Search Results (46,954)

Postoperative infections represent the most frequent complication after surgery. Anesthetic agents, while essential during surgical procedures to ensure unconsciousness, are becoming increasingly recognized as modulators of immune function. Volatile anesthetics have been identified as being able to attenuate the inflammatory response in diverse experimental models. Propofol, a widely used intravenous anesthetic, has also been described to exhibit strong anti-inflammatory mechanisms. This review synthesizes current cellular, experimental, and clinical evidence on the immunomodulatory effects of anesthetic agents, highlighting their impact on host defense mechanisms and postoperative infections. By exploring mechanistic properties and clinical outcomes, it underscores the importance of anesthetic choice in enhancing immune function and postoperative recovery. Full article

Corn (Zea mays L.) ranks among the most important cereal crops globally, extensively cultivated for food, animal feed, and industrial applications. Its large-scale production generates substantial amounts of agricultural residues such as cobs, husks, stalks, leaves and other, which are often underutilized, leading to environmental concerns. Due to their high carbon content, lignocellulosic structure, and abundant availability, these residues represent a sustainable and low-cost raw material for the synthesis of activated carbon. Corn waste-derived activated carbon has emerged as a promising material for the efficient removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Its high surface area, well-developed porosity, and adjustable surface chemistry, referring to the functional groups on the adsorbent surface that can be modified to enhance affinity toward metal ions, facilitate effective adsorption. This review provides a comprehensive overview of (1) the potential of corn waste biomass as a precursor for activated carbon production, (2) methods of carbonization and activation that influence the textural and chemical properties of the resulting adsorbents, (3) adsorption performance for heavy metal removal under varying experimental parameters such as pH, initial concentration, contact time, and adsorbent dosage, (4) adsorption mechanisms responsible for heavy metal uptake. Reported maximum adsorption capacities vary for different metals, ranging from 2.814–206 mg/g for lead, 0.21–87.72 mg/g for cadmium, 9.6246–175.44 mg/g for chromium, and 0.724–643.92 mg/g for copper. Utilizing corn waste not only provides an eco-friendly approach for managing agricultural residues but also supports the development of efficient adsorbents. Nevertheless, challenges such as scaling up production and evaluating adsorbent performance in real wastewater samples remain and require further investigation. Finally, the review highlights key challenges and knowledge gaps in current research and offers recommendations for future studies aimed at advancing the practical application of corn waste–based activated carbons in water treatment. Full article

Influenza viruses cause mild to severe lower respiratory infections, sometimes resulting in hospitalization and death. Vaccination remains the primary prophylactic strategy. Live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) efficiently induce antiviral immune responses and contain temperature-sensitive and cold-adapted mutations that render them safe. These mutations are principally located in the PB1 and PB2 subunits of the viral RNA polymerase, but the mechanism by which they attenuate the virus is unclear. We introduced the PB1 and PB2 mutations from two LAIV backbones, A/Ann Arbor/6/1960 H2N2 (AA) and A/Leningrad/134/17/1957 H2N2 (Len), into the model influenza strain A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 H1N1 (PR8). In contrast to the wild-type (WT) PR8 polymerase, the two “PR8-LAIV” polymerase complexes demonstrated maximal activity at cold temperatures (30–32 °C) and greatly reduced activity at elevated temperatures (>37 °C). To further understand the impact of the LAIV mutations, we infected MDCK cells with WT and mutated PR8 viruses that contain the Len and AA LAIV mutations in PB1 and PB2. The PR8-LAIV mutant viruses exhibited a selective, temperature-dependent defect in the replicase activity of the viral RNA polymerase relative to WT PR8, while also demonstrating a temperature-dependent enhancement in the transcriptional activity of the enzyme. In addition, the PR8-LAIV mutant viruses produced similar levels of viral proteins to WT PR8 at 37 °C, but greatly (2–3 log₁₀) reduced levels of infectious viral progeny. Collectively, these data show that LAIV mutations selectively alter influenza viral RNA polymerase function, favoring transcription over genome synthesis at 37 °C, thereby preserving viral antigen production while also contributing to viral attenuation. Full article

This paper introduces a new approach to obtain robust tracking performance, disturbance resistance, and input variation resistance, and eliminate chattering phenomena in the control signal and output responses of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) quadcopter with parametric uncertainty. This method involves a modified exponential reaching law (ERL) of the sliding mode control (SMC) based on a Gaussian kernel function with a continuous nonlinear Smoother Signum Function (SSF). The smooth continuous signum function is proposed as a substitute for the signum function to prevent the chattering effect caused by the switching sliding surface. The closed-loop system’s stability is ensured according to Lyapunov’s stability theory. Optimal trajectory tracking is attained based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) to select the controller parameters. A comparative analysis with a classical hierarchical SMC based on different ERLs (sign function, saturation function, and SSF) is presented to further substantiate the superior performance of the proposed controller. The outcomes of the simulation prove that the suggested controller has much better effectiveness, unknown disturbance resistance, input variation resistance, and parametric uncertainty than the other controllers, which produce chattering and make the control signal range fall within unrealistic values. Furthermore, the suggested controller outperforms the classical SMC by reducing the tracking integral mean squared errors by 96.154% for roll, 98.535% for pitch, 44.81% for yaw, and 22.8% for altitude under normal flight conditions. It also reduces the tracking mean squared errors by 99.05% for roll, 99.26% for pitch, 40.18% for yaw, and 99.998% for altitude under trajectory tracking flight conditions in the presence of external disturbances. Therefore, the proposed controller can efficiently follow paths in the presence of parameter uncertainties, input variation, and external disturbances. . Full article

Magnesium (Mg) release (MGR) proteins play a crucial role in maintaining Mg²⁺ homeostasis in plant cells. However, MGR family genes have not yet been explored in crops. This study identified the wheat MGR (TaMGR) family members via BlastP alignment. A total of 15 MGR genes were mapped to 12 chromosomes. Cis-element prediction in the promoter region revealed that the ABA-responsive element (ABRE) was 100% conserved among all family members. Collinearity analysis indicates that MGR genes in monocot plants may have higher conservation compared to dicot plants. Expression profiling analyses uncovered the expression patterns of TaMGR genes across diverse tissues and under various stresses. Our results demonstrated that TaMGR5D and TaMGR5A.2 were significantly induced by both powdery mildew and stripe rust pathogen infections, whereas TaMGR4A transcript levels were upregulated in response to drought, heat and their combined stress. These findings indicate that TaMGRs may contribute coordinately to the regulation of wheat growth and development as well as adaptive responses to adverse conditions through member-specific expression patterns. This study systematically identified and analyzed the evolution and expression regulation characteristics of TaMGRs, providing a theoretical basis for in-depth research on the functional mechanisms of the TaMGRs and for improving the Mg use efficiency and stress adaptability of wheat via molecular approaches. Full article

Given the environmental hazards of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) and the limitations of existing detection methods, sodium-doped fluorescent carbon dots (Na-CDs) were successfully synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method using citric acid and ascorbic acid as carbon sources. Compared with undoped carbon quantum dots, Na-CDs exhibited nearly identical surface functional groups but significantly enhanced fluorescence stability and markedly improved selective responsiveness toward TNP. Accordingly, a Na-CD-based fluorescent probe was developed for the highly selective detection of TNP. Results demonstrated a good linear relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity change (F₀ − F)/F₀ and TNP concentration ranging from 7 × 10⁻⁷ to 2 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L, with a detection limit of 3.5 × 10⁻⁸ mol/L. When applied to detect TNP in local river water samples, the method achieved recoveries of 95.40–104.0%, confirming its reliability for real-world environmental sample analysis. This study develops a novel, sensitive, and highly selective approach for monitoring TNP in environmental systems. Full article

This study addresses the challenges in health monitoring and safety assessment of retaining structures by developing an innovative damage identification system based on the Frequency-Optimized Wavelet Packet Transform (FOWPT) algorithm. The system introduces the Impulse Response Function (IRF) and optimized energy feature characterization to achieve precise damage localization (error ≤ 5%) and quantitative severity assessment. Recognizing the limitations of traditional dynamic methods in explaining damage mechanisms and spatial specificity, this research proposes a Wavelet Packet–Curvature Fusion (WPCF) model that integrates dynamic response signals with static topographic features. Through experimental validation, the WPCF model demonstrates a strong spatial correlation between terrain curvature and damage indicators, enabling damage prediction based solely on topographic data. The results show that the fusion approach significantly improves the accuracy of damage diagnosis and facilitates a transition from post-diagnosis to pre-prediction, offering a reliable technical framework for the intelligent monitoring and maintenance of retaining structures. Full article

Background: The role of CREBBP and EP300 mutations in hypermutation and immunotherapy response in gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas is poorly defined and needs further investigation. Methods: We conducted an in silico analysis of 12 publicly available studies (n = 1871; cBioPortal), stratifying samples by CREBBP/EP300 status to assess associations with TMB-High, MSI, co-mutation patterns, and mutation localization. Clinical validation was performed in an independent pan-cancer cohort treated with ICIs (n = 1610) and a gastric cancer cohort with WES data (n = 55). Results: Coding mutations in CREBBP and/or EP300 were significantly associated with TMB-high and MSI-high phenotypes (p < 0.001). All studied samples carrying coding mutations in both CREBBP and EP300 exhibited a TMB-high status. PTVs in functional HAT and bromodomain regions were exclusively associated with TMB-high. Incorporating CREBBP and/or EP300 mutation status improved identification of ultra-hypermutated tumors compared with single-gene biomarkers (p < 0.001). Clinically, these mutations predicted improved overall survival in the pan-cancer cohort (median OS 34 vs. 17 months; HR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.52–0.87, p = 0.0026), as well as in bladder (HR = 0.55, p = 0.0337) and gastrointestinal cancer cohorts (HR = 0.31, p = 0.0021) treated with ICIs. In the gastric cancer validation cohort, all tumors with PTVs demonstrated a partial response to anti-PD-1 therapy. Conclusions: We report CREBBP and EP300 coding mutations as novel potential surrogate biomarkers for hypermutation in gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas and demonstrate their association with favorable immunotherapy outcomes, supporting their potential clinical utility for patient stratification. Full article

Monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab have shown clinical success in cancer treatment, but patient responses vary, and resistance can develop, possibly due to tumor microenvironment factors. In this study, we explored the role of HER2-positive exosomes in counteracting one of the mechanisms of action of trastuzumab: antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). We conducted a comprehensive analysis of HER2 expression on exosomes purified from the plasma of breast cancer patients and different breast cancer cell lines using various purification methods. Purified exosomes were analyzed using the single-particle interferometric reflectance imaging sensor (SP-IRIS)-based ExoView platform. To gain better insight into the formation of exosomal-immune complexes with trastuzumab, we used the ExoView platform to analyze the CD9/HER2/Human IgG phenotype of exosomes at the single vesicle level. Additionally, in a standard functional ADCC assay, formation of exosome-immune complexes with trastuzumab reduced the killing of breast cancer target cells. Together, our findings show that exosomes can function as decoys for immunotherapy, reducing its efficacy, and that SP-IRIS-based analysis can be used to identify levels of HER2-expressing exosomes in patients, which could aid in patient management. Full article

We previously demonstrated that in BAP1-proficient pleural mesothelioma cells, CDKN2A is critical for mediating the response to selective EZH2 inhibition and highlighted a complex interplay between epigenetic regulation and the tumor immune microenvironment. In this study, we employed a quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry approach to assess alterations in protein expression following EZH2 inhibition in BAP1- and CDKN2A-proficient mesothelioma cells cultured as spheroids. Additionally, we analyzed extracellular vesicles (EVs), which were isolated through tangential flow filtration. Flow cytometric analysis and co-culture systems were used to characterize the effects of EVs on neutrophils. Upon EZH2 inhibition, we demonstrated RAB27b and CD63 upregulation and increased release of extracellular vesicles. We found that a brief exposure to EVs derived from EZH2 inhibitor-treated cells skewed naïve neutrophils toward a pro-tumor phenotype characterized by high levels of PD-L1 and MSLN (Mesothelin) expression on the surface. These EV-elicited neutrophils suppressed T cell proliferation while enhancing tumor cell growth. Moreover, we observed changes in the EV cargo derived from EZH2 inhibitor-treated spheroids. Our findings highlight the significant role of EVs in creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment, and underscore the urgent need for further investigation into the regulation of neutrophil biology and function in the PM. Full article

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is a key pest of citrus and insect vector of Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, causing significant losses in Florida and other regions. The naturally occurring effective ladybeetle predators and their impact on D. citri reduced from years of insecticide use against this pest and are not available commercially. Additionally, most species are large-sized, while most eggs and neonates of D. citri are in hard-to-reach locations such as unopened leaves, which makes access difficult for them. We evaluated a commercially available small-sized predatory ladybeetle Rhyzobius lophanthae Blaisdell against D. citri immatures. A single adult consumed an average of 24.9 eggs and 8.7 first and second instar nymphs of D. citri within 24 h. Beetles exhibited Type II functional response against nymphs with an attack rate of 0.92 h⁻¹ and a handling time of 0.08 h. Their consumption rate increased with nymphal density up to twenty per shoot. In the field test, beetles lived 10 days longer when confined with new shoots infested with D. citri immatures in a voile fabric sleeve cage in citrus trees every two days, versus seven days. In an open field release of R. lophanthae in a citrus orchard, these ladybeetles were found foraging in sentinel and neighboring trees infested with D. citri. The consumption rate of R. lophanthae on D. citri immatures and its survival in Florida orchards suggest its potential for biological control and Integrated Pest Management. Full article

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the short version of the Token Test (SVTT) and the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) using an item response theory (IRT) framework and to establish normative data for Colombian children and adolescents based on ability scores. Methods: A total of 668 healthy participants aged 6–17 years took part in this study. Factorial structure was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Item parameters were estimated using a two-parameter logistic (2PL) model for the SVTT, which accounts for both item difficulty and discrimination in dichotomous responses, and a graded response model (GRM) for the ROCF, suitable for items scored on ordered categories reflecting increasing levels of performance accuracy and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis was conducted to assess potential bias related to sex. Reliability was examined using the Test Information Function (TIF), internal consistency throughout Cronbach’s alpha, and the influence of sociodemographic variables was analyzed through regression models. Results: CFA confirmed unidimensionality for all measures. For most items, moderate-to-low ability was sufficient to achieve the highest scores in the ROCF, and low ability in the SVTT. DIF analysis indicated no meaningful sex-related bias in any of the subtests. Both tests showed excellent reliability and internal consistency. Copy scores were influenced by polynomial age and parents’ mean years of education (MPE), while both immediate recall in the ROCF and SVTT were affected by MPE and the interaction of logarithmic age. Conclusions: This study provides strong psychometric evidence and, together with the integration of digital tools for generating normative data, represents a meaningful advancement in neuropsychological assessment. Full article

Vaccine adjuvants play a crucial role in the field of vaccinology, yet they remain one of the least developed and poorly characterized components of modern biomedical research. The limited availability of clinically approved adjuvants highlights the urgent need for new molecules with well-defined mechanisms and improved safety profiles. Hemocyanins, large copper-containing metalloglycoproteins found in mollusks, represent a unique class of natural immunomodulators. Hemocyanins serve as carrier proteins that help generate antibodies against peptides and hapten molecules. They also function as non-specific protein-based adjuvants (PBAs) in both experimental human and veterinary vaccines. Their mannose-rich N-glycans allow for multivalent binding to innate immune receptors, including C-type lectin receptors (e.g., MR, DC-SIGN) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), thereby activating both MyD88- and TRIF-dependent signaling pathways. Hemocyanins consistently favor Th1-skewed immune responses, which is a key characteristic of their adjuvant potential. Remarkably, their conformational stability supports slow intracellular degradation and facilitates dual routing through MHC-II and MHC-I pathways, thereby enhancing both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses. Several hemocyanins are currently being utilized in biomedical research, including Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) from Megathura crenulata, along with those from other gastropods such as Concholepas concholepas (CCH), Fissurella latimarginata (FLH), Rapana venosa (RvH), and Helix pomatia (HpH), all of which display strong immunomodulatory properties, making them promising candidates as adjuvants for next-generation vaccines against infectious diseases and therapeutic immunotherapies for cancer. However, their structural complexity has posed challenges for their recombinant production, thus limiting their availability from natural sources. This reliance introduces variability, scalability issues, and challenges related to regulatory compliance. Future research should focus on defining the hemocyanin immunopeptidome and isolating minimal peptides that retain their adjuvant activity. Harnessing advances in structural biology, immunology, and machine learning will be critical in transforming hemocyanins into safe, reproducible, and versatile immunomodulators. This review highlights recent progress in understanding how hemocyanins modulate mammalian immunity through their unique structural features and highlights their potential implications as potent PBAs for vaccine development and other biomedical applications. By addressing the urgent need for novel immunostimulatory platforms, hemocyanins could significantly advance vaccine design and immunotherapy approaches. Full article

GRAS family plays a critical role in plant growth and stress responses. In this study, we identified 47 GRAS (DlGRAS) genes in the longan genome and conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of these genes. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the expression of these DlGRAS genes differed during early SE and across various longan tissues. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results indicated that the DlGRAS genes exhibited differential expression during the early SE of longan, with most of them showing high expression at the globular embryo (GE) stage. Under GA₃ treatment, the transcript levels of DlGRAS12/15 decreased significantly. In contrast, exogenous ABA promoted the expression of DlGRAS6/10/23, indicating that DlGRAS genes are responsive to hormones. Compared with CaMV35S-driven GUS expression, the promoters of DlGRAS10/22 increased GUS expression, GA₃ and ABA treatments enhanced promoter activity. DlGRAS10/22 were located in the nucleus. Overexpression of DlGRAS10/22 in longan SE significantly promoted the transcription levels of SE-related genes, including DlGID1, DlGA20ox2, DlLEC1, DlFUS3, DlABI3 and DlLEC2. Therefore, DlGRAS may be involved in the early morphogenesis of longan SE through the hormone signaling pathway. Full article

Schools constitute strategic settings for shaping eating behaviors among youth. Given the profound environmental, health, and social challenges associated with current food systems, there is an urgent need to explore dietary patterns that simultaneously support human well-being, ecological sustainability, and ethical principles. This comprehensive review provides a contemporary overview of the role of plant-based diets as an instrumental pathway to a healthier and more sustainable future by examining (i) environmental and social impacts of current food systems; (ii) the effects of plant-based diets on health; (iii) determinants of plant-based diet implementation in schools, including barriers and facilitators to their adoption; and (iv) the development of future-oriented dietary guidelines. Transitioning to plant-based diets, combined with sustainable agricultural practices, can reduce resource use and promote ecological sustainability. Promoting plant-based diets can also encourage the development of a more responsible and equitable social culture. Plant-based diets consistently provide metabolic, cardiovascular, and anti-inflammatory benefits across diverse populations, contributing to healthy weight and glycemic regulation. Well-planned plant-based diets may also improve cognitive function and promote psychological well-being. The integration of plant-based diets in schools is limited by barriers such as children’s food preferences, habitual eating patterns, peer influence, time and resource constraints, limited knowledge, cultural attachment to meat, and low family involvement. Conversely, facilitators including experiential learning, nutrition education, teacher and family engagement, social norms, ethical or environmental motivations, and institutional support promote acceptance and implementation. Ongoing research is required to refine dietary recommendations, assess long-term health outcomes, and ensure nutritional adequacy across pediatric populations. Continued evaluation of school-based interventions and policy frameworks will be essential to optimize the integration of plant-based diets and to monitor their health, ethical, and environmental impacts. Full article