural stability, and immune simulation. Results: The RABV-G target exhibited high evolutionary conservation, with 53.82% of positions fully identical and an additional 43.70% highly conserved (70–99%) across 87 analyzed sequences. Structural validation confirmed a high-quality model, enabling the extraction of accessible, non-glycosylated epitopes. Molecular docking simulations revealed a highly favorable predicted structural interaction with the TLR4-MD2 receptor, suggesting a potential structural capacity to engage innate immune pathways, pending experimental validation. The codon-optimized mRNA construct exhibited a predicted thermodynamically stable secondary structure (MFE = −429.50 kcal/mol) with an accessible translation initiation site, pending experimental validation. Furthermore, in silico immune simulations predicted a robust and sustained activation of both humoral and cellular immunity, notably including memory B-cell expansion. Conclusions: The computationally designed mRNA vaccine candidate demonstrates highly favorable structural characteristics and immunogenic potential. While these in silico findings present a promising foundational framework for rabies prevention, subsequent experimental laboratory validation is strictly required to confirm its functional efficacy and translation. Full article