Search Results (73,910)

Background/Objectives: Tea and coffee, two of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, play important roles in supporting overall health. Changes in the urine proteome reflect the changes in the body influenced by beverage consumption, rather than beverage metabolites. In this study, the effects of teas with different fermentation levels and black coffee on the body were explored via urine proteomics analysis. Methods: Urine samples were collected from rats before and after seven consecutive days of consuming green tea, oolong tea, black tea, Pu-erh tea, or black coffee. Both before-and-after comparisons and between-group comparisons were performed, and the samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Results: The urine proteome reflected the changes in rats after consumption of teas or black coffee for one week. Biological processes and pathways enriched with differential proteins included fat cell differentiation, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, fatty acid transport, and immune response. The effects of teas with different fermentation levels and black coffee on the body exhibited a high degree of specificity. Additionally, several identified differential proteins have been reported as biomarkers for diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This suggests that beverage consumption, including tea and black coffee, should be considered in urine biomarker research. And the use of biomarker panels may be necessary to improve accuracy. Conclusions: The urine proteome provides a comprehensive and systematic reflection of the effects of all components in teas and black coffee on the body and allows for the distinction of changes in the body after consumption of teas with different fermentation levels and black coffee. Full article

Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are increasingly required to provide grid-support services under weak-grid conditions, where the stability of virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control largely depends on the health status and dynamic characteristics of the battery unit. However, existing VSG strategies typically assume fixed parameters and neglect the intrinsic coupling between battery aging, DC-link energy variations, and converter dynamic performance, resulting in reduced damping, degraded transient regulation, and accelerated lifetime degradation. This paper proposes a health-responsive VSG control strategy enabled by real-time energy-dynamics sensing. By reconstructing the DC-link energy state from voltage and current measurements, an intrinsic indicator of battery health and instantaneous power capability is established. This energy-dynamics indicator is then embedded into the VSG inertia and damping loops, allowing the control parameters to adapt to battery health evolution and operating conditions. The proposed method achieves coordinated enhancement of transient stability, weak-grid robustness, and lifetime management. Simulation studies on a multi-unit BESS demonstrate that the proposed strategy effectively suppresses low-frequency oscillations, accelerates transient convergence, and maintains stability across different aging stages. Full article

With the growing global popularity of Android apps, ensuring their quality and reliability has become increasingly important, as low-quality apps can lead to poor user experiences and potential business losses. A common approach to testing Android apps involves automatically generating event sequences that interact with the app’s graphical user interface (GUI) to detect crashes. To support this, we developed ACE (Android Crawler), a tool that systematically generates events to test Android apps by automatically exploring their GUIs. However, ACE’s original heuristic-driven exploration can be inefficient in complex application states. To address this, we extend ACE with a deep reinforcement learning-based crawling strategy, called Reinforcement Learning Strategy (RLS), which tightly integrates with ACE’s GUI exploration process by learning to intelligently select GUI components and interaction actions. RLS leverages the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm for stable and efficient learning and incorporates an action mask to filter invalid actions, thereby reducing training time. We evaluate RLS on 15 real-world Android apps and compare its performance against the original ACE and three state-of-the-art Android testing tools. Results show that RLS improves code coverage by an average of 2.1% over ACE’s Nearest unvisited event First Search (NFS) strategy and outperforms all three baseline tools in terms of code coverage. Paired t-test analyses further confirm that these improvements are statistically significant, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing automated Android GUI testing. Full article

Background/Objectives: The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is a complex structure of polar lipids, gangliosides, and glycoproteins that has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and gut-modulatory effects in preclinical and human studies, but its effects on adult psychological outcomes have not been systematically synthesised. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search across multiple databases using combined relevant keywords and Medical Subject Headings terms, with manual reference checks to ensure comprehensiveness. Of the 35 articles initially identified, 3 randomised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria: adult participants (≥20 years); bovine MFGM supplementation; a placebo or control group; and outcomes measuring stress, anxiety, or depression. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed, calculating standardised mean differences for stress, anxiety, and depression outcomes. Results: MFGM supplementation produced small but statistically significant reductions in stress and anxiety. Effects on depression were non-significant, though directionally favourable. Risk-of-bias assessments were conducted using Cochrane criteria and indicated low concerns across trials. Publication bias was not indicated, but interpretation was limited by the small number of studies. Conclusions: Whilst the evidence for depression is inconclusive, bovine MFGM supplementation may confer modest benefits for stress and anxiety in adults and could be part of a nutritional strategy to support overall mental well-being. Full article

Background: Bile acids participate in several metabolic processes, and disturbances in their circulating profiles are commonly observed in type 2 diabetes. In a cohort of older adults, individuals with diabetes exhibited markedly lower concentrations of metabolites derived from lithocholic acid. These findings prompted further evaluation of the metabolic effects of lithocholic acid. Methods: We assessed the actions of lithocholic acid in a mouse model of diabetes induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin. Fasting glucose, insulin levels, lipid parameters, and measures of insulin resistance were evaluated. Gut microbial composition, short-chain fatty acids, fecal enzyme activities, intestinal barrier markers, and bile acid patterns were analyzed. In vitro assays examined the direct effects of lithocholic acid on A. muciniphila and bile acid metabolism. Results: Lithocholic acid supplementation lowered fasting glucose and insulin levels and improved insulin resistance. It shifted the gut microbial community toward a healthier structure, increased the abundance of A. muciniphila, and raised short-chain fatty acid concentrations. Fecal bile salt hydrolase and β-glucuronidase activity declined, and intestinal barrier markers improved. Lithocholic acid enhanced TGR5 expression and reduced FXR signaling in the ileum. In vitro, physiologically relevant concentrations promoted A. muciniphila growth and altered microbial bile acid metabolism. Conclusions: Lithocholic acid influences the interactions among gut microbes, bile acid pathways, and host metabolic regulation. These findings suggest that this compound may have value as a dietary component that supports metabolic health in type 2 diabetes. Full article

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of resin type, layer thickness, and printing orientation on the surface and mechanical properties of 3D-printed occlusal splints fabricated using digital light processing (DLP) technology. Three commercially available splint resins (KeySplint Hard, Freeprint Splint 2.0, and V-Print Splint) were used to fabricate 180 rectangular specimens with two-layer thicknesses (50 µm and 100 µm) and three printing orientations (0°, 45°, 90°). Surface roughness (Ra, Rz), gloss, microhardness, flexural strength, and elastic modulus were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using robust ANOVA with Bonferroni correction. Resin type and printing orientation significantly influenced all surface and mechanical properties (p < 0.001), while layer thickness had a limited effect. Keystone resin exhibited the smoothest surface and highest gloss, whereas Freeprint resin showed the highest microhardness and elastic modulus. Printing at 45° generally enhanced flexural strength and provided more balanced mechanical performance. SEM analysis confirmed that surface morphology varied with orientation, correlating with profilometric and gloss measurements. Resin composition and printing orientation are critical determinants of the mechanical and surface performance of 3D-printed occlusal splints. Optimizing these parameters can improve durability, esthetics, and clinical functionality. All tested materials achieved clinically acceptable surface smoothness, supporting their suitability for intraoral use. Full article

Pine needles are traditional herbal remedies used for centuries to treat various ailments, including rheumatism, bronchitis, burns, inflammation, and infections. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, analgesic (peripheral and central), and wound-healing activities of Pinus pinaster (PPN) and Pinus halepensis (PAN) needles while identifying the bioactive compounds responsible for these effects. Phytochemical analysis revealed several phenolic compounds, including p-coumaroylquinic acid, quercetin, narcissin, and myricetin-3-O-glucoside. Both extracts showed strong antioxidant activity, with high total phenolic content (TPC: 384.84 ± 0.84 and 524.46 mg GAE/g DM for PPN and PAN, respectively) and flavonoid content (TFC: 109.44 ± 0.62 and 111.64 ± 0.62 mg QE/g DM, respectively). Peripheral analgesic activity, assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing test, revealed that PAN (300 mg/kg) significantly reduced pain by 72.3%, while central analgesic effects, evaluated by the tail immersion test, were comparable to the reference drug for both extracts. In vivo wound-healing tests showed accelerated wound contraction and complete closure by day 21, indicating strong regenerative potential. Overall, this study demonstrates that PPN and PAN needle extracts possess significant antioxidant, analgesic, and wound-healing activities, supporting their traditional use and highlighting their potential as natural therapeutic agents for managing oxidative stress, pain, and skin injuries. Full article

Background: Osseointegration is the cornerstone of long-term implant success, and systemic factors such as nutritional status may influence the biological cascade of peri-implant bone healing. Nutraceuticals have been proposed as adjuvant strategies to enhance bone metabolism, but clinical evidence remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a novel nutraceutical formulation (Osteo-therapy^®, Laboratorio Farmaceutico ERFO S.p.A., Messina, Italy; composed of spirulina standardized with 40% phycocyanin, quercetin, vitamin D3, and calcium) on early implant stability. Methods: A prospective, randomized clinical trial (RCT) was conducted in accordance with CONSORT guidelines (PLATFORM Project OR12.1). Sixty healthy patients requiring mandibular implants were enrolled (test n = 30 with Osteo-therapy^®; control n = 30). Stability was assessed via RFA (ISQ values) at baseline (T0), 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2), and 3 months (T3). Results: Both groups showed increases in ISQ. No significant differences were found at T0 and T1 (p = 0.149 and p = 0.737). From T2 onward, the test group exhibited significantly higher ISQ values (T2: 73.17 vs. 69.50, p < 0.001; T3: 78.37 vs. 76.63, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Osteo-therapy^® significantly enhanced early implant stability, indicating an accelerated transition from primary to secondary stability, potentially supporting earlier loading protocols. Full article

Soil salinity is recognized as a critical abiotic stress that limits plant growth on marginal lands. The cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.), a perennial bioenergy species with high biomass potential, has been proposed for cultivation on saline-degraded soils; however, its physiological responses to different types of salinity stress, particularly alkaline and neutral salt stress, remain insufficiently characterized. In the present study, the physiological responses of the cup plant to neutral (NaCl) and alkaline (NaHCO₃) salt stress at concentrations of 100, 200, and 300 mM were evaluated in a pot experiment conducted under controlled conditions. The assessed indicators included relative chlorophyll content (CCI), chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F_v/F_m, F_v/F₀, PI), and gas exchange characteristics, namely net photosynthetic rate (P_N), stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration rate (E), and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i). Salinity reduced most physiological parameters, although some, such as maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m) and transpiration rate (E), did not show a clear dose-dependent response. Alkaline salt stress induced more pronounced reductions in the physiological parameters than neutral salt stress. At the first measurement, at the highest salt concentration, the chlorophyll content decreased by 49.0% and the P_N parameter by 77.8% under NaHCO₃ treatment, whereas under NaCl conditions the decreases were 29.0% and 51.3%, respectively, compared to the control. At 300 mM NaHCO₃, the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate were substantially reduced compared with those recorded under the corresponding NaCl treatment. Even at the moderate salinity level of 100 mM NaHCO₃, reductions in photosynthetic performance were detected relative to the control. Overall, photosynthetic efficiency and gas exchange in the cup plant were markedly impaired by salinity, particularly under conditions of high bicarbonate concentration. The results offer a deeper understanding of the physiological limitations of S. perfoliatum under acute salt stress and demonstrate that alkaline salinity, associated with elevated pH due to HCO₃⁻, exacerbates stress effects beyond the osmotic and ionic impacts of neutral salinity. These results highlight the potential of S. perfoliatum for sustainable biomass production on salt-affected soils, supporting renewable energy generation and environmentally responsible land use. Full article

Topology optimization is a powerful and efficient design tool, but the structures obtained by element-based topology optimization methods are often limited by fuzzy or jagged boundaries. The smooth-edged material distribution for optimizing topology algorithm (SEMDOT) can effectively deal with this problem and promote the practical application of topology optimization structures. This review outlines the theoretical evolution of SEMDOT, including both penalty-based and non-penalty-based formulations, while also providing access to open access codes. SEMDOT’s applications cover diverse areas, including self-supporting structures, energy-efficient manufacturing, bone tissue scaffolds, heat transfer systems, and building parts, demonstrating the versatility of SEMDOT. While SEMDOT addresses boundary issues in topology optimization structures, further theoretical refinement is needed to develop it into a comprehensive platform. This work consolidates the advances in SEMDOT, highlights its interdisciplinary impact, and identifies future research and implementation directions. Full article

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, has a long history of clinical use in treating dysentery. However, its precise mechanism has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the intestinal protective mechanisms of BBR against Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri)-induced dysentery in mice. We found that BBR significantly upregulated the intestinal barrier proteins ZO-1, occludin, and E-cadherin, enhancing intestinal mucosal integrity to inhibit S. flexneri invasion. Moreover, BBR effectively attenuated M1 macrophage polarization and restored the Th1/Th17/Treg balance to reduce inflammatory injury upon S. flexneri infection. Specifically, BBR reduced both the populations of Th1 and Th17 cells and their production of inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17A. Concurrently, it enhanced Treg cell populations and the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β1. Additionally, the intestinal protective effect of BBR was further augmented by an increase in secretory IgA (sIgA). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that BBR protects against S. flexneri-induced dysentery by enhancing the intestinal barrier and inflammatory responses, providing support for its clinical use. Full article

Precise 3D perception is critical for indoor robotics, augmented reality, and autonomous navigation. However, existing multi-frame depth estimation methods often suffer from significant performance degradation in challenging indoor scenarios characterized by weak textures, non-Lambertian surfaces, and complex layouts. To address these limitations, we propose MonoPrior-Fusion (MPF), a novel framework that integrates pixel-wise monocular priors directly into the multi-view matching process. Specifically, MPF modulates cost-volume hypotheses to disambiguate matches and employs a hierarchical fusion architecture across multiple scales to propagate global and local geometric information. Additionally, a geometric consistency loss based on virtual planes is introduced to enhance global 3D coherence. Extensive experiments on ScanNetV2, 7Scenes, TUM RGB-D, and GMU Kitchens demonstrate that MPF achieves significant improvements over state-of-the-art multi-frame baselines and generalizes well across unseen domains. Furthermore, MPF yields more accurate and complete 3D reconstructions when integrated into a volumetric fusion pipeline, proving its effectiveness for dense mapping tasks. The source code will be made publicly available to support reproducibility and future research. Full article

This study investigates the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial potential of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) tepal extracts obtained via different solvent systems. Here, a biochemical screening was performed using spectrophotometry and HPLC-DAD, while molecular docking simulations were carried out to evaluate the possible interactions between saffron tepal metabolites and bacterial target proteins. In parallel, antioxidant activity was assessed using radical scavenging assays, whereas antimicrobial potential (i.e., MIC, MBC, and MFC) was tested against selected bacterial strains. Results indicated that aqueous successive and crude extracts yielded the highest concentrations of polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins. In detail, HPLC-DAD analysis specifically identified significant levels of gallic acid, epicatechin, and various anthocyanins. These extracts demonstrated robust antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. This latter evidence was corroborated by the docking analyses, which revealed that chlorogenic acid and petunidin-3-glucoside exhibited high binding affinities for 2NRK and 2NZF, whereas epicatechin and pelargonidin effectively targeted 8ACR. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of C. sativus tepals as natural bioactive agents, suggesting a promising role in overcoming antibiotic resistance and supporting their development for pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Pregnancy represents a period of heightened oxidative demand in which maternal metabolic adaptations are tightly regulated by redox-sensitive molecular pathways. Imbalances in these systems have been associated with gestational complications, impaired placental function, and long-term effects on offspring health. This review examines the molecular mechanisms through which adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) influences oxidative balance during pregnancy. We summarize evidence on how MD-derived bioactives regulate oxidative stress pathways and affect oxidative stress biomarkers, as well as the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. At the same time, certain MD foods containing environmental contaminants may potentially attenuate its protective effects. In addition, the review explores molecular insights into how the MD may counteract oxidative stress induced by environmental pollutants through modulation of redox signaling and detoxification pathways. By integrating biochemical, molecular, and environmental perspectives, this review highlights the MD as a potential nutrigenomic intervention to optimize oxidative balance, support healthy pregnancy outcomes linked to environmental pollution. Full article

Background/Objectives: Assessing the bioavailability of nutrients and bioactive compounds in vitro commonly relies on coupling standardized gastrointestinal digestion models with intestinal epithelial cell systems. However, digests produced using static digestion protocols such as INFOGEST often impair epithelial barrier integrity, limiting their direct application to intestinal models and reducing reproducibility across studies. Methods: This work systematically compared five commonly used digest conditioning strategies, including acidification, centrifugation, rapid freezing, and ultrafiltration using 10 kDa and 3 kDa molecular weight cut-off membranes, to identify the approach that best preserves intestinal epithelial viability and barrier function while enabling exposure at physiologically relevant concentrations. INFOGEST digests of yogurt were initially evaluated, followed by validation using biscuit and canned mackerel digests. Cell viability and monolayer integrity were assessed in differentiated Caco-2 cells using MTT assay and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements. Results: Among the tested approaches, ultrafiltration using 3 kDa membranes consistently preserved epithelial viability and barrier integrity at a 1:10 dilution across all food matrices, whereas other conditioning methods failed to maintain TEER despite acceptable cell viability. At lower dilutions, food-dependent effects emerged, highlighting the importance of matrix-specific evaluation. Conclusions: These findings identify 3 kDa ultrafiltration as an effective and minimally invasive strategy to improve the compatibility of INFOGEST digests with intestinal cell models. By enabling reproducible exposure conditions that preserve epithelial integrity, this approach supports more reliable in vitro assessment of nutrient bioavailability and contributes to methodological standardization in nutrition research. Full article