Search Results (2,797)

Background/Objectives: Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is a chronic neurological disease that significantly impacts health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to analyze the evolution of HRQoL in individuals with RRMS, identify associated factors, and determine predictive variables. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted with 35 participants diagnosed with RRMS at the Lucus Augusti University Hospital between January 2023 and March 2025. HRQoL was assessed using the MSQOL-54 questionnaire at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Data were analyzed using non-parametric tests to account for the small sample size and non-normal distribution of the variables. Results: Results showed overall stability in HRQoL (mean score: 62.4 ± 14.1 at baseline, 62.8 ± 12.7 at 3 months, and 62.4 ± 11.8 at 6 months), although significant declines were observed in emotional limitations (64.4 ± 23.0 at baseline to 58.9 ± 20.5 at 6 months) and social functioning (70.5 ± 16.7 at baseline to 65.5 ± 12.8 at 6 months). Improvements were noted in pain perception (78.9 ± 23.6 at baseline to 81.8 ± 20.5 at 6 months) and stress (44.3 ± 22.5 at baseline to 48.9 ± 17.8 at 6 months). Factors such as family history (associated with mental health at diagnosis, p = 0.028), autoimmune diseases (associated with physical function at diagnosis, p = 0.035), and lifestyle habits (e.g., tobacco use associated with physical limitations at 3 months, p = 0.045) were significantly associated with HRQoL. Baseline HRQoL emerged as a strong predictor of future scores (Spearman’s correlations, p < 0.01), indicating that early assessments may guide interventions. Conclusions: Although overall HRQoL remains stable in RRMS, specific domains such as emotional and social functioning exhibit progressive decline, highlighting the need for tailored interventions. The findings underscore the importance of integrating early psychosocial support and lifestyle interventions into routine care to mitigate vulnerabilities in emotional and social domains of HRQoL. Full article

Affordable housing has evolved to meet the difficulties of increased demand by offering acceptable living spaces for middle- to low-income families and facilitating access to housing units based on their annual income. This research seeks to investigate the relationship between housing spacing standards and family desire for affordable multifamily housing. It sought to address the changes that were occurring in the internal spaces of multi-story housing because of the inhabitants’ evolving needs. The study investigates the habitability of 25 residential apartments within 6 affordable multifamily housing compounds established in Sulaymaniyah city in Iraq in accordance with Iraqi housing standards. The results show that the rise in family size was the key reason for the considerable physical changes and enhancements that families made to their units. Crucially, the study found an explicit relationship: the wider the difference between the actual habitable space and the minimum Iraqi standards, the more frequently modifications occurred. This implies that inflexible space standards fail to fulfill the actual needs of low-income families, forcing occupants to make alterations despite the possible deterioration of the unit’s internal environment. The study contributes to the discourse on affordable housing in Iraq by offering empirical evidence of household-driven change and underscoring the necessity of incorporating adaptability into future affordable housing design policies. Full article

The impact of family ownership and dual leadership on ESG performance is significant, influencing corporate governance, strategic direction, and stakeholder engagement. Empirical evidence from 43 countries, spanning the period 2015–2023, suggests that family-owned firms generally underperform in ESG practices. This deficiency is particularly pronounced in the Governance (G) dimension, affecting key areas such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, shareholder relationships, and management oversight. The concentration of power associated with dual leadership—combining both CEO leadership and ownership—can be equally or more detrimental to ESG outcomes than family ownership alone. This consolidation often leads to ESG underperformance, even if a family firm’s overall performance otherwise matches that of its peers. Beyond ownership and leadership structures, several external factors also shape ESG practices. Company size and sector can play relevant roles. Furthermore, the national context is crucial: countries with higher levels of human well-being may exhibit greater awareness and adoption of ESG standards, while the income level and geographic location of a country can have a considerable impact on enterprise scores. These findings suggest that practitioners should separate CEO and owner roles to reduce ESG risks, while policymakers should create targeted incentives/regulations for family firms to boost ESG integration. Full article

This review presents soybean responses to drought, heat, and salinity within a signal–transcript–chromatin framework. In this framework, calcium/reactive oxygen species and abscisic acid cues converge on abscisic acid-responsive element binding factor (ABF/AREB), dehydration-responsive element binding protein (DREB), NAC, and heat shock factor (HSF) families. These processes are modulated by locus-specific chromatin and non-coding RNA layers. Base-resolved methylomes reveal a high level of CG methylation in the gene body, strong CHG methylation in heterochromatin, and dynamic CHH ‘islands’ at the borders of transposable elements. CHH methylation increases over that of transposable elements during seed development, and GmDMEa editing is associated with seed size. Chromatin studies in soybean and model species implicate the reconfiguration of salt-responsive histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in G. max and heat-linked H2A.Z dynamics at thermoresponsive promoters characterized in Arabidopsis and other plants, suggesting that a conserved chromatin layer likely operates in soybean. miR169–NF-YA, miR398–Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutases(CSD)/copper chaperone of CSD(CCS), miR393–transporter inhibitor response1/auxin signaling F-box (TIR1/AFB), and miR396–growth regulating factors (GRF) operate across leaves, roots, and nodules. Overexpression of lncRNA77580 enhances drought tolerance, but with context-dependent trade-offs under salinity. Single-nucleus and spatial atlases anchor these circuits in cell types and microenvironments relevant to stress and symbiosis. We present translational routes, sentinel epimarkers (bisulfite amplicons, CUT&Tag), haplotype-by-epigenotype prediction, and precise cis-regulatory editing to accelerate marker development, genomic prediction and the breeding of resilient soybean varieties with stable yields. Full article

With the rapid pace of urbanization, the public-interest renovation of community spaces has emerged as a critical focus in urban planning and community development. These public spaces not only support residents’ daily activities, social interactions, and cultural endeavors but also play a vital role in shaping their quality of life and fostering community cohesion. The willingness of residents to participate in such renovation projects significantly impacts the effectiveness and success of these initiatives. This study offers a comprehensive review of both domestic and international literature, synthesizing insights from behavioral science and social psychology. It identifies four key categories of factors that influence residents’ willingness to engage in public-interest renovation efforts: external environment, project attributes, residents’ subjective perceptions, and demographic characteristics. Based on this framework, sixteen secondary indicators were selected to construct a model explaining these factors. Drawing on established measurement scales and expert interviews, a survey instrument was developed for data collection. The data, gathered through questionnaire surveys, were analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the study hypotheses. The results revealed several significant findings: Among demographic factors, age, household size, and family structure were the primary differentiators of participation willingness. In terms of project attributes, comfort, openness, and sensory appeal were found to positively influence participation. External environmental factors, including policies, social atmosphere, and available information, indirectly impacted participation through residents’ perceptions. Furthermore, residents’ subjective perceptions, such as perceived usefulness and overall attitude, had direct positive effects on their willingness to participate. These findings contribute valuable insights to the field of urban sustainable development and the long-term viability of community spaces. They also provide actionable recommendations for community managers to develop targeted renovation and governance strategies that effectively engage residents. Full article

The Nepetoideae and the Lamioideae are the largest subfamilies of the family Lamiaceae comprising more than half of the family’s species including mostly shrubs or herbs, many of which are applied as culinary and medicinal herbs. The results of previous analysis of twenty-one species in the subfamily Nepetoideae indicated a relationship of nutlet size and shape with the taxonomic position, with larger nutlets in the tribe Elsholtzieae, intermediate in the tribe Ocimeae, and smaller in the tribe Mentheae, except for Salvia species. This work focuses on 49 species, 34 in the Nepetoideae and 15 in the Lamioideae, and shows differences in nutlet size and shape between both subfamilies. The nutlets of the Lamioideae are larger and have higher aspect ratio and lower circularity, roundness, and solidity values. Elliptic Fourier Transform equations were obtained allowing the representation of average outlines for each of these species. Curvature analysis indicates higher absolute values of maximum and average curvature in the subfamily Lamioideae. Morphometric analysis including geometric measurements, curvature, and the coefficients of Fourier equations reveals differences between genera and species in both subfamilies of the Lamiaceae that can be of applied interest in the taxonomy of this family. Full article

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are critical components of the tumor microenvironment that promote cancer progression and immune evasion. Adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 gene (AEBP1), which encodes aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein (ACLP), has been implicated in tissue remodeling and fibrosis, yet its role in CAF biology across cancers remains poorly understood. Here, we performed a pan-cancer transcriptomic analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and found that AEBP1 expression strongly correlates with expression of collagen family genes in the majority of solid tumors. Integration of single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets from breast and pancreatic cancers revealed that AEBP1 is predominantly expressed in CAFs, where it is co-expressed with collagens and CAF marker genes. Functional experiments using three-dimensional (3D) spheroids composed of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)-derived CAFs showed that AEBP1 knockdown significantly reduced spheroid stiffness without altering their morphology or size, indicating that ACLP contributes to the mechanical properties of tumor tissues. Together with earlier findings linking AEBP1/ACLP to reduced CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration, our results suggest that stromal AEBP1/ACLP enhances both extracellular matrix stiffness and immune suppression and highlights AEBP1/ACLP as a potential therapeutic target through which to remodel the tumor microenvironment and improve anti-tumor immunity. Full article

Achieving the decarbonization of the building stock by 2050 requires not only technological innovation but also strategies capable of addressing energy poverty, which threatens to exclude millions of households from a fair transition. Measuring this phenomenon remains challenging: at the European level, monitoring systems rely mainly on aggregated statistics, useful for territorial comparisons but often too approximate to describe the conditions of individual households and dwellings. This paper proposes a building-scale methodology that integrates socio-economic and technical data collected directly through surveys, interviews, and utility bills. The approach was applied to a private multi-family building built in the early twentieth century in Turin (Italy), involving 16 households. Results indicate that 31% of households exceed the 10% energy expenditure threshold, with heating emerging as the main cost driver. Correlation analyses suggest that single parameters such as income or dwelling size are not sufficient on their own to explain vulnerability, whereas the integration of socio-technical factors provides a more detailed picture of household conditions. Based on this evidence, four intervention strategies were developed, ranging from the insulation of the envelope to the installation of photovoltaics, conceived to be implemented progressively according to real technical and economic constraints. The novelty of this study lies in linking building-scale evidence with concrete design solutions, bridging the gap between measurement and action. Full article

Cattle feed efficiency can influence operating costs and revenues, and it is a complex phenotype that can be measured by different metrices. The objective of this study was to determine which microbial taxa in the ruminal and fecal microbiomes of Angus bulls are associated with residual feed intake (RFI), residual average daily gain (RADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and adjusted feed conversion ratio (AFCR) by using a large sample size. The metrics RFI and RADG are calculated from the difference between an animal’s actual feed intake and actual gain, to their predicted intake and gain, respectively, and AFCR is the FCR adjusted for the animal’s size. Rumen (n = 1176) and fecal (n = 1179) samples were collected from Angus bulls from 10 contemporary groups located across the continental U.S. Animals were assigned to three classifications (High, Medium, or Low) for each feed efficiency metric within each contemporary group, according to their individual performance data. To compare the feed efficiency metrics, a cost analysis scenario was performed, and bulls classified by RADG had the greatest correlation with predicted profit (r² = 0.98). For alpha diversity, only classification by FCR resulted in differences within both rumen and fecal samples. In the rumen environment, only ‘X112’ was significant (p = 0.02) by RFI classification, and Succinivibrionaceae was significant (p = 0.01) by FCR classification. In the fecal environment, a total of 19 families significantly differed, with bulls classified by RFI having the greatest number of different families. Bull feed efficiency status had greater impacts in the fecal microbiome compared to the rumen, but results should be taken in context since the animals were classified within each contemporary group. Still, differences detected within the fecal microbiome may allow for more assessable microbiome applications; however, the metric used to classify cattle as feed efficient will determine which microbial families are relevant. Full article

Morpho-palynological studies are essential to distinguish the botanical and geographical origins of honey, ensuring its authenticity, quality, and commercial value. This study examined 64 melliferous plant species (including 6 endemics) from the Anzer Valley to characterize pollen morphology using light and scanning electron microscopy. Of these, 26 taxa were analyzed morphologically for the first time. The evaluation of the results revealed that among the 21 flowering plant families identified, Fabaceae is represented by the highest number of taxa, followed by Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Rosaceae. Palynological findings showed that plants with medium-sized pollen grains are the most dominant, followed by those with small-sized pollen grains, while plants with large-sized pollen grains are present in the lowest proportion. At the same time, tricolporate (59% species) was represented by more than half of the examined species. Also, the microechinate–perforate type was the most dominating exine ornamentation, contributing 13% of the total ornamentation, while reticulate–perforate and striate–perforate represented 11% each, respectively. A generalized linear mixed-effects model (the polar axis as the response, the equatorial diameter as the predictor, the taxon as a random intercept) revealed that pollen size variation was primarily species-specific. While 41 species showed a positive trend, four exhibited a negative one, and 19 showed no clear association. The overall fixed-effect slope was moderately positive and statistically significant (β = 0.50 ± 0.02 SE, p < 0.001). These results emphasize the morphological diversity among taxa rather than a single allometric pattern. Full article

Background/Objectives: Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) are derived from camelid heavy-chain antibodies (HCAb). Their small size, high stability, and ease of production, among other properties, makes them highly valuable in biomedical research and therapeutic development. Several sdAb-based molecules are currently progressing through clinical trials, highlighting their translational relevance. As sdAbs originate from HCAb of Camelidae family, they can originate from multiple species including Vicugna pacos, Lama glama, Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus. Although several reports and databases analyze the structure of sdAbs, comprehensive evaluations on species-dependent structural differences remain scarce. Methods: We assembled MO-IISA, an open-access curated database of sdAbs with known antigen targets by integrating six public resources (iCAN, INDI, SAbDab-nano, sdAb-DB, PLabDab-nano, NbThermo) under harmonized eligibility criteria. Results: The final dataset comprises 2053 sdAbs derived from llamas (Lama glama, n = 1316); alpacas (Vicugna pacos, n = 325), dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius, n = 377) and Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus, n = 35). We quantified region lengths, amino acid frequency, and conservation/entropy across frameworks (FR1–FR4). The average length of all sdAbs was about 124 ± 8 amino acids, with minor interspecies differences. We observed a consistent enrichment of lysines in FR3 (and secondarily FR2) and cysteines primarily in FR1 and FR3, with non-canonical cysteines more frequent in Bactrian and dromedary sdAbs CDRs. CDR2 and, particularly CDR3, contributed most to inter- and intra-species variability, whereas FRs were highly conserved. Conclusions: Species-neutral framework constraints and species-tuned loop adaptations have practical implications for sdAb engineering, species selection, and conjugation strategies. These features are captured in MO-IISA, an open-access database of known-target sdAbs from different species. Full article

Dendrobium officinale, a perennial epiphytic herb of the orchid family renowned for its ornamental value and diverse medicinal properties, has attracted considerable global attention due to its rarity and increasing market demand. However, large-scale cultivation has led to confusion regarding its germplasm resources and genetic backgrounds, posing significant challenges for the effective conservation, management, and utilization of D. officinale germplasm. In this study, we systematically analyzed the abundance and characteristics of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and developed highly polymorphic genomic SSR markers using whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) data from 15 D. officinale genotypes. A total of 494,783 SSRs were identified in the “Niu2020” reference genome. Mononucleotide repeats were the most abundant motifs, followed by dinucleotide repeats, with A/T and AT/TA being the predominant types, respectively. Of the SSRs with unique flanking sequences (unique SSRs), 121,544 out of 388,553 (31.28%) were polymorphic across the 15 genotypes. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values of these SSRs ranged from 0.13 to 0.92, with an average of 0.59. Subsequently, 10,364 pairs of SSR primers were successfully designed from polymorphic SSR loci with PIC values ≥ 0.5 and major allele size differences ≥ 3 bp. Ultimately, 20 primer pairs were randomly selected for experimental validation. Of these, 18 successfully amplified the target fragments and exhibited high levels of polymorphism (PIC values ranged from 0.31 to 0.74), confirming the effectiveness and practical utility of the newly developed markers. The SSR fingerprints and polymorphic markers developed in this study provide a valuable resource and establish a robust technical foundation for enhancing the efficiency of cultivar identification, genetic research, and molecular breeding in D. officinale. Full article

The genus Phylloporus (Boletaceae, Boletales) is a group of ectomycorrhizal fungi, distinguished from other members of Boletaceae by its unique lamellate hymenophore. Although some molecular data exist for this genus, its mitogenomic characteristics remain poorly understood. In our study, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the complete mitogenomes of eight species representing seven major subclades of Boletaceae collected in Jiangxi Province, China, with a focus on four Phylloporus species. We found that Phylloporus mitogenomes are circular, ranging in size from 35,117 bp to 38,908 bp, and contain 14–15 core protein-coding genes (PCGs), 24–28 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. Our comparative analysis revealed that Phylloporus species share many features, such as gene content, gene length, tRNA repertoire, and gene order, while Boletaceae as a whole shows a lot of diversity. Codon usage patterns are quite similar across the family. The Ka/Ks ratios of most 15 core PCGs were less than 1, suggesting these genes have been preserved through purifying selection over time. By using Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods and combining 28 other mitotic genomes in the NCBI database, our phylogenetic analysis produced highly consistent and well-supported trees (BPP ≥ 0.98, BS ≥ 71). It is noted that this family is divided into seven subfamilies, which is consistent with previous taxonomic studies. Altogether, our findings shed light on the unique features of Phylloporus and its connections to other members of Boletaceae. These findings not only provide valuable insights into the taxonomy, phylogeny, genetic diversity, and resource conservation of Boletaceae but also serve as a valuable genomic resource for future research. Full article

Fruit size is a key economic trait in horticultural crops, determined by an integrated network of genetic, hormonal, epigenetic, and environmental factors. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding this regulation. Genetically, key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) such as fw2.2, fw3.2, FAS, and LC control cell number and organ size. Hormones including auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, and brassinosteroid regulate cell division and expansion. Transcription factors (e.g., YABBY, WOX families) and epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone modifications, endoreduplication) provide additional regulatory layers. Environmental factors (light, temperature, water, nutrition) and cultivation practices (pruning, thinning) ultimately shape the final fruit phenotype. Emerging technologies like multi-omics, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and artificial intelligence offer powerful tools for future research and molecular breeding, which aim to decode the complex regulatory network and enhance crop yield and quality. Full article

Actinidia arguta, also known as mini kiwi (due to its small size) or hardy kiwi (due to its frost resistance), is becoming an increasingly popular fruit alongside its commercially older siblings, i.e., A. deliciosa (green kiwi fruit) and A. chinensis (golden kiwifruit), from the Actinidiaceae family. This review paper discusses the biological and pharmacological properties of A. arguta fruits, with a special focus on methods of the bioactive component analysis. Mini kiwi is a valuable source of bioactive compounds, which contribute to its health-promoting properties, among others: antioxidant, neuroprotective, anticholinergic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiobesity as well as antiatherosclerotic ones. They are briefly discussed, illustrating the action of bioactive ingredients and the methods of analysis, which are presented in the tables. This review includes a concise characterization of A. arguta and updates the current field of knowledge about its diverse biological activities, which are undoubtedly related to the content of bioactive components and the methods used for their isolation and analysis. The information included in this review paper will be helpful in perceiving mini kiwi not only as a tasty fruit but also as a source of bioactive ingredients with beneficial, health-promoting effects on the body. Effective isolation of these components can contribute to the future development of antiaging and anticancer drugs, which undoubtedly will lead to further research and promote this species. Full article