Search Results (16,250)

Consumer wearables are increasingly used in physical activity (PA) interventions, but their validity as a measurement tool among low PA groups, like adolescent girls, is unclear. We assessed the minute- and day-level agreement between PA measures among adolescent Latinas from an intervention. Participants wore a Fitbit Inspire HR and an ActiGraph GT3X+ for overlapping epochs. ActiGraph data were classified using two different cut points and aligned with Fitbit data to produce 1,149,169 matched minutes of wear across 137 adolescent girls (M = 15.73 yrs). Confusion matrices were calculated for pairwise comparisons to determine minute-level Moderate-Vigorous PA (MVPA) classification. Data were aggregated to 1007 days for Bland–Altman analyses. ActiGraph cut points showed moderate agreement for minute-level MVPA classification (Balanced Accuracy = 0.71, AC1 = 0.98), while Fitbit showed fair agreement (Balanced Accuracy = 0.50, AC1 = 0.95–0.97) largely driven by non-MVPA observations. The Freedson cut point overestimated daily MVPA relative to Treuth by 14.7 min/day and Fitbit by 14.2 min/day in Bland–Altman space. The daily Treuth and Fitbit comparison did not significantly differ. Findings suggest systematic differences between cut points that warrant further consideration. Fitbit showed moderate agreement with ActiGraph, but heteroscedasticity and the epoch of aggregation significantly impacted agreement. Understanding device differences has implications for promoting/researching public health among adolescents. Full article

Rapid evolution in electrified transportation and, in general, sustainability of electrical and electronic assets is turning the traditional power supply and utilization into something more complex and less known. This transition involves increasing operating voltage and specific power, as well as various types of power supply sources, from AC sinusoidal to DC and power electronics. This revolution, beneficial for asset efficiency and resilience, does come at the cost of increased risk of failure for electrical insulation systems. Intrinsic and extrinsic aging mechanisms are not completely known under DC and power electronics, and the risk of inception of partial discharges, PD, which is the most harmful extrinsic aging factor for electrical insulation, is as high, or even higher, compared with AC. To complicate the picture, electrical and electronic components can be used at different pressure levels, such as in aerospace, and it is known that partial discharge inception voltage, PDIV, drops down, and PD magnitude increases, lowering pressure. Models to predict PDIV for surface and internal discharges, as function of pressure, have been proposed recently, but they cannot be applied straightforwardly on practical asset components where type and locations of defects generating PD is unknown. This paper wants to close this application gap. Derivation and validation of an approximate, heuristic model able to predict PDIV at various pressure levels below and above the standard atmospheric pressure, SAP, are dealt with in this paper, referring to typical asset components such as cables, motors, printed circuit-boards, PCB, and under sinusoidal AC voltage. The good capability of the model to predict PDIV and any investigated pressure, from 3 to 0.05 bar, is validated by PD measurements performed using an innovative, automatic PD analytics software able to identify the typology of defect generating PD, i.e., whether surface or internal. Full article

Biodiesel is an alternative, sustainable, renewable, and environmentally friendly energy source, which has generated interest from the scientific community due to its low toxicity, rapid biodegradability, and zero carbon footprint. Biodiesel is a biofuel produced by the transesterification of triglycerides or the esterification of free fatty acids (FFA). Both reactions require catalysts with numerous active sites (basic, acidic, bifunctional, or enzymatic) for efficient biodiesel production. On the other hand, since the late 1990s, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a new class of porous materials and have been successfully used in various fields due to their multiple properties. For this reason, MOFs have been used as heterogeneous catalysts or as a platform for designing active sites, thus improving stability and reusability. This literature review presents a comprehensive analysis of using MOFs as heterogeneous catalysts or supports for biodiesel production. The optimal parameters for transesterification/esterification are detailed, such as the alcohol/feedstock molar ratio, catalyst amount, reaction time and temperature, conversion percentage, biodiesel yield, fatty acid and water content, etc. Additionally, novel methodologies such as ultrasound and microwave irradiation for obtaining MOF-based catalysts are described. It is important to note that most studies have shown biodiesel yields >90% and multiple reuse cycles with minimal activity loss. The bibliographic analysis was conducted using the American Chemical Society (ACS) Scifinder^® database, the Elsevier B.V. Scopus^® database, and the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science^® database, under the institutional license of the Universidad Veracruzana. Keywords were searched for each section, generally limiting the document type to “reviews” and “journals,” and the language to English, and published between 2000 and 2025. Full article

Background: Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) applied to the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) has been proposed as an effective neuromodulator treatment for persistent radicular pain. Autologous conditioned serum (ACS) therapy, derived from the patient’s own blood, offers a conservative approach. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ACS applied to the DRG as an adjunct in treating lower limb radicular pain (LLRP). Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted comparing PRF combined with ACS versus PRF with physiological saline (PhS) on the DRG. Seventy patients (35 per group) with radicular pain lasting ≥ 6 months and refractory to previous treatments were enrolled. The primary outcome measure was the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS); secondary measures included the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Mood Assessment Scale (MOAS), SF-12 quality of life questionnaire, and DN4 neuropathic pain scale. Assessments occurred at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-intervention. Results: A total of 70 patients were included. The ACS group showed a significant reduction in pain compared to controls at 30 days (p < 0.05). Additionally, neuropathic symptoms such as tingling, numbness, stubbing, and burning decreased significantly in the ACS group during this period (p < 0.05). While both groups experienced pain reduction over time, no significant differences persisted at 6 months. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: The addition of ACS to PRF provides a short-term, statistically significant reduction in radicular pain at 30 days, suggesting it is a safe and effective adjunct therapy for lower limb radicular pain. Full article

Phase and band gap engineering of (CdS)_x(CuInS₂)_1−x nanomaterials is critical for their potential applications in photovoltaics and photocatalysis, yet it remains a challenge. Here, we report a precursor-mediated colloidal method for phase-control synthesis of alloyed (CdS)_x(CuInS₂)_1−x nanocrystals with tunable band gap. When CuCl, InCl₃, and Cd(AC)₂·2H₂O are used as the respective cation sources, wurtzite-structured alloyed (CdS)_x(CuInS₂)_1−x nanocrystals can be synthesized with a tunable optical band gap ranging from 1.56 to 2.45 eV by directly controlling the molar ratio of the Cd precursor. Moreover, using Cu(S₂CNEt₂)₂, In(S₂CNEt₂)₃, and Cd(S₂CNEt₂)₂ as cation sources results in alloyed (CdS)_x(CuInS₂)_1−x nanocrystals with a zinc-blende structure, demonstrating that the optical band gap of these nanocrystals can be compositionally tuned from 1.50 to 1.84 eV through precisely adjusting the molar ratio of Cd precursor. The results were validated through a comprehensive characterization approach employing XRD, TEM, HRTEM, STEM-EDS, XPS, UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy, and Mott–Schottky analysis. Full article

The demand for effective antibacterial materials is growing rapidly in today’s world. Both metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles have been widely used as antibacterial agents against various bacterial species due to their unique mechanisms of destroying bacterial membrane cells. The current study explores the antibacterial activity of centrifugally spun fibers prepared from copper acetate polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) ethanol precursor solutions against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. During the synthesis of the composite fibers, the physical and chemical conditions were optimized. The structure and morphology of the PVP/Cu-Ac fibers were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The antibacterial activity of PVP/copper acetate fibers was tested against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli. The PVP/Copper acetate fibers demonstrated bactericidal activity against both bacterial strains, making the PVP/copper acetate composite fibers an effective material for biomedical applications. Full article

Athletic performance results from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. This review compiles and synthesizes available literature on polymorphic genes associated with endurance, power, and strength performance, as well as their links to injury susceptibility and chronic metabolic diseases. Endurance performance is modulated by ACE, PPARGC1A, HFE, UCP2, UCP3, CDKN1A, and PPARA, regulating mitochondrial biogenesis, oxygen utilization, and muscle fiber composition. Power performance involves ACTN3, MCT1, IGF1, AMPD1, AGT, and AGTR2, affecting anaerobic metabolism, lactate clearance, and fast-twitch fiber recruitment. Strength performance is influenced by AR, PPARG, ARK2N, MMS22L, LRPPRC, PHACTR1, and MTHFR, related to androgen signaling, muscle hypertrophy, and recovery. Injury-related genes (COL1A1, COL5A1, IL6, VEGFA, NOG) and metabolic risk genes (FTO, PPARG, ADRB3) further highlight the clinical relevance of genomics. Collectively, these insights support the application of genetic information to personalize training, enhance performance, prevent injuries, and guide exercise interventions to mitigate metabolic disease risk. Full article

Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) wood is a preferred resonance material for musical instruments, but the surface coatings used to protect it also alter its acoustic behaviour. In this study, the effects of nitrocellulose and polyurethane coatings on spruce lamellas during an ageing period of 300 days were investigated. Gloss, hardness, impact resistance, resonance frequencies, vibration damping (tan δ) and acoustic conversion efficiency (ACE) were measured. Both coatings initially reduced the resonance frequencies and moduli of elasticity (E), while increasing the tan δ and reducing the ACE, with the nitrocellulose having a greater effect. Ageing led to greater hardness, lower tan δ and improved ACE, which can be attributed to the progressive curing of the coatings. The strong correlation between hardness and acoustic parameters suggests that mechanical surface properties may serve as predictors of acoustic effectiveness. Polyurethane maintained acoustic performance better than nitrocellulose, although impact resistance decreased with ageing. These results emphasize the importance of choosing coating systems that balance durability and long-term acoustic requirements in instrument making. Full article

Background: Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) reflects bidirectional heart–kidney injury whose mechanisms extend far beyond hemodynamics. High-throughput genomics and multi-omics now illuminate the molecular circuits that couple cardiac and renal dysfunction. Methods: We narratively synthesize animal and human studies leveraging transcriptomics, proteomics, peptidomics, metabolomics, and non-coding RNA profiling to map convergent pathways in CRS and to highlight biomarker and therapeutic implications. Results: Across acute and chronic CRS models, omics consistently converge on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and fibrosis (e.g., FN1, POSTN, collagens), immune–inflammatory activation (IL-6 axis, macrophage/complement signatures), renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system hyperactivity, oxidative stress, and metabolic/mitochondrial derangements in both organs. Single-nucleus and bulk transcriptomes reveal tubular dedifferentiation after cardiac arrest-induced AKI and myocardial reprogramming with early CKD, while quantitative renal proteomics in heart failure demonstrates marked upregulation of ACE/Ang II and pro-fibrotic matricellular proteins despite near-normal filtration. Human translational data corroborate these signals: urinary peptidomics detects CRS-specific collagen fragments and protease activity, and circulating FN1/POSTN and selected microRNAs (notably miR-21) show diagnostic potential. Epigenetic and microRNA networks appear to integrate these axes, nominating targets such as anti-miR-21 and anti-fibrotic strategies; pathway-directed repurposing exemplifies dual-organ benefit. Conclusions: Genomics and multi-omics recast CRS as a systems disease driven by intertwined fibrosis, inflammation, neurohormonal and metabolic programs. We propose a translational framework that advances (i) composite biomarker panels combining injury, fibrosis, and regulatory RNAs; (ii) precision, pathway-guided therapies; and (iii) integrated, longitudinal multi-omics of well-phenotyped CRS cohorts to enable prediction and personalized intervention. Full article

To address the issues of zero-valent iron Fe(0) passivation and limited nitrogen and phosphorus removal in constructed wetlands (CWs), this study investigated the enhancement effect of two carbon materials—activated carbon (AC) obtained through high-temperature pyrolysis and biochar (BC) obtained through low-temperature pyrolysis—when coupled with Fe(0). Four systems were set up: control (CW-C), Fe(0) alone (CW-Fe), Fe(0) with AC (CW-FeAC), and Fe(0) with BC (CW-FeBC). Evaluations covered wastewater treatment performance, microbial community structure, and functional gene abundance. Results showed that iron–carbon coupling significantly improved nitrogen and phosphorus removal, with the CW-FeAC system performing best, achieving 58% total nitrogen (TN) and 90% total phosphorus (TP) removal. This enhancement was attributed to AC’s high conductivity, which strengthened iron–carbon micro-electrolysis, accelerated Fe(0) corrosion, and enabled continuous Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ release, supplying electrons for denitrification and phosphorus precipitation. Microbial analysis indicated that iron–carbon coupling markedly reshaped community structure, enriching key genera such as Thiobacillus (33.8%) and Geobacter (12.5%) in CW-FeAC. Functional gene analysis further confirmed higher abundances of denitrification (napA/narG→nirS→nosZ) and iron metabolism genes (feoA/feoB), suggesting enhanced nitrogen-iron cycling. This study clarifies the mechanisms by which iron–carbon coupling improves nitrogen and phosphorus performance in CWs and highlights the superiority of AC over BC in facilitating electron transfer and functional microorganism enrichment, providing a basis for the design of enhanced CW systems treating low-carbon-nitrogen-ratio wastewater, such as secondary effluent or lightly polluted surface water. Full article

The increasing integration of High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) systems and renewable energy challenges traditional grid strength assessment. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework that combines a composite strength index with an interpretable importance analysis to address this issue. First, a composite index is developed using the AHP-CRITIC method to fuse structural and fault withstand metrics. Then, to identify the factors influencing this index, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) is employed, accelerated by a high-fidelity Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) surrogate model that overcomes the computational burden of large-scale simulations. This GPR-SHAP approach provides both global parameter rankings and local, scenario-specific explanations, overcoming the limitations of conventional sensitivity analysis. Validated on a detailed model of the Southwest Power Grid in China, the framework successfully quantifies grid strength and pinpoints key vulnerabilities. Verification through a typical scenario demonstrates that implementing coordinated increases in both generation and load (each by 1000 MW) in the Chengdu area, as guided by local SHAP explanations, significantly improves the grid strength index from 33.73 to 47.61. It provides operators with a dependable tool to transition from experience-based practices to targeted, proactive stability management. Full article

Background: A timely systemic therapy of patients with metastasized non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a suggestive clinical conception. As the pre-therapeutic management is complex and includes comprehensive immunohistochemical and molecular diagnostics, the time to optimal therapy may be prolonged. Whether the timing of therapy influences the outcome still remains controversial. We investigated the therapy timing and overall survival in subgroups of NSCLC patients in the clinical cancer registry of Lower Saxony. Materials and Methods: Patients with UICC stage IV NSCLC and systemic therapy were included. Early and delayed therapy groups based on the median time from histology to therapy were defined. Median overall survival (mOS) was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier test and compared by the log rank test. Uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used for independent variables. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age, ECOG-PS, metastasis stage (M1a-c) and therapy. Results: We included 1687 patients; of these, the median age was 66.8 years, and 58% of patients were male. The median time to systemic therapy was 33 days, and in our sample, 844 patients were in the early and 843 in the delayed therapy group (TG). Median overall survival of the early TG patients was 9 m vs. 14 m in the delayed TG (p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses confirmed consistent findings among different age, metastasis and ECOG subgroups. Conclusion: UICC IV NSCLC patients with a delayed systemic therapy had a better overall survival than those with an early therapy. This observation supports a (qualified) waiting time for systemic therapies. Therapy timing may also be a relevant confounder in clinical studies. Full article

The ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has given rise to variants with enhanced transmissibility and pathogenicity, many of which harbor mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein. These mutations often confer increased viral fitness and immune evasion by modulating interactions with the human ACE2 receptor (hACE2) and escaping neutralizing antibodies. Accurate prediction of the functional consequences of such mutations—particularly their effects on receptor binding and antibody escape—is critical for assessing the public health threat posed by emerging variants. In this study, we apply a Mutation-dependent Biomacromolecular Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship (MB-QSAR) framework to quantitatively model the biochemical phenotypes of RBD variants. Trained on comprehensive deep mutational scanning (DMS) datasets, our models exhibit strong predictive performance, achieving correlation coefficients (r²) exceeding 0.8 for hACE2 binding affinity and 0.7 for antibody neutralization escape. Importantly, the MB-QSAR approach generalizes well to multi-mutant variants and currently circulating lineages. Structural analysis based on model-derived interaction profiles offers mechanistic insights into key RBD–ACE2 and RBD–antibody interfaces, helping the rational design of broadly protective vaccines and therapeutics. This work establishes MB-QSAR as a rapid, accurate, and interpretable tool for the prediction of protein–protein interaction and forecasting viral adaptation, thereby facilitating early risk assessment of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Kocher–Langenbeck approach is widely used for surgical fixation of posterior acetabular wall fractures. While previous studies have focused on mechanical outcomes and the risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis, the effects on peripheral circulation and neuromuscular recovery remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate dynamic changes in neuromuscular function and microcirculation following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using this approach. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 34 patients (aged 23–75) treated for posterior acetabular wall fractures between 2014 and 2022. All patients underwent ORIF via the Kocher–Langenbeck approach. Assessments at 8 and 12 months postoperatively included electromyography (EMG), chronaximetry, and rheovasography (RVG). Asymmetry coefficients were calculated to quantify blood flow and functional differences. Results: At 12 months postoperatively, significant microcirculatory asymmetry persisted in the operated limb, with arterial and venous coefficients exceeding 25% (27.5% and 26.8%, respectively). EMG revealed sustained reductions in gluteus maximus and rectus femoris activity (asymmetry ~39%). Chronaximetry showed delayed nerve conduction recovery, particularly in the common peroneal nerve (AC = 44%). The femoral segment demonstrated the most severe impairment in both arterial inflow and venous outflow. Conclusions: ORIF via the Kocher–Langenbeck approach is associated with long-term disturbances in neuromuscular function and regional circulation. Further research should explore alternative surgical approaches (e.g., ilioinguinal, Stoppa) in prospective studies, assess vascular integrity using advanced imaging (e.g., contrast-enhanced ultrasound), and incorporate long-term functional outcomes. Studies on neurovascular-sparing techniques and optimised rehabilitation protocols may help reduce postoperative morbidity and improve recovery. Full article

Reversine is a small-molecule Aurora kinase inhibitor known for its pro-apoptotic effects and potential to remodel chromatin architecture. Although its impact on mitotic regulation is established, its effects on telomere dynamics and nuclear organization in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of reversine on telomere architecture, genomic instability, and apoptosis in CML cell lines (K-562 and MEG-01). Reversine was applied at increasing concentrations, and cytotoxicity was assessed using caspase-3/7 activation assays. Quantitative PCR was used to measure AURKA and AURKB mRNA expressions. Three-dimensional telomere architecture was analyzed with TeloView^® v1.03 software after Q-FISH labeling to quantify telomere number, signal intensity, aggregation, nuclear volume, and a/c ratio. Reversine induced a dose- and time-dependent apoptotic response in both cell lines and significantly downregulated AURKA and AURKB expressions. Three-dimensional telomere analysis revealed a marked reduction in telomere number and aggregates, signal intensity, and nuclear volume. While reduced signal intensity may indicate telomere shortening, the concurrent decrease in aggregation and altered spatial parameters suggests telomeric reorganization rather than progressive instability. These features reflect structural nuclear remodeling and early apoptotic commitment. Differences between K-562 and MEG-01 responses underscore potential heterogeneity in telomere maintenance mechanisms. Reversine modulates genomic stability in CML cells through dual mechanisms involving Aurora kinase inhibition and telomere architecture remodeling. The integration of 3D telomere profiling highlights reversine’s potential as a therapeutic agent targeting nuclear disorganization and mitotic dysregulation in leukemia. Full article