Search Results (12,316)

In the field of water treatment, the development of efficient and environmentally friendly antibacterial materials to combat pathogenic contamination is of great significance. This work aimed to synthesize copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using Rosa roxburghii extract (RRT) and Trichoderma harzianum mycelia-free cell filtrate (MFCF) as reducing agents. It was found that RRT-CuNPs had higher antibacterial ability than MFCF-CuNPs. Therefore, RRT-CuNPs were selected for further study. Through a functionalization modification strategy, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CTS) served as carrier matrices, with RRT-CuNPs as the highly efficient antibacterial active component and montmorillonite (MMT) as a reinforcing filler. The CTS/PVA/MMT/RRT-CuNPs composite gel beads were successfully fabricated via a cross-linking and blending method. For RRT-CuNPs-based gel beads, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) displays that the composite hydrogel particles contain characteristic peaks of PVA, CTS, and MMT. By comparison, it is confirmed that MMT acts as both a reinforcing agent and a molecular structure regulator through interfacial interactions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that MMT and CuNPs are dispersed in the particles. The study illustrates that the optimal initial concentrations of MMT, CTS, and CuNPs added to RRT-CuNPs-based composite gel beads were 4, 30, and 0.5 g/L, respectively. The prepared composite gel beads exhibited significant inhibitory activity towards Gram–positive bacteria (S. aureus) and Gram–negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. coli), acquiring inhibition zone diameters of nearly 21 mm. As the dose of gel beads was 0.3 g/L and the action time was four h, the inhibition rate reached 100% through the plate counting method analysis. In conclusion, RRT-CuNPs-based composite gel beads have excellent antimicrobial activity, showing high potential application in the fields of water treatment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly complicated by anemia resulting from impaired erythropoietin (EPO) production, iron dysregulation, and chronic inflammation. Erythroferrone (ERFE) and hepcidin are key regulators of erythropoiesis and iron metabolism, but their interaction in CKD remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to examine the associations among ERFE, hepcidin, EPO, and hemoglobin, and to determine whether these markers independently relate to anemia severity in CKD. Methods: This cross-sectional case–control study included 126 patients with CKD (stages 2–5) and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Laboratory parameters, including hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSAT), EPO, ERFE, hepcidin, and renal indices (eGFR, BUN, creatinine), were analyzed. Group differences were assessed using ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis tests with post hoc analyses, and trends were evaluated using the Jonckheere–Terpstra test. Age- and sex-adjusted correlations and multivariable linear regression identified independent associations with hemoglobin. Results: Patients with CKD were older (61.2 ± 14.8 vs. 33.4 ± 10.7 years, p < 0.001) and had lower hemoglobin (11.8 ± 1.9 vs. 13.5 ± 1.4 g/dL, p < 0.001) and higher ferritin levels (245 (110–470) vs. 105 (40–240) ng/mL, p = 0.002) compared with controls. eGFR declined progressively across CKD stages (median (IQR): 73 (64–86) to 12 (7–17) mL/min/1.73 m², p-trend < 0.001). ERFE and hepcidin showed increasing trends with advancing CKD (p-trend = 0.031 and 0.047, respectively). Hemoglobin correlated negatively with ERFE (r = −0.40, 95% CI: −0.53 to −0.26, p < 0.001) and positively with eGFR (r = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28–0.54, p < 0.001). In adjusted regression analysis, ERFE (β = −0.29, 95% CI: −0.41 to −0.18, p < 0.001) and eGFR (β = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.13–0.37, p < 0.001) remained independently associated variables of hemoglobin (adjusted R² = 0.47). Conclusions: Anemia severity in CKD is independently associated with both renal dysfunction and higher ERFE concentrations, suggesting a disrupted ERFE–hepcidin regulatory balance. These findings provide hypothesis-generating insights into the complex interplay between iron metabolism and erythropoiesis in CKD. Validation in larger, multi-center longitudinal studies that include inflammatory markers is warranted. Full article

Background: Latvia is one of the most endemic tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) countries in Europe. However, assessing TBE seroprevalence and true infection rates has been challenging. Current diagnostics cannot reliably distinguish between immune responses induced by natural infection from those induced by vaccination, especially in TBE endemic countries with recommended immunisation programmes. A recently developed ELISA targeting antibodies against TBEV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) offers improved specificity for natural infection and can differentiate among three clinically relevant TBEV subtypes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional TBEV seroprevalence study in the Latvian population during 2019–2022, consisting of two pools: 1020 residents living in different regions of Latvia and 200 random Latvian Biobank blood samples. We used the standard anti-TBEV IgG ELISA (VIDITEST, VIDIA, Czech Republic) for the screening and detection of TBEV (whole virus) IgG antibodies and the newly established research-use anti-TBEV NS1 IgG ELISA for the detection of subtype-specific TBEV NS1 IgG antibodies against three virus subtypes: European, Siberian and Far Eastern. Results: The total TBEV seroprevalence among 1020 residents was 39.7%, representing all age cohorts of the population from all regions of Latvia. In total, 33.4% of the enrolled population were vaccinated against TBE with at least one dose of the TBE vaccine. Among the unvaccinated population, 16.3% had positive TBEV-specific IgG antibodies by standard ELISA. On the contrary, NS1-specific antibodies, indicating past natural infection, were detected in only 4.3% of the overall study population. Subtype differentiation revealed infections from all three major TBEV subtypes present in Latvia. Conclusions: In conclusion, this population-based study highlights a high risk of TBE in Latvia, with substantial seroprevalence even among unvaccinated individuals. The NS1-based ELISA enhances the accuracy of TBE surveillance and offers important clinical utility by facilitating more reliable diagnosis and case classification, regardless of vaccination status. Full article

This study examined air quality data collected from 2015 to 2023 across Shenyang, Dalian, Changchun, and Harbin to assess interannual and monthly variations in PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, and O₃, along with their correlations, seasonal meteorological influences, and potential source regions. Annual mean concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO₂ declined substantially (by 39.9–79.3%), whereas O₃ showed a fluctuating pattern, remaining persistently high in the coastal city of Dalian. Seasonally, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO₂ concentrations peaked in winter and decreased in summer, while O₃ displayed the opposite trend. Particulate levels in Liaoning rebounded earlier in spring than in Jilin and Heilongjiang. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships among particulate and gaseous pollutants, but O₃ generally exhibited negative correlations with other species. Haze events occurred mainly in winter, whereas complex pollution episodes were more frequent in summer. Meteorological analysis indicated that relative humidity was negatively correlated with PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO₂ in summer but positively correlated in winter. Elevated temperatures outside the winter months promoted NO₂ dispersion and enhanced O₃ formation. Strong winds in spring and winter markedly reduced PM_2.5 and SO₂ levels, though this effect was less evident in Shenyang. WPSCF results identified significant cross-regional transport from the southwest contributing to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and NO₂ during spring and winter, while O₃ was primarily affected by long-range transport in spring and only marginally in winter. In Dalian, sea–land breeze circulation further intensified transport processes in summer and autumn. Overall, this work provides an integrated, multi-year, and multi-city assessment of pollution dynamics, meteorological drivers, and transboundary transport in Northeast China, offering new insights into regional air quality improvement and its spatial heterogeneity relative to other regions of China. Full article

Cryosat-2 SARin altimetric FBR data facilitates an opportunity to investigate phase differences between inland water radar reflections at the two antennae. With the antennae positioned cross-track, SARin was designed for the recovery of slope over ice margins, but here, it was used to recover off-pointing over inland waters. The ability to measure non-nadir off-pointing is verified using ocean data near the Amazon estuary to determine the satellite roll angle. Over inland waters, off-pointing requires correction to the nadir range and the geographic location of the reflectance. By using an SRTM-based water mask, the number of inland water reflectance increases significantly when off-pointing is considered. Comparisons between altimetric and river heights utilise gauge data at Tabatinga on the Solimões–Amazon. A least-squares adjustment yielded a river slope of −0.03506 ± 0.00003 m/km and a mean velocity of 1.803 ± 0.014 m/s over a river stretch of nearly 290 km. RMSE differences between the gauge and altimetry improve from 0.423 m to 0.404 m when off-pointing is taken into account for nadir inland water returns, showing the asymmetric effect of off-pointing. If all potential off-pointings are considered, the number of measurements increases by 66%, but the RMSE of 0.524 m is higher due to additional errors in the off-pointing corrections. Full article

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress are increasingly prevalent among university students, raising concerns about the role of video gaming behaviors, social support, and academic factors in mental health. Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), recognized in international classifications, has been linked to psychological distress but remains underexplored in Portuguese higher education students. Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationships between IGD, social support, academic performance, and mental health outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with Portuguese university students, collecting sociodemographic information, gaming habits, academic performance, social support, and mental health indicators. Data analyses included non-parametric tests, Spearman correlations, and multiple linear regression models to explore group differences, associations, and predictors of mental health outcomes. Results: No significant gender or age differences were observed in social support or mental health. Students living with parents, engaging in multiplayer gaming, and exercising regularly reported higher social support. Social support correlated negatively with depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas IGD correlated positively with these symptoms. Regression analyses identified academic performance, IGD, and intimacy as predictors of depression; family satisfaction as a predictor of anxiety; and family satisfaction and academic performance as protective factors against stress. Conclusions: Findings highlight the interplay of behavioral, social, and academic factors influencing students’ mental health. Effective interventions should reinforce family support and students’ academic self-efficacy, alongside fostering responsible gaming practices. Limitations include cross-sectional design and self-reported measures, indicating the need for longitudinal studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parents’ vaccine hesitancy constitutes a global challenge, strongly associated with trust in healthcare professionals. This study aimed to identify socio-demographic predictors of parental pro- and anti-vaccination behaviors and investigate the association between these factors and intentions regarding children’s future immunizations. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey using the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) questionnaire. Participants were recruited purposively and via snowballing through parenting groups and educational institutions. Results: We surveyed 1.046 parents and provided attitudes for 1.701 children; 85.1% of child-specific responses reflected positive attitudes (PACV ≤ 50; median 16.7). In univariate regression, employment (OR = 2.172, 95% CI: 1.530–3.084; p < 0.001) and healthcare employment (OR = 2.907, 95% CI: 1.983–4.262; p < 0.001) increased the odds of positive attitudes, whereas each additional household member (OR = 0.693, 95% CI: 0.597–0.805; p < 0.001) and child (OR = 0.677, 95% CI: 0.579–0.792; p < 0.001) reduced them. Multivariable models confirmed higher odds for suburban/rural residence (OR = 1.614, 95% CI: 1.037–2.513; p = 0.034), employment (OR = 1.869, 95% CI: 1.284–2.721; p = 0.001), and healthcare employment (OR = 2.785, 95% CI: 1.872–4.144; p < 0.001). Among prior non-vaccinators (n = 114), 39.5% planned to vaccinate, 41.2% did not. Those who planned showed greater trust than non-planners in the child’s doctor (mean: 7.49 vs. 3.74) and schedule (mean: 7.89 vs. 1.40), p < 0.001, with lower trust correlating with greater hesitancy and safety concerns. Conclusions: Trust in physicians was strongly associated with both current attitudes and future intentions. Trust-focused, patient-centered communication may be related to more positive vaccination attitudes among parents. However, longitudinal research is needed to determine whether such trust could influence changes in vaccination behavior, especially since parents’ attitudes toward vaccinations can evolve with the arrival of subsequent children. Full article

Background/Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the strain values (SVs) of masseter muscle activity in dentofacial deformities (DDs) using ultrasound elastography. Methods: The DD group consisted of 60 patients with dentofacial deformities with skeletal class II or III malocclusion, and the control group consisted of 26 volunteers with normal occlusion. The SVs and the cross-sectional area of the masseter muscle were measured using an ultrasonic elastography. These were measured at three functional positions: resting, mouth opening, and clenching. The SVs were statistically compared with the DD and control groups. Changes in the cross-sectional area and factors (patient status, skeletal morphology, and oral function) related to the SVs in the study group were statistically analyzed. Results: The SVs were significantly higher during clenching than in resting and mouth opening in both groups, although there was no correlation between the DD group and the control group. The cross-sectional area was larger during clenching, resting, and mouth opening. The resting SVs decreased as the masseter muscle cross-sectional area increased. The SVs of clenching increased with higher resting SVs and decreased with greater maximum mouth opening. Conclusions: The SVs measured by ultrasound elastography changed depending on functional mandibular movement and have the potential to evaluate the masseter muscle activity of dentofacial deformities. Full article

Rising atmospheric CO₂ is expected to fertilize forest photosynthesis; yet, ecosystem-scale observations often reveal muted responses, creating a critical knowledge gap in global climate projections. In this review, we explore this paradox by moving beyond the traditional ‘CO₂ fertilization’ paradigm. We propose an integrated framework that positions elevated CO₂ as a complex modulator whose net effect is determined by a hierarchy of cross-scale constraints. At the plant level, photosynthetic acclimation acts as a universal first brake on the initial biochemical potential. At the ecosystem level, nutrient availability—primarily nitrogen in temperate/boreal systems and phosphorus in the tropics—emerges as the dominant bottleneck limiting long-term productivity gains. Furthermore, interactions with the water cycle, such as increased water-use efficiency, create state-dependent dynamic responses. By synthesizing evidence from pivotal Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) experiments, we systematically evaluate these constraining factors. We conclude that accurately predicting the future of the forest carbon sink necessitates a paradigm shift: from single-factor analysis to multi-stressor approaches, and from ecosystem-scale observations to an integrated understanding that links these phenomena to their underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms. This review provides a roadmap for future research and informs more realistic strategies for forest management and climate mitigation in a high-CO₂ world. Full article

As of the end of 2024, the NIH-funded Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program supported 21 specialized centers at minority-serving institutions. Its goal is to strengthen biomedical research infrastructure and enhance the capacity of investigators focused on health disparities. Since 2017, the centers have operated under a unified framework that includes four core components, one of which is Community Engagement (CEC). In 2021, the RCMI Coordinating Center established the CEC consortium to unify expertise across minority-serving institutions, which include historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions. This consortium promotes cross-institutional collaboration and innovation in community-engaged research to advance health equity. This paper examines how RCMI CECs strategically enhance research relevance, advance public health outcomes, and address social determinants of health (SDOH) through inclusive, bidirectional partnerships that position communities as co-leaders in the research process. Drawing on data from NIH RePORTER, the 2024 Community Engagement Consortium Signature Programs Monograph, and RCMI Common Data Elements, we analyze the collective contributions of the Community Engagement Core (CECs) across 21 RCMI centers. Findings underscore the role of tailored strategies, cultural competence, and academic-community partnerships in mitigating health disparities and promoting equity in underserved communities. Full article

Background: Youth and young adults with early psychosis frequently use cannabis, yet the reliability of self-reported use is uncertain in clinical practice. We examined the concordance between self-reported cannabis use and urine toxicology among patients enrolled in an Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) program in Southeast Ontario, Canada. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional chart review of 116 EPI patients (2016–2019). Demographics, self-reported cannabis use (yes/no), concurrent substance use, and urine toxicology results from the initial clinical assessment were extracted. Diagnostic indices (sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive values, and accuracy) were calculated using urine toxicology as the reference. The clinical panel used a 50 ng/mL threshold for THC-COOH; the specific assay platform (immunoassay vs. confirmatory GC-/LC-MS) was not specified in records and is noted as a limitation. Results: Overall, 82.8% (96/116) self-reported cannabis use. Self-report showed high sensitivity (88.4%) but very low specificity (20.3%), with PPV 39.2%, NPV 75.0%, and accuracy 45.30%, indicating limited concordance with urine toxicology. Self-reported cannabis use was significantly associated with self-reported cocaine and MDMA use, while associations with methamphetamine, opioids, and benzodiazepines were not significant. Conclusions: In this EPI cohort, self-reports overestimated cannabis use relative to urine toxicology (high sensitivity, low specificity, and accuracy <50%). These findings support cautious clinical interpretation of self-report and the complementary value of biological verification, especially when use is infrequent or the testing window/threshold may miss exposure. Future work should incorporate use frequency, potency, and timing relative to testing, and clearly specify toxicology assay methods. Full article

Aiming at the challenge of balancing the accuracy and cost of the initial state calibration of traditional MEMS inertial navigation systems, as well as the current situation of the lack of high-precision three-axis turntables in engineering practice, this paper proposes a practical and innovative systematic error calibration and compensation scheme, which effectively suppresses the deterministic errors of MEMS-INS and enhances its applicability in high-precision and long-duration tasks. By analyzing the coordinate transformation characteristics of the MEMS-INS solution process under small-angle disturbances, a deterministic error model based on the device’s zero bias, scale factor, and cross-coupling errors is constructed. A twelve-position dual-axis calibration method, combined with a high-precision orthogonal fixture, is designed to excite errors on a dual-axis turntable, converting originally unobservable error terms into observable periodic signals. Experimental results show that the installation error calibration accuracy reaches 0.03°, an improvement of about 25% compared to the traditional dual-axis method, breaking through the limitations of dual-axis turntables in cross-coupling error calibration, achieving an initial error ≤ 1 μrad, and reducing the navigation error by 90% within one hour. This method eliminates reliance on expensive three-axis turntables while enabling multi-error calibration, addressing the cost–accuracy trade-off in engineering applications. Full article

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, necessitating efficient motor function assessment to guide personalized rehabilitation. The Fugl–Meyer Assessment for the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) is a clinical gold-standard tool, but it is time consuming and requires trained clinicians, which limits its frequency of use and accessibility. While wearable sensors and deep learning offer promising avenues for remote assessment, accurately estimating detailed sub-scores of specific motor functions remains a significant challenge. This work introduces a deep learning framework for automated estimation of FMA-UE total and subdivision scores. Data was collected from 15 participants using four inertial measurement units (IMUs) positioned on the arm and trunk. Each participant performed seven specialized functional motions designed for comprehensive joint synergy involvement within ten minutes. A therapist-rated FMA-UE provided true scores. The proposed model leverages the integration of an LSTM-based autoencoder and mixup augmentation to enhance generalization and robustness. Evaluated through a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation (LOSOCV), the estimator demonstrated strong performance, achieving R² values exceeding 0.82. Pearson’s correlation coefficient r was more than 0.90, and the normalized root-mean-square errors (NRMSE) were below 0.14 for all subparts (A–D). Crucially, the total FMA-UE score was estimated with an NRMSE of 0.0678. These results show that a concise, sensor-based assessment can reliably predict detailed motor function scores. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nurses’ professional values are closely linked to job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and establishing objectives at work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these relationships became especially crucial, yet they remain underexplored in the context of Southeast Asia. This study aimed to examine how these organizational and motivational factors influence professional values among nurses in a large public hospital in Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 336 registered nurses who had at least six months of experience caring for COVID-19 patients. Standardized instruments were employed to measure job satisfaction, organizational commitment, establishing objectives at work, and professional values, and correlation analyses were conducted to assess associations between variables. Results: Job satisfaction correlated positively with professional values (r = 0.505, β = 0.097), while organizational commitment showed the strongest association (r = 0.620, β = 0.528). Establishing objectives at work was also positively related, though to a lesser extent (r = 0.236, β = 0.086). Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of supportive work environments that foster motivation, recognition, and career development in sustaining nurses’ professional values, especially in times of crisis. This study also serves as a reference for the development of the nursing workforce in post-pandemic healthcare systems, with implications for international health policy and workforce planning. Full article

Leaf stomatal density directly regulates the rates of gas exchange and water loss and is a core indicator of plants’ water-retention capacity and drought adaptability. Because detecting leaves over a macroscopic range requires large-stroke motion, whereas accurate identification of stomata demands high-precision positioning, the operational platform for stomatal-density detection faces the dual challenge of large strokes and high resolution. This paper proposes a novel two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) cross-scale piezoelectric platform that employs a new three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) piezoelectric stator to address the backlash issue in inertial drive and combines it with finite-element simulation for verification. The prototype of the 2-DOF cross-scale piezoelectric positioning platform is developed, and a series of experiments are conducted to evaluate its performance. The experimental results show a motion range of 15 mm × 15 mm; the displacement backlash rates in the X and Y directions range from 0% to 9.84% and 0% to 28.42%, respectively; and the displacement resolutions reach 11.39 nm and 13.61 nm, respectively. In addition, an application experiment on leaf stomatal-density detection is carried out on the developed 2-DOF platform, demonstrating its potential for botanical micro-detection. Full article