Search Results (5,102)

Background/Objectives: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) and cellulitis (PTC) often present with similar clinical features, making differentiation challenging despite imaging. This study evaluates the diagnostic performance of serum HMGB1 and kallistatin levels as potential independent biomarkers to distinguish PTA from PTC. Methods: In this single-center prospective cohort study, 97 patients aged 18 to 65 years who met the inclusion criteria and presented with peritonsillar infection (39 PTA; 58 PTC) between February and July 2025 were enrolled. Serum levels of HMGB1, kallistatin, and routine inflammatory markers were measured and compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified independent predictors for distinguishing PTA from PTC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the clinical net benefit of individual biomarkers and their combinations across a range of threshold probabilities. Results: Compared to controls, patients with peritonsillar infection had significantly higher WBC, neutrophil, CRP, procalcitonin, and HMGB1 levels and significantly lower kallistatin levels (all p < 0.05). Within the infection group, PTA patients showed significantly higher CRP (p = 0.036) and HMGB1 (p = 0.003) levels and lower kallistatin (p < 0.001) levels compared to PTC patients. In univariate analysis, CRP, HMGB1, and kallistatin were significantly associated with PTA; however, in multivariate analysis, only elevated HMGB1 (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.09–1.35; p < 0.001) and reduced kallistatin (OR: 0.395; 95% CI: 0.24–0.648; p < 0.001) remained independent predictors. ROC analysis showed that both HMGB1 and kallistatin demonstrated good discriminative ability in distinguishing PTA from PTC. DCA revealed that the three-biomarker combination (kallistatin + HMGB1 + CRP) achieved the highest mean net benefit (0.183) across all threshold probabilities, outperforming individual biomarkers (kallistatin: 0.131, HMGB1: 0.111, CRP: 0.099) and the two-biomarker model (0.176). The combined model maintained superior net benefit across threshold probabilities of 25–75%, indicating optimal clinical utility within this decision range. Conclusions: Serum HMGB1 and kallistatin may be effective adjunctive biomarkers for differentiating PTA from PTC. Full article

Background: Pelvic injuries of the sacroiliac joint are unstable and require surgical intervention following high-energy trauma. In this study, we aimed to present the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with sacroiliac joint separation and sacroiliac fracture dislocation (crescent) injury. We compared the surgical interventions performed on the sacroiliac joint based on patient clinical data. Methods: By reviewing the records of 850 pelvic fractures treated in our clinic between 2000 and 2020, we identified 110 patients with sacroiliac joint injuries who were included in the study. The fractures were classified based on patient files and radiographs. The patients were categorized according to the surgical interventions performed on the sacroiliac joint into two groups: closed reduction with percutaneous iliosacral screws and open reduction with plates and screws. We further divided the patients who underwent open reduction and plate–screw fixation into anterior and posterior surgical approaches. Clinical outcomes were obtained by evaluating patients using a subjective pelvic scoring system. Additionally, complications observed after surgeries were investigated. Results: A total of 121 fractures from 110 patients were included in the study. Eleven of the patients had bilateral sacroiliac joint injuries, for which bilateral surgery was performed. The mean age of the patients at the time of injury was 35.15 years (range from 6 to 80 years). The mean follow-up period was 103.45 months (range from 16 to 253 months). According to the scoring system, the highest success rate was observed in plate–screw operations performed through the anterior approach to the sacroiliac joint, with excellent to good results in approximately 92% of patients. Both open reduction and internal fixation through the posterior approach and closed reduction and percutaneous iliosacral screw surgery yielded successful functional results, with no statistically significant difference between the methods (p = 0.880). Regarding complications, the most important problems were infections associated with plate–screw procedures using the posterior approach and neurologic injuries resulting from closed reduction screw surgery. Conclusions: Effective management of sacroiliac joint injuries requires surgical expertise and individualized treatment strategies. With appropriate technique and fixation, both open and closed surgical methods can achieve satisfactory anatomical reduction and functional outcomes. Although standardized treatment protocols may be developed, tailoring the approach to each patient is more important for optimal clinical success. Full article

Brassinosteroid analogs with heterocyclic rings in the side chain are interesting because important biological activity has been shown by these compounds. Thus, herein, five 23-24-dinorcholane BR analogs with a heterocyclic ester function at C-22 were synthesized and fully characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. The acylation reaction at C-22, which is a key synthetic step, was carried out by two different methods, namely acylation with heterocyclic acid chlorides and Steglich esterification reaction. In both cases, the acyl derivatives were obtained with good yields. Additionally, a preliminary molecular docking study of BRI1–BAK1 complexes formed by these analogs and brassinolide was performed to estimate what their biological activity would be. Results indicate that the complex formed by the analog 36, which has an indole group in the side chain, within the active site of BRI1–BAK1 is more stable than that formed by brassinolide. Additionally, molecular docking of a derivative having a benzoate function at C-22 and a F atom in the ortho position, 23, shows a similar pose and interactions at the active site but the highest binding energy. As 23 has shown similar activity to brassinolide in the Rice Lamina Inclination Test, it is expected that 36 will also exhibit similar behavior. Full article

Bridges are critical nodes in freight networks, yet limited funding prevents agencies from maintaining all structures in good condition. This creates the need for a transparent and scalable method to identify which bridges pose the greatest risk to supply chain continuity. This study develops a bridge risk index using the threat–vulnerability–consequence (TVC) framework and validates its components with machine learning. Threat is defined as per-lane average daily traffic, vulnerability as effective bridge age (epoch), and consequence as detour distance, with traffic also contributing to disruption magnitude. The methodology applies log transformation and normalization to construct an interpretable multiplicative index, then classifies risk using Jenks natural breaks. The results show that epoch dominates vulnerability, detour distance amplifies consequence, and their interaction explains most of the risk variation. Specifically, effective age explains over three times more variation in bridge condition than any other attribute. The vulnerability–consequence interaction dominates with an R² = 0.98. The highest-risk bridges are concentrated in rural areas and near major freight gateways where detour options are limited. The proposed TVC index provides a transparent, data-driven decision-support tool that agencies can apply nationwide to prioritize investments, safeguard freight corridors, and strengthen supply chain resilience. Full article

The present work reports the bioguided isolation of constituents from the ethanol extract of Holarrhena floribunda stem bark, their identification by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS identification, and the in silico prediction of the pharmacokinetic and toxicity parameters. The crude extract, along with its n-hexane and alkaloid-rich fractions, displayed moderate to good antiplasmodial activity in vitro against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and multidrug-resistant (Dd2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 6.54 to 43.54 µg/mL. Seventeen steroidal alkaloids (1–17) were identified in the most active fraction using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, based on their fragmentation patterns and analysis with the Structural Similarity Network Annotation Platform for Mass Spectrometry (SNAP-MS). Furthermore, bioguided isolation of the ethanol extract yielded twenty-one compounds (3, 5, 10, 14–16, 18–31), whose structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Among them, compounds 5, 14, and 27 showed the highest potency against the two strains of P. falciparum, with IC₅₀ values between 25.97 and 55.78 µM. In addition, the in silico prediction of pharmacokinetic parameters and drug-likeness using the SwissADME web tool indicated that most of the evaluated compounds (1, 3–5, and 14–16) complied with Lipinski’s rule of five. Full article

Machine learning (ML) algorithms have promoted the development of predictive modeling of mineral prospectivity, enabling data-driven decision-making processes by integrating multi-source geological information, leading to efficient and accurate prediction of mineral exploration targets. However, it is challenging to conduct ML-based mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) in under-explored areas where scarce data are available. In this study, the Narigongma district of the Qiangtang block in the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen was chosen as a case study. Five typical alterations related to porphyry mineralization in the study area, namely pyritization, sericitization, silicification, chloritization and propylitization, were extracted by remote sensing interpretation to enrich the data source for MPM. The extracted alteration evidences, combined with geological, geophysical and geochemical multi-source information, were employed to train the ML models. Four machine learning models, including artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (RF), support vector machine and logistic regression, were employed to map the Cu-polymetallic prospectivity in the study area. The predictive performances of the models were evaluated through confusion matrix-based indices and success-rate curves. The results show that the classification accuracy of the four models all exceed 85%, among which the ANN model achieves the highest accuracy of 96.43% and a leading Kappa value of 92.86%. In terms of predictive efficiency, the RF model outperforms the other models, which captures 75% of the mineralization sites within only 3.5% of the predicted area. A total of eight exploration targets were delineated upon a comprehensive assessment of all ML models, and these targets were further ranked based on the verification of high-resolution geochemical anomalies and evaluation of the transportation condition. The interpretability analyses emphasize the key roles of spatial proxies of porphyry intrusions and geochemical exploration in model prediction as well as significant influences everted by pyritization and chloritization, which accords well with the established knowledge about porphyry mineral systems in the study area. The findings of this study provide a robust ML-based framework for the exploration targeting in greenfield areas with good outcrops but low exploration extent, where fusion of a remote sensing technique and multi-source geo-information serve as an effective exploration strategy. Full article

Understanding the soil fungal community in vineyards sheds light on the interactions between plants and their associated microorganisms. For example, identifying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which are beneficial to grapevine growth, is a good indicator of soil health. In contrast, other fungi, such as the pathogen group, can be detrimental to vine growth. The present study aimed to characterize the soil fungal community and the fungal diversity present at six Mediterranean vineyards located in Burgos (Spain), delving into fungal functional guilds and focusing on AMF and pathogenic fungal groups. The fungal structure was investigated using DNA metabarcoding in three soil samples taken from each vineyard, and differences in the abundance of functional guilds were assessed. Similar soil fungal community structures were observed among soil sample repetitions within vineyards. In contrast, adjacent vineyards presented differences in their microbial composition. Saprophytes followed by pathogens were the dominant fungal functional guilds across all vineyards. However, no differences in the relative abundance of the different fungal functional groups were observed among sites. The vineyard with the highest relative abundance of AMF (0.5%) also had the lowest pathogen relative abundance from all the sites (29.76%). Also, sites presenting a high relative abundance of pathogens in soil (>35%) had a low relative abundance of AMF (<0.05%). Our results suggest that the fungal community is affected by the intrinsic properties of the soil and the characteristics of each vineyard’s microsite over the effect of the geographical proximity. In addition, to improve our understanding of the soil microbial ecology, we highlight the necessity of prospecting soil fungal analyses into functional groups, interpreting diversity results within taxonomic groups alongside the total abundance of target groups/species. Full article

This study explores the combustion behavior of three biomass pellet types—wood (W), sunflower husk (SH), and a mixture of wood and sunflower husks (W/SH)—in a residential hot water boiler. Experiments were carried out under two air supply regimes (40%/60% and 60%/40% primary to secondary air) to measure flue gas concentrations of oxygen (O₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NO_x). The results indicate that SH pellets generate the highest emissions (CO: 1095.3 mg/m³, NO_x: 679.3 mg/m³), while W pellets achieve the lowest (CO: 0.3 mg/m³, NO_x: 194.1 mg/m³). The mixed W/SH pellets produce intermediate values (CO: 148.7 mg/m³, NO_x: 201.8 mg/m³). Overall boiler efficiency for all tested fuels ranged from 90.3% to 91.4%. Numerical simulations using ANSYS CFX (2024 R2 (24.2)) were performed to analyze temperature distribution, flue gas composition, and flow fields, showing good agreement with experimental outlet temperature and emission trends. These findings emphasize that both pellet composition and air distribution significantly influence efficiency and emissions, offering guidance for optimizing small-scale biomass boiler operation. Full article

The aim of the study was to compare grain yield, grain quality, and morphophysiological parameters of three winter wheat cultivars: Kilimanjaro, Hymalaya, and Ostroga. The cultivars were grown in crop rotation after grain maize harvest, using three tillage systems: conventional (C), reduced (R), and no-tillage (N). A three-year field experiment was conducted in southeastern Poland. Compared to no-tillage, the use of conventional and reduced systems resulted in higher grain yield, increased leaf area index and relative chlorophyll content, and higher gas exchange parameters. In the conventional system, the highest grain yield was achieved by cvs. Hymalaya and Ostroga, while in no-tillage and reduced, it was cv. Hymalaya. Compared to no-tillage, the conventional system resulted in higher values of grain quality parameters, while simultaneously reducing ash content, and the reduced system promoted a better gluten index. Interactions between cultivar and tillage system demonstrated good grain quality in terms of protein, falling number, and gluten index. Gluten content above 25.0% was found in grains of cvs. Kilimanjaro and Hymalaya in the reduced and conventional systems, and cv. Ostroga in the conventional system. The dry and semi-drought periods in the 2018/2019 season were conducive to more favorable grain quality parameter values: protein, gluten, falling number, and ash. However, the resulting grain was characterized by a lower gluten index and lower physical parameters. Cvs. Hymalaya and Ostroga are recommended for cultivation in conventional and reduced tillage systems, and cv. additionally for no-tillage systems. Growing the cv. Kilimanjaro in no-tillage and reduced tillage systems, and the cv. Ostroga in a no-tillage system, will result in lower grain yields. Full article

Background/Objectives: A high-performing blood biomarker (BBM) test for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents an accurate, accessible, and scalable tool to aid healthcare professionals (HCPs) evaluating patients presenting with signs or symptoms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. However, implementation of AD blood tests into clinical practice has not been extensively evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess the implementation of the multi-analyte PrecivityAD2™ blood test (C2N Diagnostics, LLC, St. Louis, MO, USA) into the clinical workflow of memory care clinics. Methods: A total of 8 HCPs (neurologists, geriatricians, geriatric psychiatrists) who served as site directors from 8 outpatient sites that evaluated 203 cognitively symptomatic patients were included in this sub-study of the real-world QUIP II Study (NCT06025877). Implementation of this blood test was assessed through surveying these HCPs using published frameworks including the Technology Acceptance Model, net promoter score, and forced choice preference questions. These assessments were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Fisher’s Exact test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, respectively. Results: HCPs reported acceptance scores that averaged 9.6 out of 10 (p < 0.0001, effect size 0.840): the test’s contribution to clinical decision-making as well as the ease of understanding test results received the highest ratings. The net promoter score was 75 (p < 0.0001), exceeding the typical benchmark of 30 reported as good levels of satisfaction in healthcare settings. The APS2 results and individual blood analyte results were rated with similar preference around their roles in HCP clinical decision-making. Conclusions: The results indicate early evidence of user acceptance and recognition by HCPs that this AD blood test can personalize the clinical care pathway for evaluating cognitively symptomatic patients. Full article

Reducing the carbon footprint of the construction sector is a growing priority. This study explores the potential of using submerged arc welding (SAW) slag as a precursor in the development of low-carbon geopolymeric materials for 3D printing. The influence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) molarity, partial replacement of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) with SAW slag, and water-to-binder (w/b) ratio was evaluated in terms of fresh and hardened properties. Increasing KOH molarity delayed setting times, with the longest delays at 10 M and 12 M. The highest compressive strength (48.5 MPa at 28 days) was achieved at 8 M; higher molarities led to strength losses due to excessive precursor dissolution and increased porosity. GGBFS replacement increased setting times due to its higher Al₂O₃ and MgO content, which slowed geopolymerization. The optimized formulation, containing 20% SAW slag and activated with 8 M KOH at a w/b ratio of 0.29, exhibited good workability, extrudability, and shape retention. This mixture also performed best in 3D printing trials, strong layer adhesion and no segregation, although minor edge irregularities were observed. These results suggest that SAW slag is a promising sustainable material showing for 3D-printed geopolymers, with further optimization of printing parameters needed to enhance surface quality. Full article

The search for bioactive compounds against chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes includes curcuminoids as promising scaffolds. Here, we report the synthesis of a family of curcuminoid analogue compounds with an extended unsaturated central chain, as follows: difluoroboron complex 1, the enolised curcuminoid 2, and its homoleptic copper complex 3, in moderate to good yields (68–90%). Additionally, their β-cyclodextrin (BCD) association complexes, 4 and 5, were prepared through a mechanochemical method and characterised by spectroscopic techniques. Complete ¹H and ¹³C NMR assignments and NOESY correlations revealed unique solvent effects on the conformational disposition of compound 2, while the copper complex 3 displayed the highest extinction coefficient (1.20 × 10⁵ M⁻¹·cm⁻¹). Furthermore, the authentication of the polymorph of 1 and the new crystal structures of 2 and 3, determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis, were highlighted. Although the copper complex 3 initially exhibited the lowest a-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ > 100 µM), it showed a significant increase (IC₅₀ = 36.27 µM) upon association with BCD, reaching values comparable to the free ligand (IC₅₀ = 45.63 µM). Compounds 1–5 were non-toxic to healthy cells (COS-7), but compound 5 stands out as a promising candidate against this metabolic condition. Full article

With the integration of the global economy and the rapid development of port logistics, the port dangerous goods transportation system faces complex risk-coupling problems, and the probability of accidents keeps climbing. However, the existing research on the system risk-coupling mechanism and dynamic control mechanism is still insufficient, and there is an urgent need to construct a scientific risk analysis and control model. This study takes the port dangerous goods transportation system as the object, based on the four-factor framework of “personnel-machine-environment-management,” uses the N-K model to quantify the degree of risk coupling, analyzes the dynamic evolution mechanism of risk under the action of a single factor, and uses Dufferin’s oscillation and bifurcation response equation to reveal the interaction between the system’s internal defenses and the external influences. It is found that the coupled risk value of personnel–machine factors is the highest, and the sudden change in system state is characterized by a sudden jump and lag. The system stability can be significantly improved by enhancing internal damping control and optimizing external excitation regulation. This study provides a quantitative tool for the risk assessment of dangerous goods transportation in ports and theoretical support for the development of the “damping-excitation” synergistic control strategy, which is of great practical significance for the improvement of the port safety management system. Full article

The potential of elastomeric composites reinforced with natural fillers to replace traditional synthetic materials in applications involving exposure to acidic environments offers both economic and environmental advantages. On the one hand, these materials contribute to cost reduction and the valorization of organic waste through the development of value-added products. On the other hand, the presence of wood waste in the composite structure enhances biodegradation potential, making these materials less polluting and more consistent with the principles of the circular economy. The present study aims to evaluate the behavior of composites based on Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) synthetic rubber, reinforced with silica and wood sawdust, in a weakly acidic yet strongly corrosive environment—specifically, acetic acid solutions with concentrations ranging from 10% to 30%. The study also investigates the extent to which varying the proportions of the two fillers affects the resistance of these materials under such environmental conditions. Physico-chemical, structural, and morphological analyses revealed that the materials underwent chemical modifications, such as acetylation of hydroxyl groups. This process reduced the hydrophilic character of the sawdust and, combined with the formation of stable interfaces between the elastomeric matrix and the fillers during vulcanization, limited acid penetration into the composite structure. The composites in which 20 phr or 30 phr of wood sawdust were used-replacing equivalent amounts of silica from the initial 50 phr formulation-demonstrated the highest resistance to the corrosive environments. After 14 days of exposure to a 20% acetic acid solution, the composite containing 30% wood sawdust exhibited a decrease in cross-link density of only 1.44%, accompanied by a reduction in Young’s modulus of just 0.95%. At the same time, tensile strength and specific elongation increased by 22.57% and 26.02%, respectively. FTIR and SEM analysis confirmed good rubber-filler interactions and the stability of the composite structure under acidic conditions. Full article

This study aims to determine the optimal Mo content for corrosion resistance in two alloys, FeCoCrNiMo_x and Fe_0.5CoCrNiMo_x. The alloys were fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology with varying Mo contents (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15). The corrosion behavior of these alloys was investigated in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at room temperature and 60 °C using electrochemical testing and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that all alloys exhibit good corrosion resistance at room temperature. However, at 60 °C, both alloys without Mo addition exhibit severe corrosion, while the Fe_0.5CoCrNiMo_0.1 alloy demonstrates the best corrosion resistance while maintaining the highest strength. The enhanced corrosion resistance is attributed to the optimal molybdenum addition, which refines the passive film structure and promotes the formation of Cr₂O₃. Furthermore, molybdenum oxide exists as MoO₄²⁻ ions on the surface of the passive film, significantly improving the alloy’s corrosion resistance in chloride-containing environments. Full article