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Athletic individuals may intentionally aim to gain weight, primarily as lean body mass, to improve athletic performance or to better match opponents’ size. This study aimed to investigate the self-reported nutrition- and exercise-related behaviors of athletic individuals aiming to gain weight. Cross-sectional data
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Athletic individuals may intentionally aim to gain weight, primarily as lean body mass, to improve athletic performance or to better match opponents’ size. This study aimed to investigate the self-reported nutrition- and exercise-related behaviors of athletic individuals aiming to gain weight. Cross-sectional data were drawn from an online survey of athletic adults recruited locally, nationally, and internationally. In total, 168 athletic participants (24 ± 5 years; 29% female, 71% male) completed the survey and were actively attempting or had attempted weight gain in the last 12 months to gain muscle mass (87.5%), for aesthetic reasons (66.1%), or to improve athletic performance (63.7%). The most prevalent dietary strategies reported to increase weight gain were consuming more energy than usual (88.0%) from mainly protein foods (83.9%) and using protein powders (67.3%). In total, 9.6% of participants reported using anabolic hormones. The main exercise change was increased resistance training (81.5%). Our results confirm that both male and female athletic individuals intentionally attempt to gain weight. Nutrition and exercise professionals may use the findings to be aware of these common dietary and exercise strategies and to better educate their athletic clients on appropriate methods that are evidence-based and not detrimental to health.
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Sustainable leisure, shared among grandparents and grandchildren, provides multiple benefits, as it enhances contexts and bonds that foster personal, familiar, social and emotional development. In addition to this, it directly contributes to the achievement of the sustainable development goals, established in Agenda 2030.
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Sustainable leisure, shared among grandparents and grandchildren, provides multiple benefits, as it enhances contexts and bonds that foster personal, familiar, social and emotional development. In addition to this, it directly contributes to the achievement of the sustainable development goals, established in Agenda 2030. The objective was to examine, from the grandparents’ perspective, and taking into account their educational level, the links that exist among co-learning processes and the practice of sustainable intergenerational leisure and its evolution throughout the pandemic era. This project sought to combine quantitative (N = 350) and qualitative (N = 18) methodologies, using an ad hoc questionnaire and a discussion group, in different moments, before and after the pandemic. The SPSS 23.0 statistical program was used for quantitative analysis and the NVivo Release 1.6 software for the qualitative study. The results show that intergenerational co-learning is a motive and a relevant stimulus that encourages both generations to share these experiences in natural spaces, which brings them together and facilitates lifelong learning. It has been proven that, before the lockdown, sustainable leisure practices showed significant differences depending on the level of education of the older generation. This had an impact on participation in activities associated with different types of leisure, with a tendency to increase the practice as the level of education rises. Nevertheless, after the pandemic, a greater reduction has been observed in the practice of shared leisure activities among those with a higher educational level.
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Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is widely used for high-precision indoor positioning due to its adaptability to various environments. However, in long linear areas, such as tunnels or corridors, the near-linear deployment of base stations caused by structural constraints significantly degrades UWB localization accuracy, rendering
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Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is widely used for high-precision indoor positioning due to its adaptability to various environments. However, in long linear areas, such as tunnels or corridors, the near-linear deployment of base stations caused by structural constraints significantly degrades UWB localization accuracy, rendering conventional algorithms ineffective. To address this issue, this study proposes a high-precision UWB+TOA-R positioning algorithm that incorporates Ridge estimation as a constraint condition. The algorithm introduces equivalent weights to refine the iterative computation of Ridge estimation, establishing an iteratively computed TOA-RR solution model. Experiments were conducted in a long linear corridor to compare the performance of three UWB localization models: the TOA-Least Squares (TOA-LS) model, the TOA-Ridge estimation (TOA-R) model, and the proposed TOA-Ridge estimation iterative (TOA-RR) model. The results indicate that the TOA-LS model suffers from significant coordinate distortions due to abnormalities in the inverse matrix of the coefficient matrix, regardless of the initial tag coordinates. The TOA-R model demonstrates improved accuracy and stability, particularly in cases of significant initial deviations, but still exhibits residual errors. In contrast, the TOA-RR model achieves enhanced stability and accuracy, with a positioning error of approximately 0.5 m. This study resolves the challenge of inaccurate UWB localization in long linear areas, providing a robust solution for such environments.
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Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) remains a significant clinical challenge, often leading to long-term functional impairment. Despite advances in therapies, current repair strategies offer unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Exosomes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-Exos) have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in regenerative
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Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) remains a significant clinical challenge, often leading to long-term functional impairment. Despite advances in therapies, current repair strategies offer unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Exosomes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-Exos) have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in regenerative medicine. This study assesses the efficacy and safety of iPSC-Exos in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury. Briefly, iPSCs were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy donors using Sendai virus vectors and validated for pluripotency. iPSC-Exos were characterized and injected at the injury site. Functional recovery was assessed through gait analysis, grip strength, and pain response. Histological and molecular analyses were used to examine axonal regeneration, myelination, Schwann cell (SC) activation, angiogenesis, and changes in gene expression. iPSC-Exos were efficiently internalized by SC, promoting their proliferation. No adverse effects were observed between groups on body weight, organ histology, or hematological parameters. iPSC-Exos injection significantly enhanced nerve regeneration, muscle preservation, and vascularization, with RNA sequencing revealing activation of PI3K-AKT and focal adhesion pathways. These findings support iPSC-Exos as a safe and effective non-cell-based therapy for PNIs, highlighting their potential for clinical applications in regenerative medicine.
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Growth differentiation factor 6 (GDF6), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, plays multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis, yet its molecular mechanisms and cancer-type-specific regulatory networks remain poorly defined. This study investigates GDF6’s context-dependent functions through pan-cancer multi-omics integration and functional validation. Transcriptomic data from
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Growth differentiation factor 6 (GDF6), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, plays multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis, yet its molecular mechanisms and cancer-type-specific regulatory networks remain poorly defined. This study investigates GDF6’s context-dependent functions through pan-cancer multi-omics integration and functional validation. Transcriptomic data from TCGA (33 cancers, n = 10,535) and GTEx were analyzed to assess GDF6 dysregulation. Co-expression networks, pathway enrichment (KEGG/GO), and epigenetic interactions (m6A, m5C, m1A) were explored. Functional assays included siRNA knockdown, wound healing, and validation in immunotherapy cohorts. GDF6 exhibited bidirectional expression patterns, with downregulation in 23 cancers (e.g., GBM, BRCA) and upregulation in 7 malignancies (e.g., KIRC, PAAD). Mechanistically, GDF6 activated the PI3K-Akt/VEGF pathways, thereby promoting angiogenesis and metastasis. It modulated epigenetic regulation through interactions with m6A readers and erasers. Additionally, GDF6 reshaped the immune microenvironment by recruiting myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, GDF6’s dual role extended to immunotherapy: it suppressed anti-PD1 efficacy but enhanced anti-PD-L1 sensitivity, linked to differential MHC-II and hypoxia-response regulation. This study deciphers GDF6’s context-dependent molecular networks, revealing its dual roles in metastasis and immune evasion. These findings highlight GDF6 as a central node in TGF-β-mediated oncogenic signaling and a potential therapeutic target for precision intervention.
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de Grijs and Bono (ApJS 2020, 246, 3) compiled a list of distances to M87 from the literature published in the last 100 years. They reported the arithmetic mean of the three most stable tracers (Cepheids, tip of the red giant branch, and
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de Grijs and Bono (ApJS 2020, 246, 3) compiled a list of distances to M87 from the literature published in the last 100 years. They reported the arithmetic mean of the three most stable tracers (Cepheids, tip of the red giant branch, and surface brightness fluctuations). The arithmetic mean is one of the measures of central tendency of a distribution; others are the median and mode. The three do not align for asymmetric distributions, which is the case for the distance moduli to M87. I construct a kernel density distribution of the set of and estimate the recommended distance to M87 as its mode, obtaining mag, corresponding to Mpc, which yields uncertainties smaller than those associated with the mean and median.
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The high input/output demands of memory packages require precise trace width and spacing, posing challenges for contemporary package design. Substrate copper trace cracks are a major reliability issue during temperature cycling tests (TCTs). This study offers a detailed analysis of copper trace crack
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The high input/output demands of memory packages require precise trace width and spacing, posing challenges for contemporary package design. Substrate copper trace cracks are a major reliability issue during temperature cycling tests (TCTs). This study offers a detailed analysis of copper trace crack mechanisms through experimental observations, material characterization, and numerical simulations. Common failure modes of trace cracks are identified from experimental data, pinpointing initiation sites and propagation paths. Young’s modulus of copper foil samples is assessed using four testing methods, revealing consistent trends across samples from different substrate suppliers. Sample A with higher E/H values tested via nanoindentation correlated with lower failure rates in the experiment. Stress–strain testing on copper foil was successfully performed at the lower TCT temperature limit of −65 °C, providing vital input for finite element (FE) models. The simulations show strong alignment with trace crack locations under different failure modes. The impact of copper trace width and material properties is illustrated in numerical models by comparing variations in plastic strain responses, which show differences of up to 40% and 30%, respectively. The simulation design of the experiments (DOE) indicates that high-strength solder resist (SR) can significantly enhance temperature cycling performance by reducing SR and copper trace stress and strain by up to 75%. The accumulation of plastic strain in copper traces is predicted to increase up to four times when SR breaks at the crack location, underscoring the importance of SR in copper trace reliability.
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Luis Pacheco, Fernando Oliveira Tavares, Makhabbat Ramazanova, Jorge Fuentes Ávila, Helena Albuquerque, Fátima Matos Silva, Jorge Marques, Mario Guillo, Beatriz Barrera Zuleta and Silvia Marín Guzmán
Research outputs in higher education institutions (HEIs) are crucially dependent on the research management process. Departing from a SWOT analysis, the main objective of this paper is to analyze the perceptions of stakeholders (researchers, teachers, and senior research managers) regarding the main strengths
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Research outputs in higher education institutions (HEIs) are crucially dependent on the research management process. Departing from a SWOT analysis, the main objective of this paper is to analyze the perceptions of stakeholders (researchers, teachers, and senior research managers) regarding the main strengths and weaknesses of HEIs, as well as assess the potential opportunities and threats present in the external environment. It analyzed a total of 462 responses from seven HEIs and two ministries participating in the INNOVA project in Bolivia and Paraguay. The results from the statistical analysis indicate that the respondents tend to identify the traditional obstacles and facilitators to research development, namely, the scarcity and instability of public policies, which permeate the institutions, diminishing the consistency of internal research policies and creating difficulties in access to funding and career development opportunities. Building on the substantial progress made in recent years, the unvirtuous cycle may be halted with political stability and committed action between all the concerned parties.
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In an increasingly interconnected world, businesses may face the challenge of managing crises, whether they are economic downturns, natural disasters, or global pandemics. During such times, building strong and sustainable marketing resilience becomes crucial for businesses aiming to survive and thrive. Digital technologies—particularly
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In an increasingly interconnected world, businesses may face the challenge of managing crises, whether they are economic downturns, natural disasters, or global pandemics. During such times, building strong and sustainable marketing resilience becomes crucial for businesses aiming to survive and thrive. Digital technologies—particularly social media platforms and artificial intelligence (AI)—can play a vital role in enhancing marketing resilience. This research seeks to answer the core question: “How can social media and AI technologies help businesses build marketing resilience during crises”? Drawing from a literature review, this study analyzes a wide range of relevant research. The findings indicate that AI and social media together contribute to enhancing marketing resilience during crises by enabling real-time engagement, data-driven decision-making, and personalized communication. However, these technologies also present challenges, such as privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and potential risks to brand reputation. This research contributes to the field by analyzing how AI and social media technologies enable companies to remain agile, reduce the impact of crises, and maintain sustainability objectives in their marketing practices.
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Mike Nundwe, Joseph Yamweka Chizimu, John Mwaba, Misheck Shawa, Rodrick S. Katete, Mable Mwale Mutengo, Ruth Nakazwe, Namwiinga R. Mulunda, Cephas Sialubanje, Mox Malama Kalumbi, Yamba Kaunda, Rapheal Chanda, Herman Chambaro, Harvey K. Kamboyi, Thoko Kapalamula, Steward Mudenda, Freeman W. Chabala, Bernard M. Hang’ombe, Roma Chilengi, Chie Nakajima and Yasuhiko Suzukiadd
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Background: Shigella species are the leading cause of human shigellosis. In Zambia, more than 30% of children experiencing diarrhea are infected with Shigella species. The increasing resistance of Shigella species to the recommended therapy is of great concern. Therefore, this study investigated the
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Background: Shigella species are the leading cause of human shigellosis. In Zambia, more than 30% of children experiencing diarrhea are infected with Shigella species. The increasing resistance of Shigella species to the recommended therapy is of great concern. Therefore, this study investigated the antibiotic resistance profiles and phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Shigella isolates at the largest referral hospital in Zambia. Methodology: Of the forty-eight archived presumptive Shigella isolates, thirty-two were serologically confirmed and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Thereafter, polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the bla genes. Results: Most isolates were Shigella flexneri (16/32, 50%) and Shigella sonnei (14/32, 44%), while Shigella boydii and Shigella dysenteriae were rare. High resistance rates were noted for sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (78%) and tetracycline (75%), while 15.6% of the isolates showed resistance to ciprofloxacin and/or azithromycin. The blaTEM gene encoding beta-lactamase was detected in 7/32 (22%) of isolates. Conclusions: In this study, a significant number of multidrug-resistant isolates were identified. Additionally, Shigella species resistant to the World Health Organization-recommended drugs call for strengthened laboratory diagnosis and close monitoring of these pathogens to guide the clinical management of shigellosis.
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Background: Few studies have compared the risk of reoperation by timing in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. We evaluated the first and total number of reoperations by reconstruction timing in women with breast cancer undergoing primary mastectomy. Methods: A cohort study of 23,301
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Background: Few studies have compared the risk of reoperation by timing in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. We evaluated the first and total number of reoperations by reconstruction timing in women with breast cancer undergoing primary mastectomy. Methods: A cohort study of 23,301 primary mastectomies in women with breast cancer undergoing either immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) or delayed reconstruction was carried out within Kaiser Permanente between 2010 and 2022. The first reoperation rate was calculated using cause-specific Cox Proportional Hazards Models, while Multiplicative Cox Proportional Hazards Models were used to account for mortality and timing in reoperation. Patients were continuously monitored for death, outcome of interest, loss to follow-up through healthcare membership termination, or study end date (31 December 2022). Results: In total, 78.4% (n = 18,276) of the cohort underwent IBR. The average follow-up time was 5.9 years (±3.8). The following covariates were imbalanced (standardized mean difference [SMD] ≥ 0.20) between IBR and delayed groups: BMI, smoking status, year of mastectomy, bilateral procedures, and reconstruction type. The crude incidence of first reoperation was 33.04% vs. 31.72% in IBR vs. delayed patients and the risk of reoperation was 18% higher in IBR patients (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.12–1.25). There was no difference in the risk of reoperation by timing (p > 0.05) when assessing multiple reoperations. The reoperation risk was the highest for IBR patients who did not complete reconstruction or single-stage reconstruction. In addition, the first reoperation rate of IBR patients was higher in those who underwent expander–implant-based reconstruction. Conclusions: The first reoperation rate was higher in IBR patients compared to those who delayed reconstruction, although we failed to detect a difference for multiple returns to surgery, except in certain subgroups. Assessing reoperation risk by timing among different reconstruction modalities can aid patients in making informed decisions about the type of breast reconstruction to undergo.
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This communication examines the interplay between linguistic mediation and knowledge conversion in cyber-sociotechnical systems (CSTSs) via the WAx framework, which outlines various work representations and eight key conversion activities. Grounded in enactivist principles, we argue that language is a dynamic mechanism that shapes,
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This communication examines the interplay between linguistic mediation and knowledge conversion in cyber-sociotechnical systems (CSTSs) via the WAx framework, which outlines various work representations and eight key conversion activities. Grounded in enactivist principles, we argue that language is a dynamic mechanism that shapes, and is shaped by, human–machine interactions, enhancing system resilience and adaptability. By integrating the concepts of simplexity, complixity, and complexity compression, we illustrate how complex cognitive and operational processes can be selectively condensed into efficient outcomes. A case study of a chatbot-based customer support system demonstrates how the phases of socialization, introspection, externalization, combination, internalization, conceptualization, reification, and influence collaboratively drive the evolution of resilient CSTS designs. Our findings indicate that natural language serves as a bridging tool for effective sense-making, adaptive coordination, and continuous learning, offering novel insights into designing technologically advanced, socially grounded, and evolving sociotechnical systems.
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In the platform economy, customers are the primary interaction partners of gig workers, and their behaviors and attitudes significantly influence gig workers’ work experiences and behavioral responses. Based on the stressor–emotion model and social exchange theory, this paper systematically explores the formation mechanism
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In the platform economy, customers are the primary interaction partners of gig workers, and their behaviors and attitudes significantly influence gig workers’ work experiences and behavioral responses. Based on the stressor–emotion model and social exchange theory, this paper systematically explores the formation mechanism of customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. This study employs structural equation modeling to analyze survey data collected from 385 registered gig workers on crowdsourced delivery platforms in China. The results indicate that customer injustice increases gig workers’ negative emotions, perceived organizational injustice, and customer-directed counterproductive work behavior while decreasing customer commitment. Furthermore, negative emotions, perceived organizational injustice, and customer commitment mediate the relationship between customer injustice and customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. Additionally, job demands act as a buffering mechanism in the occurrence of customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. This study is the first to systematically focus on customer-directed counterproductive work behavior among crowdsourced delivery gig workers, enriching the existing literature. The findings provide practical insights for crowdsourced delivery platforms, aiding in understanding gig workers’ work psychology and optimizing labor management strategies.
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Caffeine is administered to preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units for prevention and treatment of apnea of prematurity. Although caffeine’s primary effect is to impact the respiratory drive of preterm infants, caffeine also has anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the role of
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Caffeine is administered to preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units for prevention and treatment of apnea of prematurity. Although caffeine’s primary effect is to impact the respiratory drive of preterm infants, caffeine also has anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the role of caffeine on the inflammatory gene expression in THP-1 pre-monocytes exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro, mimicking a clinical pro-inflammatory scenario. The effects of different physiologic dosages of caffeine administration post-LPS (treatment with caffeine) and pre-LPS (prophylaxis with caffeine) on pro-inflammatory gene expressions (TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-8, PPARγ) of the THP-1 cells were investigated. The post-LPS group showed a dose-dependent decrease in TNF-α at a caffeine concentration of 100 μM and NF-κB gene expression at 50 and 100 μM, with the implication that this is an optimal anti-inflammatory caffeine concentration range. Clinically, this would correspond to a serum caffeine level between 10 and 20 μg/mL, respectively. For the pre-LPS group, TNF-α and NF-κB gene expression decreased at all studied caffeine concentrations. These findings point to caffeine’s potential therapeutic capacity in regulating monocyte inflammatory responses to gram-negative infections in addition to regulating neuron response in the brainstem for preterm infants.
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William D. Arenhardt, Felipe Ketzer, João H. C. Wancura, Janaina Seraglio, Fabio L. Carasek, Guilherme Zin, Jean F. F. Calisto, Clovis A. Rodrigues, Alessandra C. de Meneses, José Vladimir Oliveira and Jacir Dal Magro
This study presents data on the water quality of the Guarani Aquifer based on samples collected from distinct groundwater wells in the western region of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Among the analyses performed, the results indicated the need for treatment to ensure suitability
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This study presents data on the water quality of the Guarani Aquifer based on samples collected from distinct groundwater wells in the western region of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Among the analyses performed, the results indicated the need for treatment to ensure suitability for human consumption, particularly concerning Fe3+ and Mn2+ ions. Accordingly, natural (NCLIN) and activated clinoptilolite (ACLIN) zeolites were evaluated for ion removal from synthetic aqueous solutions through adsorption. NCLIN demonstrated excellent performance in adsorbing Fe3+ and Mn2+ ions, achieving removal efficiencies of over 98% and 95%, respectively, at a controlled pH of 6.0 (NCLIN) or 4.0 (ACLIN). A non-linear approach to modeling adsorption kinetics indicated that the pseudo-second-order model best represented the experimental data. This finding suggests that the interaction between the adsorbent and Fe3+ and Mn2+ ions occur through electron sharing and chemisorption. Equilibrium modeling analysis revealed that adsorption on NCLIN occurred in a monolayer, whereas adsorption on ACLIN followed a multilayer pattern. This behavior is attributed to the activation process with H2SO4, which led to dealumination and the formation of HSO3− groups on the adsorbent surface.
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Layered Ruddlesden–Popper titanates HLnTiO4 and H2Ln2Ti3O10 (Ln = La, Nd) have been exfoliated into nanosheets in aqueous tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and systematically investigated as hydrogen evolution photocatalysts. The nanosheets were tested both in as-prepared pristine form
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Layered Ruddlesden–Popper titanates HLnTiO4 and H2Ln2Ti3O10 (Ln = La, Nd) have been exfoliated into nanosheets in aqueous tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and systematically investigated as hydrogen evolution photocatalysts. The nanosheets were tested both in as-prepared pristine form and after reassembly by two methods (simple filtration and precipitation by hydrochloric acid). The nanosheet-based samples demonstrated by up to 88 times greater photocatalytic performance in comparison with the bulk precursors and, after modification with a Pt cocatalyst, provided apparent quantum efficiency of hydrogen generation up to 14.2% in 1 mol.% aqueous methanol and 3.15% in pure water. It was established that the form in which the nanosheets are used strongly affects the hydrogen production efficiency: the latter typically decreases when moving from the pristine nanosheets to filtered ones and then to those restacked by hydrochloric acid, which is determined by the difference in their physical–chemical characteristics being influenced by the reassembly approach.
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Precocious puberty (PP) is characterized by the early onset of secondary sexual characteristics and accelerated growth, which often result in compromised adult height (AH). Central precocious puberty (CPP), a subset of PP, is treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) to suppress premature hormonal
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Precocious puberty (PP) is characterized by the early onset of secondary sexual characteristics and accelerated growth, which often result in compromised adult height (AH). Central precocious puberty (CPP), a subset of PP, is treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) to suppress premature hormonal activation and delay epiphyseal closure, thereby preserving height potential. The present review examined the effects of GnRHa on AH outcomes in girls with idiopathic CPP. Although AH is greater with GnRHa therapy than without it, the treatment does not consistently restore the patient’s genetic potential. The benefits of the treatment are most evident in girls in whom idiopathic CPP is diagnosed before 6 years of age and they achieve a height gain of 4.5–14.1 cm, which is unattainable without treatment. However, the treatment of older children (ages 6–8) shows conflicting results, with the AH outcome varying among previous reports. In particular, slowly progressive CPP is known to have a favorable height prognosis even without treatment. Another factor influencing the AH prognosis is the timing of GnRHa discontinuation; the best time to discontinue GnRHa therapy for the best AH outcome is reportedly the bone age of approximately 12 years. In conclusion, although GnRHa therapy significantly improves the AH, especially in early-onset CPP, its effectiveness is uncertain in borderline or late-onset cases. Further research is required to formulate more precise criteria for patient selection and treatment discontinuation to optimize height outcome in girls with idiopathic CPP.
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Fábio Ramos Costa, Luyddy Pires, Rubens Andrade Martins, Márcia Santos, Gabriel Silva Santos, João Vitor Lana, Bruno Ramos Costa, Napoliane Santos, Alex Pontes de Macedo, André Kruel and José Fábio Lana
At the forefront of regenerative medicine, orthobiologics represent a spectrum of biological substances that offer promising alternatives for tissue repair and regeneration. Traditional surgical treatments often involve significant risks, extended recovery periods, and may not fully restore tissue functionality, creating a strong demand
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At the forefront of regenerative medicine, orthobiologics represent a spectrum of biological substances that offer promising alternatives for tissue repair and regeneration. Traditional surgical treatments often involve significant risks, extended recovery periods, and may not fully restore tissue functionality, creating a strong demand for less invasive options. This paper presents a concise overview of orthobiologics, reexamining their role within the broader landscape of regenerative medicine. Beginning with a brief introduction to orthobiologics, the paper navigates through various types of biological materials and their associated mechanisms of action and clinical applications. By highlighting platelet derivatives, bone marrow-derived products, and processed adipose tissue, among others, it underscores the pivotal role of orthobiologics in prompting biological responses like cellular proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis, thereby fostering tissue healing. Furthermore, this paper explores the diverse applications of orthobiologics in orthopedic conditions, outlining their utility in the treatment of bone and soft-tissue injuries. Addressing clinical considerations, it discusses safety profiles, efficacy, patient selection criteria, and emerging challenges. With the limitations of traditional medicine becoming more apparent, orthobiologics offer an innovative and less invasive approach to patient care. Looking forward, this paper approaches future directions in orthobiologics research, emphasizing the need for continued innovation and exploration. Through a concise perspective, this paper aims to provide clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of orthobiologics and their evolving role in regenerative medicine.
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Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) for treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS) have primarily focused on symptom relief and quality-of-life improvement. However, head-to-head comparisons of different BoNT-A formulations, particularly in terms of onset, duration of action, and efficacy, remain
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Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) for treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS) have primarily focused on symptom relief and quality-of-life improvement. However, head-to-head comparisons of different BoNT-A formulations, particularly in terms of onset, duration of action, and efficacy, remain limited. We conducted a 12-week prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy and safety of 33.33 units of Neubotulinum toxin A (Neu-BoNT-A) with 100 units of Abobotulinum toxin A (Abo-BoNT-A) in the treatment of HFS. A total of 87 patients were enrolled between September and December 2024. Neu-BoNT-A and Abo-BoNT-A exhibited similar onset and duration of action [5.0 ± 0.9 vs. 6.2 ± 0.7 days, respectively (p = 0.33)]. After 12 weeks of treatment, Neu-BoNT-A demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing the daily duration of HFS (2.00 ± 0.06 vs. 1.42 ± 0.10 h/day, p < 0.001) and improving sleep duration (1.37 ± 0.01 vs. 1.06 ± 0.01 h/day, p < 0.001). However, Abo-BoNT-A was associated with significantly lower absolute daily disability time compared to Neu-BoNT-A (11.4 vs. 1.2 min/day, p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were observed. Both Neu-BoNT-A and Abo-BoNT-A were safe and effective in treating HFS. However, Neu-BoNT-A was more effective in HFS with minimal symptoms without disability and Abo-BoNT-A more effective in HFS with greater duration of disability.
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Akmalbek Abdusalomov, Sabina Umirzakova, Komil Tashev, Nodir Egamberdiev, Guzalxon Belalova, Azizjon Meliboev, Ibragim Atadjanov, Zavqiddin Temirov and Young Im Cho
The increasing frequency and severity of agricultural fires pose significant threats to food security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. Traditional fire-detection methods, relying on satellite imagery and ground-based sensors, often suffer from delayed response times and high false-positive rates, limiting their effectiveness in
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The increasing frequency and severity of agricultural fires pose significant threats to food security, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. Traditional fire-detection methods, relying on satellite imagery and ground-based sensors, often suffer from delayed response times and high false-positive rates, limiting their effectiveness in mitigating fire-related damages. In this study, we propose an advanced deep learning-based fire-detection framework that integrates the Single-Shot MultiBox Detector (SSD) with the computationally efficient MobileNetV2 architecture. This integration enhances real-time fire- and smoke-detection capabilities while maintaining a lightweight and deployable model suitable for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based agricultural monitoring. The proposed model was trained and evaluated on a custom dataset comprising diverse fire scenarios, including various environmental conditions and fire intensities. Comprehensive experiments and comparative analyses against state-of-the-art object-detection models, such as You Only Look Once (YOLO), Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN), and SSD-based variants, demonstrated the superior performance of our model. The results indicate that our approach achieves a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 97.7%, significantly surpassing conventional models while maintaining a detection speed of 45 frames per second (fps) and requiring only 5.0 GFLOPs of computational power. These characteristics make it particularly suitable for deployment in edge-computing environments, such as UAVs and remote agricultural monitoring systems.
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Objectives: Early observations often fail to detect anomalies that may impact the health and quality of life of newborns. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of oral anomalies in newborns and explore their possible associations with sociodemographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study
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Objectives: Early observations often fail to detect anomalies that may impact the health and quality of life of newborns. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of oral anomalies in newborns and explore their possible associations with sociodemographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Quito, Ecuador, analyzing a sample of 241 newborns. The presence of oral anomalies was recorded, and their association with sex, birth weight, maternal age, and gestational factors was evaluated. Results: The prevalence of oral anomalies was 72.3%, with Epstein’s pearls being the most common (50%). Other findings included Bohn’s nodules and dental lamina cysts, while no cases of natal teeth or congenital epulis were observed. Ankyloglossia was identified in 1.36% of newborns. No significant correlations were found between the presence of oral anomalies and sex, birth weight, maternal age, or gestational factors. Conclusions: The high prevalence (72.3%) of oral anomalies in the studied newborns underscores the importance of early detection and management. Epstein’s pearls were the most frequent anomaly, followed by Bohn’s nodules, dental lamina cysts, and ankyloglossia, while no cases of natal teeth or congenital epulis were identified. No statistically significant associations were found with sex, birth weight, maternal age, or pregnancy complications. These findings emphasize the need for early pediatric dental assessment and an interdisciplinary approach to ensure proper neonatal oral health. Further research is recommended to explore potential causes and interventions to optimize oral health from birth.
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Additive manufacturing (AM) has swiftly emerged as a substitute for conventional methods such as machining and injection moulding. Its appeal is attributed to accelerated prototyping, improved sustainability, and the capacity to fabricate intricate shapes. Nonetheless, the size constraints of additive manufacturing components require
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Additive manufacturing (AM) has swiftly emerged as a substitute for conventional methods such as machining and injection moulding. Its appeal is attributed to accelerated prototyping, improved sustainability, and the capacity to fabricate intricate shapes. Nonetheless, the size constraints of additive manufacturing components require the assembly of smaller 3D-printed elements to create larger structures. This study investigates the tensile properties of scarf joints (SJs) created from several polymers, including ABS, PETG, and PLA, adhered with Araldite® 2015 and Sikaforce® 7752 adhesives. The characteristics of the adherends were assessed prior to examining the adhesive efficacy in the SJ configuration. Experimental evaluations quantified failure modes, joint strength, assembly stiffness, and energy at failure, comparing findings with predictions from a cohesive zone model (CZM). The objective was to determine the ideal combination of materials and adhesives for enhanced joint performance. Results indicated that joint performance is greatly affected by the adherend material, adhesive selection, and scarf angle. PLA and Araldite® 2015 typically exhibited optimal strength and stiffness, but Sikaforce® 7752 demonstrated enhanced energy absorption for extended bonding lengths.
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This study examines the relationship between the communication tone of the Fed and that of the ECB over the period from January 2000 to September 2023. The tones were measured using both lexicon-based and transform-based algorithms. Wavelet coherence analysis helped distinguish the scale
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This study examines the relationship between the communication tone of the Fed and that of the ECB over the period from January 2000 to September 2023. The tones were measured using both lexicon-based and transform-based algorithms. Wavelet coherence analysis helped distinguish the scale of the relationship over time and frequency domains. Our findings suggest a dynamic process regarding the lead/lag positions, and the similarity of the two algorithms in the medium run highlights the leading role of the ECB during the (pre-)crisis period of the US and the leading role of the Fed during the QE period of the ECB. Hence, the variability in the leader/follower role suggests no strong predictive structural relationship between the two communication tones.
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Fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing has become increasingly popular for exploring advanced material matrices with a polymeric base. This study uses a low-energy method to investigate the metallization process on a surface created by 3D printing. This involves using an acrylic-paint-based solution to
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Fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing has become increasingly popular for exploring advanced material matrices with a polymeric base. This study uses a low-energy method to investigate the metallization process on a surface created by 3D printing. This involves using an acrylic-paint-based solution to disperse the copper (Cu) powder on a polylactic acid (PLA) substrate, allowing for an evaluation of the fabricated samples’ mechanical, morphological, absorbance, and capacitance properties. The study findings indicate a gradual increase in tensile strength as the content of Cu in the acrylic paint layer on the PLA substrate increases. There was a clear and consistent increase in the tensile strength of the specimen, ranging from 13.5 MPa (sample 1) to 15.6 MPa (sample 5). Similarly, the percentage of strain at failure also showed a noticeable increase, ranging from 4.2% (sample 1) to 8.6% (sample 5). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation revealed the presence of completely enveloped Cu particles in acrylic paint on the FDM-printed surface of the PLA. The Ultraviolet–Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS) indicated a significant change in the absorbance pattern as the copper content in the layer increased. The augmented absorbance values serve as an advantage because they demonstrate enhanced UV light interaction, which correlates with the increase in capacitance measurements of 6 to 8 pF. This result suggests that the fabricated sample potentially leads to favorable alterations in material characteristics for applications that demand stable capacitance alongside improved mechanical properties. The SEM analysis supported the observed trends.
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Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) regulate immune responses in many pathological conditions, one of which is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an incurable chronic disorder of the digestive tract and beyond. The pathophysiology of IBD remains unclear, likely involving aberrant innate and adaptive immunity. Studies
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Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) regulate immune responses in many pathological conditions, one of which is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an incurable chronic disorder of the digestive tract and beyond. The pathophysiology of IBD remains unclear, likely involving aberrant innate and adaptive immunity. Studies have reported altered population of MDSCs in patients with IBD. However, their distribution varies among patients and different preclinical models of IBD. The expansion and activation of MDSCs are likely driven by various stimuli during intestinal inflammation, but the in-depth mechanisms remain poorly understood. The role of MDSCs in the pathogenesis of IBD appears to be paradoxical. In addition to intestinal inflammation, suppressive MDSCs may promote colitis-to-colon-cancer transition. In this Review, we summarize recent progresses on the features, activation, and roles of MDSCs in the development of IBD and IBD-associated colon cancer.
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