Search Results (3,401)

Objective: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) has been associated with an increased risk of vascular disorders, which suggests that endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of RLS. In this study, we aimed to evaluate coronary endothelial dysfunction in RLS patients using coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) and compared it with healthy controls. Methodology: In this study, the participants were divided into two groups as group RLS (n = 42) and group HC (n = 41). The primary outcome was the CFVR compared between groups. The number of participants with a CFVR value below 2.0 was also evaluated. In addition, a correlation between the international restless legs scale (IRLS) and CFVR, white-blood-cell-count (WBC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) was analyzed. Secondary outcomes were the WBC, hemoglobin, CRP, blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and creatinine compared between the two groups. Results: In the group RLS, CFVR was measured lower than healthy controls (p < 0.001). When the groups were compared in terms of the number of participants with a CFVR less than 2.0, the difference between the groups was significant (p < 0.001, 0/41 in group HC and 14/42 in group RLS). Patients with RLS had higher WBC and CRP values. There was a negative correlation between CFVR and IRLS (p < 0.001). The relationship between WBC, CRP, and IRLS was not statistically significant (p = 0.691). Conclusions: In this exploratory study, RLS patients had lower CFVR compared with healthy controls and a negative correlation was observed between RLS severity and CFVR. These findings warrant confirmation in larger, prospectively designed studies with multivariable adjustment. Therefore, we think that it may be beneficial to follow-up patients with RLS in terms of coronary heart disease. Clinical trial number: not applicable. Full article

Wildfires can threaten the safety of transmission towers by degrading galvanized coatings and reducing the load-bearing capacity of steel members exposed to elevated temperatures. This study investigates the thermal damage evolution and structural response of transmission tower legs under localized wood-crib fire exposure through a combined experimental and numerical approach. A 1:4 scale tower-leg model was subjected to a single wood-crib fire exposure for approximately 20 min, during which temperature histories, surface damage patterns, and deformation of the fire-exposed members were recorded. The results show that the maximum measured temperature reached 803 °C and decreased approximately linearly with height, leading to distinct damage zones along the tower leg. The galvanized coating exhibited progressive degradation, including oxidation, melting, cracking, and local peeling, while the surface appearance changed from bright silver to black and finally to gray-white with reddish-brown areas in severely heated regions. A temperature-informed elastic–plastic finite element model was then used to interpret the global structural response. The analysis indicates that elevated temperature reduced the stiffness and load-bearing capacity of the fire-exposed side, causing deformation concentration and torsional distortion in diagonal members. The proposed framework provides a practical basis for post-fire damage identification and rapid structural assessment of transmission towers in wildfire-prone regions. Full article

The development of cold atom interferometry (CAI) provides new opportunities for next-generation satellite gravity gradiometry missions. Compared with the electrostatic gradiometer onboard the GOCE satellite, CAI gradiometers exhibit white noise characteristics within the effective measurement bandwidth, enabling improved performance in the low-frequency range (<5 Full article

Background: Pancreatic stone protein (PSP) has recently emerged as a novel biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic potential in sepsis. The present study aimed to investigate its role as an early prognosticator in patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with various types of infection. Methods: Point-of-care PSP was measured in 102 consecutive patients (59.8% male) with mean age of 62.7 (±23.4) years, presenting to the ED with suspected or confirmed infection. We examined the utility of PSP to predict adverse events including death, development of septic shock or need for repeated medical evaluation due to persistence or worsening of initial symptoms during a 10-day follow-up period. Results: Respiratory tract infections were the most common (50%) followed by urinary tract infections (17.6%), sepsis of unknown origin (4.9%) and other infections (27.5%). PSP exhibited intermediate performance in predicting short-term adverse outcomes with an AUC of 0.734 (p < 0.001). In contrast, other inflammatory biomarkers such as procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and White Blood Cells (WBCs) did not predict adverse outcomes (procalcitonin: AUC 0.680, p = 0.059; CRP: AUC 0.593, p = 0.072; WBC: AUC 0.635, p = 0.074). Conclusions: PSP appears to be a promising biomarker reflecting the severity of infection. Point-of-care PSP evaluation may serve as an early predictor of adverse events in patients presenting with infection to the ED. Full article

Biostimulants from Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) are effective as regulators of molecular, physiological and biochemical processes in plants. Two independent experiments were conducted using foliar application in Rosa × hybrida variety White O’Hara of two A. nodosum-based biostimulant formulations (B1: A. nodosum (10% w/v), N, P₂O₅, K, Ca, Mg, oxidizable total organic carbon (3% w/v), minor elements, and free amino acids (3.9% w/v); B2: A. nodosum (11% w/v), oxidizable total organic carbon (6.8% w/v) N (37.2% w/v), and P₂O₅ (50% w/v)). Each experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a factorial arrangement including four treatments (0; 0.5; 1.0; and 1.5 mL L⁻¹), which were evaluated over two production cycles. Foliar chlorophyll (μmol m⁻²), stomatal conductance (mmol m⁻² s⁻¹), and leaf vapor pressure deficit were measured every two weeks, and productivity was evaluated at the end of the cycle. Statistical differences were detected in chlorophyll content for the application of B1 and B2 over two production cycles with increases of around 16–17% in chlorophyll compared to the control. Significant differences in stomatal conductance were detected during weeks 20 and 22 for all doses. The control treatment consistently exhibited lower means for the leaf vapor pressure deficit compared to B1 and B2. Biostimulants improved photosynthetic activity and carbon assimilation and also delayed leaf senescence. B1 at 1 mL L⁻¹ reduced unproductive stems from 54% to 38% compared to the control. Biostimulant treatments enhanced physiological tolerance to temperature extremes (2.2–32.6 °C). Based on the results, 1.5 mL L⁻¹ of the B1 biostimulant and 1 mL L⁻¹ of the B2 are recommended; these findings offer key insights for optimizing rose cultivation and prove that intensive floriculture can be both productive and sustainable. Full article

To optimize the shape stability of 3D-printed white calcium sulfoaluminate (WCSA) cement composites, oyster shell powder (OSP) and cuttlebone powder (CBP) were introduced as white admixtures to regulate rheological properties and printability. The setting behavior, rheological properties, and shape stability of the WCSA cement composites were evaluated by Vicat setting-time tests, rotational rheological measurements, three-stage thixotropic recovery tests, and structural deformation measurements, together with mechanical strength tests, XRD, and SEM analyses. The results showed that the incorporation of OSP and CBP shortened the setting time of WCSA cement composites. The initial and final setting times decreased from 41 min and 67 min to 17 min and 30 min in the WCSA cement composites with OSP, and from 42 min and 66 min to 20 min and 33 min in the WCSA cement composites with CBP, which improved printing operability. As the OSP and CBP content increases from 0% to 24%, the dynamic yield stress of WCSA cement composites increased from 48.83 Pa to 530.59 Pa and 60.30 Pa to 1085.80 Pa, respectively. The thixotropic recovery degree of WCSA cement composites increased from 57.89% to 86.46%, and 56.60% to 92.14%, respectively. As the OSP and CBP contents increase from 0% to 24%, the structural deformation decreased from 12.39% to 6.91% and 13.29% to 5.12% respectively, which improved buildability of the printed structures. In addition, although OSP and CBP reduced the mechanical strength of WCSA cement composites compared with the control group, the flexural and compressive strengths gradually recovered as the contents increased from 6% to 24% due to the enhanced filling effect and improved particle packing. This study provides a reference for the application of marine calcareous solid wastes in sustainable 3D-printed cementitious materials. Full article

Modern web and tourist maps use pictorial symbols to help users quickly and easily identify Points of Interest (POIs). Pictorial symbols are sometimes misinterpreted due to poor design choices. As a result, it is important to evaluate pictorial symbols with map users. This paper uses an online questionnaire to examine how different graphic parameters—such as frame outline, frame background, frame shape, color hue, and pictogram category (semantic, visual, or arbitrary)—are perceived by map users. The evaluation of pictograms includes three aspects: understanding, to capture the map reader’s opinion; preference, to investigate the map maker’s choice; and appropriateness, to document the evaluation of an existing map. Seven popular Points of Interest (POIs) were selected for the evaluation of pictorial symbols: Hotel, Restaurant, Parking, Museum, Airport, Hospital, and Church. Based on the questionnaire results and the statistical analysis of 520 responses, several conclusions were drawn. Users prefer symbols with a frame outline and a frame background. They also prefer symbols with a white background, which increases contrast and improves legibility. In contrast, users do not have a strong preference for a specific frame shape. In general, users can recognize symbol groups based on frame shape, but the effect is stronger when the color hue appears in the frame background or outline. The statistical analysis demonstrates that perceived appropriateness constitutes an objective measure related to comprehension. Furthermore, appropriateness is independent of the pictogram classification as semantic, visual, or arbitrary. Instead, it is determined by the graphic ability of the pictogram to represent a specific POI. This conclusion reaffirms the importance of designing successful semantic and visual pictograms or adopting those already familiar to map users, as familiarity has also been identified as an important factor by this research. Overall, this paper, based on user evaluations, provides practical insights to improve pictorial symbols on a tourist map. Full article

Quantum processes with indefinite causal order challenge the classical assumption that operations must occur in a single fixed temporal sequence. The quantum switch provides a concrete setting in which two operation orders, $A\prec B$ and $B\prec A$, are coherently controlled by a quantum system. In the strict process matrix formulation of the lazy guess your neighbour’s input (LGYNI) game, however, quantum theory, including the quantum switch, does not violate the standard causal inequality when probabilities are computed solely from local instruments. In this work, we study an extended control-assisted operational protocol in which the control system of the quantum switch is measured and used to define the task output. We compare increasingly expressive strategy classes, including single-qubit SU(2) operations, product target-ancilla operations, and entangling Cartan-decomposed two-qubit operations with generalized POVMs. Restricted models saturate or remain below the $3/4$ fixed-order benchmark, whereas the optimized Cartan + ancilla + POVM strategy reaches $P_{\mathrm{s}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{c}}^{\mathrm{e}\mathrm{x}\mathrm{t}}\approx 0.83596$, demonstrating enhanced task performance within the extended protocol. The optimized strategy remains operationally no-signaling to numerical precision and retains its extended protocol advantage under more than $25\%$ white noise admixture. These results identify the operational resources required for control-assisted quantum switch enhancement and support the view that indefinite temporal order can be used as a quantum informational resource without implying a breakdown of operational causality. Full article

The denial, concealment, or omission of disordered eating behaviors has received limited attention in the eating disorder literature, partly due to the lack of reliable and valid measures. This study re-examined the factor structure of the Denial of Disordered Eating Behaviors Scale (DDEBS-12) and tested measurement invariance across gender identity, racial identity, and levels of disordered eating in a non-clinical undergraduate sample (N = 3285). Confirmatory factor analyses did not support the original unidimensional structure. Instead, a seven-item model assessing denial of dietary restriction demonstrated the best fit and was renamed the DDEBS-restriction. The revised scale showed good internal consistency and demonstrated expected associations with measures of concealment, disclosure, and dietary restriction, supporting convergent and criterion validity. Measurement invariance analyses supported configural and metric invariance across men and women, Black and White participants, and individuals with non-clinical versus elevated levels of disordered eating; scalar invariance was not supported across disordered eating severity groups. These findings suggest that the DDEBS-restriction demonstrates promising psychometric properties within an undergraduate sample, though additional research is needed to establish its generalizability across broader and more diverse populations. Full article

The widespread release of microplastics (MPs), especially fibrous microplastics (FMPs) originating from synthetic textiles, poses a growing threat to environmental systems due to their persistence, mobility, and potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Conventional gravimetric methods (GMs) remain the primary approach for assessing FMP shedding, yet they are hindered by moisture-sensitive filters, false positives from detergents and minerals, environmental contamination, and the labor-intensive manual measurement of individual fibers. To address these limitations, we developed an automated image analysis (AIA) framework that integrates an attention-based U-Net architecture with meta-learning modules to quantify FMP number, length, diameter, and mass from stitched microscopic images of entire filter membranes. This approach enables detection of fibers down to 28 μm in diameter with the spatial resolution of 2.17 µm/pixel, supports both target-color and multi-color analysis, and eliminates the need for manual characterization or extrapolation from partial membrane segments. The method achieved the highest accuracy of approximately 98% in color-specific fiber detection, correctly identifying 257 of 263 white fibers, and demonstrated similarly robust performance for black, red, and green fibers, while minimizing interference from non-target colors, even when their fibers overlapped. Multi-color detection was further validated using effluent water samples containing mixed-color fibers. Overall, the developed system enhances the accuracy, efficiency, and reproducibility of FMP analysis, offering a standardized and scalable approach for environmental monitoring of MP pollution. Full article

The objective of this research was to examine the effects of sexual and generalized harassment in the workplace on risk for all-cause mortality in a sample (n = 1745) originally drawn from a university workplace and followed over a 24-year period after baseline. Eleven timepoints of data on self-reported workplace harassment were collected between October 1996 and February 2021, at time intervals ranging from one year to 13 years, and linked to mortality data (n = 249 deaths) from the National Death Index through December 2021. We used proportional hazards modeling to examine the risk for all-cause mortality associated with workplace harassment (as measured by a modified version of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire and the Generalized Workplace Harassment Questionnaire) occurring in the previous time period. We also examined differential risk by gender for White and Black study participants. In fully adjusted models, experiencing generalized harassment (GH) was associated with significantly increased hazard of mortality at the next time point for White women (HR = 1.03, p < 0.01). Experiencing sexual harassment (SH) was associated with a trend-level increase in the hazard of next-time-point mortality for Black women (HR = 1.05, p = 0.09). Neither SH nor GH was associated with increased hazard of mortality for men. Workplace interventions to address harassment, stronger enforcement of sexual harassment policy and law, and enactment of policy and law to prevent generalized harassment and bullying may contribute to the reduction of all-cause mortality among working women. Full article

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is a widely cultivated vegetable rich in bioactive compounds, but its industrial processing generates significant underutilized by-products, especially cabbage cores. This often-discarded fraction represents a promising and sustainable source of valuable functional components with potential applications in food systems. The study evaluated the biological activity of extracts and kombucha ferments obtained from the leaves and cores of white and red cabbage. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays, while intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were evaluated in a cell-based model. Cytotoxicity was determined using fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines with Alamar Blue and Neutral Red assays. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring the levels of the cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) using ELISA, and antimicrobial effects were tested against bacteria associated with skin inflammation. The results showed that fermented white and red cabbage extracts have stronger antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects than unfermented extracts, with the best results observed after 20 days of fermentation. Low concentrations have a beneficial effect on skin cell viability, while higher concentrations result in reduced viability. These results highlight the potential of kombucha-fermented cabbage leaves and cores as a versatile and sustainable source of bioactive compounds for health-promoting applications. Full article

Background: Cognitive difficulties are common after SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet their neurobiological underpinnings remain uncertain. Cognitive symptoms in post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) are often characterised by attentional and executive dysfunction, although the relationship between subjective symptoms and objective neurobiological changes remains uncertain. Methods: Adults previously hospitalised with COVID-19 who reported persistent cognitive symptoms underwent neuropsychological testing and 3 T MRI. The protocol included high-resolution volumetric imaging, diffusion-based tractography, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of frontal white matter. Data were compared with age- and sex-matched controls from a pre-COVID-19 cohort and against pooled normative MRS datasets. Analyses adjusted for intracranial volume, sex, and time since infection, with false-discovery-rate correction. This study was exploratory and hypothesis-generating in design. Results: Thirty participants were recruited; twenty-nine completed MRI acquisition. Participants (mean age 58 years; 62% female; approximately two years post-infection) demonstrated selective impairments in attention, working memory, and verbal fluency. No widespread volumetric or white-matter differences were identified, although reduced posterior hypothalamic volume and altered occipito-parietal connectivity were observed. MRS demonstrated reduced N-acetylaspartate and elevated choline, myo-inositol, and glutamate-glutamine ratios relative to normative reference ranges. No significant associations were observed between imaging measures and cognitive or symptoms outcomes after correction. Conclusions: PCC is characterised by circumscribed cognitive changes and subtle neural differences, but these objective changes do not closely align with subjective symptom severity. This mismatch shares phenotypic features with functional cognitive disorder and suggests that post-COVID-19 “brain fog” is not driven by structural or neurochemical changes alone. Instead, it potentially reflects a combination of mild neurobiological effects and functional cognitive processes. Together, these findings highlight the importance of considering both brain-based and functional contributors to persistent cognitive complaints after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Full article

This study evaluated variations in phenotypic and physiological traits of Snowy White chickens reared under high-altitude conditions in Lhasa, China, at 3650 m and low-altitude conditions in Ya’an, China, at 600 m. Chickens reared at high altitude showed delayed sexual maturity and peak laying, as well as lower laying rate and hatchability. In contrast, egg weight at first laying was higher in chickens reared at high altitude. Organ index analysis showed that high-altitude chickens had a higher heart index but lower liver, stomach, and spleen indices than low-altitude chickens (p < 0.05). High-altitude chickens also had greater chest depth and chest circumference but shorter shank length and smaller shank circumference (p < 0.05). Multivariate analyses further indicated liver and spleen indices as major contributors to the separation between altitude groups. These results show that high-altitude rearing is associated with altered reproductive performance, organ development, and body conformation in Snowy White chickens. These findings may inform the evaluation, breeding, and management of layer chickens in plateau production systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fixed orthodontic appliances interfere with oral hygiene and contribute to plaque retention, gingival inflammation and demineralization of enamel. Standard techniques for keeping oral hygiene (tooth brushing, mouthwashes, dental floss, interdental brush, etc.) are not sufficiently effective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness, safety, tolerability, and influence on quality of life of an electrolysis device being added to standard techniques of oral hygiene in orthodontic patients, compared to standard methods only. Methods: This 6-month study was designed as an observational prospective-cohort investigation. Primary outcomes of the study were indices of gingival inflammation and bleeding, dental plaque indices, the number of white spots on enamel, and safety (incidence of adverse events). Secondary outcomes were quality of life and overall costs of keeping oral hygiene. Results: The addition of the Neo Pill device to standard oral hygiene maintenance measures was associated with improvements in oral health indices after 6 months; however, given the non-randomized, preference-driven design, these findings reflect an association and should not be interpreted as evidence of causal efficacy. After 6 months, the primary outcomes of the study were significantly reduced compared to the application of only standard oral hygiene methods (from 21 to 55% reduction); the quality of life related to oral health was higher (for 14%), the tolerability of maintaining oral hygiene was the same as with standard measures and the costs of maintaining oral hygiene consumables were lower in the Neo Pill group (median difference 30%); however, this figure excludes the acquisition cost of the device itself, which was donated to all participants by the manufacturer, and the 95% confidence interval for this difference includes zero. Conclusions: The addition of an electrolysis device to standard oral hygiene maintenance measures in people wearing fixed orthodontic appliances was associated with improvements in gingival inflammation, papillary bleeding, and dental plaque indices—outcomes measured with established clinical instruments. Apparent reductions in white-spot lesion counts were also observed but should be considered exploratory given the absence of calibrated or blinded lesion assessment. These findings are preliminary and do not establish causal efficacy. Full article