Search Results (24,115)

Background/Objectives: In this paper, we report the development of the first chrome-doped hydroxyapatite in a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix enriched with amoxicillin for biomedical applications. The development of chromium-doped hydroxyapatite coatings in a PVA matrix enriched with amoxicillin aims to provide new biomaterials with improved physico-chemical and biological properties, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications. Methods: Through ultrasound studies, we obtained valuable information on the stability of the samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, metallographic microscopy (MM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed for the characterization of the samples. The biocompatibility of the CrHApAPV and CrHApAPV-Ax coatings was assessed using the MG63 human osteoblast-like cell line. To evaluate the cytotoxic potential of these coatings, the cell viability was quantified using the MTT assay after 24 h of incubation. The antibacterial activity of the coatings was evaluated with the aid of the reference strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (P. aeruginosa). Results: The XRD patterns of CrHApAPV and CrHApAPV-Ax samples were examined to evaluate the effects of PVA and amoxicillin on the lattice parameters, unit cell volume, and average crystallite sizes. The results of the in vitro antibacterial assay demonstrated that both the CrHApAPV and CrHApAPV-Ax coatings exhibited very good antibacterial properties for all the tested time intervals. Conclusions: Our results underline the stability of the analyzed samples. Moreover, our physico-chemical and biological studies highlight that CrHApAPV and CrHApAPV-Ax coatings could be considered promising materials for biomedical uses. Full article

This study examines the dynamics of information dissemination and opinion formation in Indonesian social media through a comprehensive analysis of a high-profile youth violence case. Using social network analysis (SNA), we analyzed 264,155 activities from 83,097 accounts on platform X (formerly Twitter) to understand the patterns of information flow, cluster formation, and inter-group interactions. The analysis revealed four distinct clusters with unique characteristics: a dominant support cluster (40.12%), a context-focused cluster (26.93%), a mainstream media cluster (14.14%), and a peripheral engagement cluster (6.05%). This study found significant patterns in information dissemination, with retweets dominating at 68% of total activities and strategic hashtag usage at 28%. Cross-cluster interactions comprised 20% of total activities, challenging assumptions about echo chambers in digital discourse. The network showed high resilience with 85% path reliability and demonstrated a consistent multiplier effect with a 1:5:15 ratio in message amplification. Bridge nodes (10–15% of accounts) played crucial roles in facilitating cross-cluster dialogue and maintaining network cohesion. The temporal evolution of discourse showed distinct phases, from initial factual reporting to later systemic analysis, with each phase characterized by different engagement patterns and narrative focuses. These findings extend existing theoretical frameworks while highlighting the need for more culturally nuanced approaches to understanding digital discourse in contexts of collectivist cultural dimensions. This study’s results have significant implications for digital literacy education, social media intervention strategies, and youth violence prevention efforts, suggesting the need for sophisticated, network-aware approaches that consider both structural dynamics and cultural contexts. Full article

Lentinan is one of the main metabolites of Lentinula edodes and exhibits numerous biological properties, such as antitumor and antioxidant activity. Despite recent advancements, its commercialization remains constrained by a lengthy cultivation cycle, low yield, and high cost. Therefore, screening strains with high polysaccharide production or enhanced bioactivity at the mycelial fermentation stage is of significant importance. In this study, the mycelial polysaccharide content and in vitro antioxidant activity of 18 L. edodes strains were evaluated under shaking and static culture conditions. The total polysaccharide content and IC₅₀ values under both culture conditions served as indicators for screening high-yielding and high in vitro antioxidant activity strains. Strain XG21 demonstrated superior polysaccharide production, with a total polysaccharide content of 78.80 mg in 50 mL of culture medium, which was 1.82 times higher than that of the main cultivated strain Xin808 (43.30 mg). Additionally, strain XG19 was identified for its high in vitro antioxidant activity, with total IC₅₀ values of 3.11 and 3.38 mg mL⁻¹ under shaking and static culture conditions, respectively. Further analyses on polysaccharide components, molecular weight, and enzyme activities were conducted on strains XG19, XG21, and Xin808. The results reveal that the polysaccharide from strain XG19 exhibited high uronic acid content and a significant weight-average molecular weight. Specifically, the intracellular polysaccharide uronic acid content (2.96%) was 2.22 and 1.14 times higher than that of Xin808 and XG21, respectively, while its weight-average molecular weight (Mw, 702.924 kDa) was 2.60 and 1.28 times greater than that of Xin808 and XG21. While the uronic acid content in its extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) (8.26%) was similar to Xin808 and XG21, the Mw (83.894 kDa) was 1.56 times greater than that of XG21. Correlation analysis revealed that the content of extracellular polysaccharides and total polysaccharides was positively correlated with phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) activity but negatively correlated with phosphoglucomutase (PGM) activity. These findings provide valuable strain information for the screening of mycelial polysaccharides with high yields and bioactivities. Full article

Biosphere Reserves (BRs) represent dynamic spaces where the interdependence between nature and people is actively shaped and preserved. These territories serve as living laboratories for sustainable development, blending conservation efforts with local knowledge and cultural traditions. This paper explores how BRs exemplify the interconnection between ecological resilience and biocultural heritage, demonstrating the value of integrating traditional practices into contemporary sustainability frameworks. Using insights from the Memories of Biosphere Reserves project, which has collected over 370 testimonies from Portugal, Brazil, and São Tomé e Príncipe, this study highlights the role of memory and storytelling in reinforcing socio-ecological resilience and informing participatory conservation governance. By documenting personal experiences, traditional land-use practices, and community perceptions, these testimonies foster empathy, intergenerational learning, and ethical engagement with the environment. They also provide crucial knowledge for environmental stewardship and community-driven sustainability strategies. The article further examines the transformative role of digital technologies, open science, and artificial intelligence in preserving and disseminating biocultural heritage. Through georeferenced digital archives and participatory research, communities safeguard their cultural and ecological heritage, ensuring knowledge transmission across generations. By positioning BRs as models for integrated conservation and development, this paper underscores the importance of interconnected socio-ecological systems in achieving sustainability goals. The findings suggest that valuing and preserving biocultural heritage within BRs not only strengthens community identity and resilience, but also provides actionable pathways for addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Full article

This paper presents a robustness benchmark evaluation and optimization for vehicle detection. Real-time vehicle detection has become an essential means of data perception in the transportation field, covering various aspects such as intelligent transportation systems, video surveillance, and autonomous driving. However, evaluating and optimizing the robustness of vehicle detection in real traffic scenarios remains challenging. When data distributions change, such as the impact of adverse weather or sensor damages, model reliability cannot be guaranteed. We first conducted a large-scale robustness benchmark evaluation for vehicle detection. Analysis revealed that adverse weather, motion, and occlusion are the most detrimental factors to vehicle detection performance. The impact of color changes and noise, while present, is relatively less pronounced. Moreover, the robustness of vehicle detection is closely linked to its baseline performance and model size. And as the severity of corruption intensifies, the performance of models experiences a sharp drop. When the data distribution of images changes, the features of the vehicles that the model focuses on are weakened, making the activation level of the targets significantly reduced. By evaluation, we provided guidance and direction for optimizing detection robustness. Based on these findings, we propose TDIRM, a traffic-degraded image restoration model based on stable diffusion, designed to efficiently restore degraded images in real traffic scenarios and thereby enhance the robustness of vehicle detection. The model introduces an image semantics encoder (ISE) module to extract features that align with the latent description of the real background while excluding degradation-related information. Additionally, a triple control embedding attention (TCE) module is proposed to fully integrate all condition controls. Through a triple condition control mechanism, TDIRM achieves restoration results with high fidelity and consistency. Experimental results demonstrate that TDIRM improves vehicle detection mAP by 6.92% on real dense fog data, especially for small distant vehicles that were severely obscured by fog. By enabling semantic-structural-content collaborative optimization within the diffusion framework, TDIRM establishes a novel paradigm for traffic scene image restoration. Full article

Host metabolic reprogramming is a critical strategy employed by many viruses to support their replication, and the key metabolic enzyme plays important roles in virus infection. This study investigates the role of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), a glycolytic enzyme with non-canonical functions, in the replication of classical swine fever virus (CSFV). Using PK-15 cells and piglet models, we demonstrate that CSFV infection upregulates PKM2 expression both in vitro and in vivo, creating a proviral environment. knockdown of PKM2 by siRNA reduced CSFV proliferation, while PKM2 overexpression significantly increased virus propagation, which was evaluated by viral protein synthesis, genome replication, and progeny virion production. A direct interaction between PKM2 and CSFV NS5B protein was identified by co-immunoprecipitation and GST-pulldown assays, and PKM2 affected NS5B polymerase activity in a dual-luciferase reporter assay, with PKM2 depletion reducing RdRp function by 50%. Temporal analysis of the first viral replication cycle confirmed PKM2-dependent enhancement of CSFV RNA synthesis. These findings establish PKM2 as a proviral host factor that directly binds NS5B to potentiate RdRp activity, thereby bridging metabolic adaptation and viral genome replication. This study provides new evidence of a glycolytic enzyme physically interacting and enhancing viral polymerase function, offering new information about CSFV–host interaction. Full article

Virtual Reality is transforming the engineering and construction sectors by enabling pre-design evaluations and training to foster informed energy decision-making. Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) can boost user engagement by integrating real-time information and feedback in the virtual space. This research aims to assess whether immersive training can increase users’ awareness of the consequences of their energy-related behaviours and improve energy efficiency and thermal condition. Thus, an immersive training activity was developed by integrating an IVE with the results of a real residential Building Energy Model. Fifty-two participants interacted with building systems (e.g., air conditioning, windows, and blinds) to improve thermal comfort under summer conditions. Graphical indicators and tips were updated in real time, showing the behavioural consequences of indoor air temperature and energy consumption. The findings confirmed the ecological validity of the immersive training activity. Over 90% of the participants displayed excellent knowledge acquisition, through effective and simple recommendations, which positively correlated with the number of attempts (τ > 0), highlighting the potential of increasing users’ awareness from the pre-design stages. Full article

Contemporary physical activity (PA) strategies emphasise the PA needs of sedentary and inactive groups, with less emphasis placed on physically active groups. Understanding the needs of physically active groups is important in helping people to keep active. This study investigated the perspectives and experiences of physically active adults (‘Actives’) during the COVID-19 pandemic, including their PA levels, barriers and facilitators to/for PA, the strategies they deployed to keep active and their experiences of the messaging of Government health and PA guidelines. Following recruitment, thirteen in depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with adult men and women who reported meeting the UK Chief Medical Officer’s PA guidelines before the COVID-19 pandemic commenced. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis identified five key themes and related sub-themes: (I) PA participation; (II) barriers to PA participation, including overcrowding of the PA space, conflict between different groups and negative mental health; (III) facilitators for PA, including place/residence, rural location, social support and good mental wellbeing; (IV) strategies to keep active, including improvisation, substitution of PA mode, scheduling PA, social support and goal setting; (V) guidance and messaging on the health guidelines, including PA promotion for strength and balance, mental health and where to receive information on PA. This study provides valuable insights for PA promotion for Actives at an unprecedented time. Full article

Systems analysts can be considered a valuable part of organizations, as their responsibilities and contributions concern the improvement of information systems, which constitute an irreplaceable part of organizations. Thus, by exploring the current labor market of systems analysts, researchers can gather valuable knowledge to understand some invaluable societal needs. In this context, the objectives of this study are to investigate the sets of digital skills from the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications, and Occupations (ESCO) taxonomy required by systems analysts in Europe and examine the key characteristics of various relevant sectors. For this purpose, a tool combining topic extraction, machine learning, and statistical analysis is utilized. The outcomes prove that systems analysts may indeed possess different types of digital skills, where 12 distinct topics are discovered, and that the professional, scientific, and technical activities demand the most unique sets of digital skills across 17 sectors. Ultimately, the findings show that the numerous sectors indeed have divergent requirements and should be approached accordingly. Overall, this study can offer valuable guidelines for identifying both the general duties of systems analysts and the specific needs of each sector. Also, the presented tool and methods may provide ideas for exploring different domains associated with content information and distinct groups. Full article

Vaccine marketing authorization holders (MAHs) are responsible for the conduction of global vaccine pharmacovigilance on their vaccine products. A safety signal is detected when a new adverse event (AE) or aspect of an AE occurs after exposure to the vaccine and warrants further investigation to determine whether a causal association may exist. Signal detection and evaluation (signal management) begins at the start of vaccine development, before an MAH submits an application for authorization to regulatory authorities, continues through the course of all clinical trials, and carries on beyond development into the post-marketing phase. As long as the vaccine remains authorized anywhere in the world, pharmacovigilance continues. During the time that the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available after authorization and approval, clinical trials were also ongoing, and therefore all clinical development and post-authorization safety information was closely monitored for safety by the MAH. MAH pharmacovigilance activities were adapted to manage the unprecedented volume of safety information that became available within a very short timeframe following worldwide vaccination campaigns. No vaccine had previously been administered to such a large number of individuals in such a short time, nor had there previously been a public health vaccine experience that was the subject of so many medical and non-medical writings. The MAH’s COVID-19 vaccine signal detection methods included the continuous review of accruing clinical trial data and the quantitative and qualitative analyses of spontaneously reported experiences. Review of published and unpublished medical literature and epidemiology-based analyses such as observed vs. expected analysis based on reported adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) played key roles in pharmacovigilance and signal management. All methods of signal detection and evaluation have caveats, but when considered in totality, can advance our understanding of a vaccine’s safety profile and therefore the risk–benefit considerations for vaccinating both individuals and large populations of people. All COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use were subject to an unprecedented level of pharmacovigilance by their individual MAHs, national regulatory authorities, public health organizations, and others during the years immediately following regulatory authorization and full approval. The intense worldwide focus on pharmacovigilance and the need for MAHs and regulatory/health authorities to quickly evaluate incoming safety information, spurred frequent and timely communications between national and regional health authorities and between MAHs and regulatory/health authorities, spotlighting a unique opportunity for individuals committed to patient safety to share important accruing safety information in a collegial and less traditionally formal manner than usual. The global pandemic precipitated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus created a significant impetus for MAHs to develop innovative vaccines to change the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pharmacovigilance also had to meet unprecedented needs. In this article, unique aspects of COVID-19 vaccine pharmacovigilance encountered by one MAH will be summarized. Full article

A fundamental limitation of fMRI based on the BOLD effect is its limited spatial specificity. This is because the BOLD signal reflects neurovascular coupling, leading to macrovascular changes that are not strictly limited to areas of increased neural activity. However, neuronal activation also induces microstructural changes within the brain parenchyma by modifying the diffusion of extracellular biological water. Therefore, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been applied in fMRI to overcome BOLD limits and better explain the mechanisms of functional activation, but the results obtained so far are not clear. This is because a DWI signal depends on many experimental variables: instrumental, physiological, and microstructural. Here, we hypothesize that the γ parameter of the fractional diffusion representation could be of particular interest for DW-fMRI applications, due to its proven dependence on local magnetic susceptibility and diffusion multi-compartmentalization. BOLD fMRI and DW-fMRI experiments were performed at 3T using an exemplar application to task-based activation of the human visual cortex. The results, corroborated by simulation, highlight that γ provides complementary information to conventional diffusion fMRI and γ can quantify cellular morphology changes and neurovascular regulation during neuronal activation with higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional BOLD fMRI and DW-fMRI. Full article

Background: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with multiple disorders and various cancer types. In the context of cancer, alterations within non-coding regions, specifically 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTR), have proven substantially important. Methods: In this study, we utilized various bioinformatics tools to examine the effect of SNPs in the 3′ UTR. We retrieved the 3′ UTR SNPs of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) gene from the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website. Next, we employed the Polymorphism in miRNAs and their corresponding target sites (PolymiRTS) database to predict the 3′ UTR SNPs that create new microRNA (miRNA) binding sites and their respective miRNAs. The effect of the 3′ UTR SNPs on the messenger RNA structure was studied using RNAfold server. We used Cscape tool to predict the oncogenic 3′ UTR SNPs. Then, we submitted the miRNAs to the miRNet database to visualize the miRNA-miRNAs’ target genes interaction, for which gene enrichment analysis was performed using ShinyGO. Protein–protein interactions were conducted using the STRING database. We conducted miRNA enrichment analysis utilizing miRPathDB, subsequently performing miRNA differential expression analysis through oncoMIR, and the StarBase database. The survival analysis of the upregulated miRNAs in cancer was investigated using the Kaplan–Meier Plotter. Result: Twelve SNPs were predicted to create new miRNA binding sites. Two of them, rs188557905 and rs190542524, were predicted to destabilize the mRNA structures. We predicted rs190542524, rs11305, rs186033487, and rs188557905 to be oncogenic 3′ UTR SNPs, with high-confidence predictions and scores > 0.5. Using miRNAs’ target genes enrichment analysis, this study indicated that the miRNA target genes were more likely to be involved in cancer-related pathways. Our comprehensive analysis of miRNAs, their functional enrichment, their expression in various types of cancer, and the correlation between miRNA expression and survival outcome yielded these results. Our research shows that the oncogenic 3′ UTR SNP rs190542524 creates a new binding site for the oncogenic miRNA hsa-miR-136-5p. This miRNA is significantly upregulated in BLCA, LUSC, and STAD and is linked to poor survival. Additionally, rs114360225 creates a new binding site for hsa-miR-362-3p, influencing LIHC. Conclusions: These analyses suggest that these 3′ UTR SNPs may have a functional impact on the STAT1 gene’s regulation through their predicted effect on miRNA binding sites. Future experimental validation could establish their potential role in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, including cancer. Full article

Student participation in educational decision making, for example, through data-informed decision making, can have a positive effect on student well-being, engagement, and performance. Teachers play a crucial role in student participation, and leadership is a main factor influencing teacher professional development, which can lead to improved experiences and outcomes for students. In this study, we aimed to combine the benefits associated with data-informed decision making with those associated with Professional Learning Communities. Moreover, we included students as PLC participants. This study therefore focuses on the question how school leaders can support teachers in connection with student participation in data-use PLCs. Based on previous research, we used leadership core functions needed for successful PLCs to describe school leaders’ roles in an approach to student participation that combines the pedagogical analysis model and Shier’s model for student participation. School leaders and teachers from five schools participating in the previous study were interviewed to describe school leaders’ roles. The findings show what concrete school leader activities can support teachers in connection with student participation in data-use PLCs and what implications this has for practice, policy, and further research. Full article

Background/Objectives: People living with a spinal cord injury (PwSCI) present numerous complications at a systemic level that negatively impact their physical and mental health as well as their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical profile of PwSCI living in nursing homes (NHs), Complex Continuing Care Systems (CCCs), home care (HC), and inpatient mental health facilities (MHs) in nine Canadian provinces and territories. Methods: We analyzed data collected with the following assessment tools: Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS 2.0), RAI–MH, RAI-HC, Cognitive Performance Scale, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Hierarchy Scale and impairments in instrumental ADLs (IADLs), Pain Scale, Changes in Health, End-Stage Disease, Signs, and Symptoms (CHESS) Scale, Depression Rating Scale, and Deafblind Severity Index (DBSI). We reported counts (n) and percentages (%) and performed Chi-square tests with a Bonferroni correction to determine the statistical significance of the differences in frequencies within and between care settings. Results: We identified 13,136 PwSCI, predominantly males and younger than comparison groups. PwSCI presented fewer comorbidities but reported higher pain than comparison groups. Almost all of the PwSCI in NHs (99.4%) and CCCs (98.9%) needed assistance to perform ADLs. Conclusions: The prevalence of comorbidities and impairments following SCI varies based on the clinical setting. The present clinical profile of PwSCI will inform interventions to improve health of PwSCI across the continuum of care. Full article

The study aimed to investigate the determinants of pharmacy postgraduates’ satisfaction to suggest essential recommendations to enhance educational quality at Hanoi University of Pharmacy in Vietnam. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 202 postgraduates using structured questionnaires, with 31 multidimensional questions and 1 question addressing overall satisfaction. Cronbach’s alpha was used to evaluate the questionnaire’s internal consistency, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) identified key factors, and multiple linear regression analysis was applied to assess the impact of these factors. Overall satisfaction had a high mean score of 4.49 out of 5 (SD = 0.602). The final 29 questions were retained and divided into four main factors affecting satisfaction after rotating EFA. The dimension of “Support and Evaluation” was the most influential factor (β = 0.475), followed by “Training Organization”, “Facilities and Library”, and “Lecturers and Curriculum”. The variables with the lowest scores needed much more attention, including digital systems (4.2, SD = 0.852), information technology support (4.32, SD = 0.772), activities boosting lifelong learning skills (4.48, SD = 0.624), and the reasonability of the education program’s structure (4.48, SD = 0.608) and the studying program’s schedule (4.45, SD = 0.607). The findings indicate the issues that should be addressed, and have highlighted that improvements in electronic library accessibility and updated curricula are also recommended to further optimize the educational experience of postgraduate students. Full article