Search Results (645)

Background/Objectives: Wilson’s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by pathological copper accumulation, primarily in the liver and brain. Severe hepatic involvement can be effectively treated with liver transplantation (LT). Geographic variation in ATP7B mutations suggests the presence of regional patterns that may impact disease presentation and management. This study aims to investigate the genetic basis of WD in patients from a major LT center in Iran. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical, biochemical, and pathological data from patients suspected of WD who underwent evaluation for LT between May 2020 and June 2025 at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Genetic testing was carried out on 20 patients at the Shiraz Transplant Research Center (STRC). Direct mutation analysis of ATP7B was performed for all patients, and the results correlated with clinical and demographic information. Results: In total, 20 WD patients who underwent liver transplantation (15 males, 5 females) carried 25 pathogenic or likely pathogenic ATP7B variants, 21 of which were previously unreported. Fifteen patients were homozygous, and five were compound-heterozygous; all heterozygous combinations occurred in the offspring of second-degree consanguineous unions. Recurrent changes included p.L549V, p.V872E, and p.P992S/L, while two nonsense variants (p.E1293X, p.R1319X) predicted truncated proteins. Variants were distributed across copper-binding, transmembrane, phosphorylation, and ATP-binding domains, and in silico AlphaMissense scores indicate damaging effects for most novel substitutions. Post-LT follow-up showed biochemical normalization in the majority of recipients, with five deaths recorded during the study period. Conclusions: This single-center Iranian study reveals a highly heterogeneous ATP7B mutational landscape with a large proportion of novel population-specific variants and underscores the benefit of comprehensive gene sequencing for timely WD diagnosis and family counseling, particularly in regions with prevalent consanguinity. Full article

The rapid evolution of autonomous vehicle technologies has amplified the need for crash detection that operates robustly under complex traffic conditions with minimal latency. We propose a hybrid temporal hierarchy that augments a Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN) with an adaptive time-variant Kalman filter (with total-variation prior), a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) for state stabilization, and a lightweight Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for learned temporal refinement, enabling real-time crash detection from monocular video. Evaluated on simulated traffic in CARLA and real-world driving in Istanbul, the full temporal stack achieves the best precision–recall balance, yielding 83.47% F1 offline and 82.57% in real time (corresponding to 94.5% and 91.2% detection accuracy, respectively). Ablations are consistent and interpretable: removing the HMM reduces F1 by 1.85–2.16 percentage points (pp), whereas removing the ANN has a larger impact of 2.94–4.58 pp, indicating that the ANN provides the largest marginal gains—especially under real-time constraints. The transition from offline to real time incurs a modest overall loss (−0.90 pp F1), driven more by recall than precision. Compared to strong single-frame baselines, YOLOv10 attains 82.16% F1 and a real-time Transformer detector reaches 82.41% F1, while our full temporal stack remains slightly ahead in real time and offers a more favorable precision–recall trade-off. Notably, integrating the ANN into the HMM-based pipeline improves accuracy by 2.2%, while the time-variant Kalman configuration reduces detection lag by approximately 0.5 s—an improvement that directly addresses the human reaction time gap. Under identical conditions, the best RCNN-based configuration yields AP@0.50 ≈ 0.79 with an end-to-end latency of 119 ± 21 ms per frame (~8–9 FPS). Overall, coupling deep learning with probabilistic reasoning yields additive temporal benefits and advances deployable, camera-only crash detection that is cost-efficient and scalable for intelligent transportation systems. Full article

The secondary contamination of nodularin disinfection by-products (NOD-DBPs) is a problem worthy of attention. In this study, prototypical NOD-R-DBPs were prepared, and their toxicity was assessed using conventional protein phosphatase (PPs) inhibition assay, confirming that structural changes in “Adda³” during chlorination are key factors leading to a significant reduction in NOD-R toxicity. However, some NOD-R-DBPs still exhibit certain levels of toxicity (2.8–81% of NOD-R). To elucidate the mechanism underlying the potential inhibitory effect of NOD-R-DBPs on protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), molecular simulations were employed to establish interaction models between prototypical NOD-R-DBPs and PP2A using homology modeling strategies, and molecular docking was used to obtain candidate interaction parameters between prototypical NOD-R-DBPs and PP2A. Structural changes in “Adda³” weakened the hydrogen bonds “Adda³”Asn₁₁₇ and “Adda³”His₁₁₈. Subsequently, the disruption of “Adda³” altered key interactions between NOD-R-DBPs and PP2A (hydrogen bond Mdhb⁵ ← Arg₈₉, ionic bond Glu⁴-Arg₈₉, metal bond His₂₄₁-Mn₁²⁺, etc.). The changes in these interactions further altered the interactions between conserved amino acids and the catalytic center Mn²⁺ (ionic bond Asp₅₇-Mn₂²⁺), thereby increasing Mn²⁺ exposure. Meanwhile, the retained interactions promoted the binding of -PO₄ with the conserved amino acids His₁₁₈ and Arg₈₉. Prototypical NOD-R-DBPs retained the aforementioned key interactions and thus exhibit potential inhibitory effects on PP2A. The varying degrees of damage to the Adda³ structure led to significant differences in the inhibitory effects of different NOD-R-DBPs on PP2A. Full article

Continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs) lead to a decline in yield and quality under repeated cultivation in the same farmland. Notably, CCOs caused by fusarium wilt, autotoxicity, or imbalance in rhizosphere microbial communities reduce the productivity of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus). Considering the negative environmental impacts of conventional agrochemicals, it is necessary to evaluate the biocontrol efficiency of microorganisms. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the biocontrol efficiency of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PP19 against CCOs of watermelon so as to develop alternatives to agrochemicals. The inhibitory effect of PP19 on watermelon fusarium wilt was assessed through plate confrontation assays and field trials. The degradation and utilization of autotoxins by PP19 were examined via co-culture experiments. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing was employed to analyze the impact of PP19 on the rhizosphere soil microbial community of watermelon. Specifically, we analyzed the PP19 utilization of four phenolic autotoxins secreted by watermelon roots and assessed their effects on microbial diversity in the watermelon rhizosphere. Plant growth assays showed that PP19 improved the weight and quality of watermelon fruit. Although PP19 inhibited the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), the growth inhibitory effect was significantly enhanced by autotoxins produced by watermelon, including mixed phenolic, cinnamic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids. Additionally, PP19 effectively degraded and utilized the autotoxins, and the autotoxins enhanced PP19’s swimming ability and biofilm formation. Moreover, PP19 treatment significantly enhanced the microbial diversity in watermelon rhizosphere, increased the number of beneficial bacterial genera, and decreased the number of pathogenic genera. Conclusively, these results suggest that B. amyloliquefaciens strain PP19 improves the resistance of watermelon to CCOs by effectively utilizing and degrading autotoxin, altering soil microbial community structure, and inhibiting Fon17 growth, resulting in improved fruit quality. Overall, PP19 possesses potential application as a biological control agent against CCOs in commercial watermelon cultivation. Full article

Background: The BMI–albumin–neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (BAN) score integrates adiposity, nutritional status, and systemic inflammation, but its role in detecting early cardiometabolic changes remains unclear. This study examined associations of the BAN score with vascular, glycemic, and lipid markers in non-diabetic adults. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 162 non-diabetic subjects. Associations between the BAN score and vascular, glycemic, and lipid parameters were examined using Spearman’s correlation, ROC analysis, and regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, and medication use. Results: Patients had a median age of 37 years, 72.8% were female, with median BMI 33 kg/m², albumin 4.4 g/dL, and NLR 1.3. Higher BAN scores correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.23, p < 0.01), pulse pressure (PP) (r = 0.26, p < 0.001), and HbA1c (r = 0.22, p < 0.01). Compared with the lowest tertile, higher BAN tertiles showed significantly elevated SBP, PP, and HbA1c (p < 0.01). In adjusted models, each one-unit increase in BAN score was associated with higher SBP (β = 1.01, p = 0.037), PP (β = 0.66, p = 0.006), and HbA1c (β = 1.85, p = 0.008). No associations were found with the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli risk index I (CRI-I), or Castelli risk index II (CRI-II). ROC analysis showed moderate discriminative ability for hypertension (AUC = 0.66) and HbA1c (AUC = 0.65). Conclusions: The BAN score is associated with a distinctive early cardiometabolic risk, particularly elevated SBP, widened PP, and early glycemic alterations. Further research should define the BAN score’s mechanisms and preventive utility. Full article

Objective: This cross-sectional study analyzed the relationship between maxillary incisor inclination and sagittal condylar guidance in patients with and without temporomandibular disorders (TMD) across different skeletal malocclusions, aiming to enhance orthodontic diagnosis and treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 154 patients from a private clinic with various skeletal malocclusions were consecutively enrolled in this study. Mandibular kinematics were recorded using Modjaw^® and TMD signs and symptoms were evaluated using the DC-TMD questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation was applied to assess relationships between incisor inclination (U1–NA, U1–APog, U1–PP) and condylar guidance (right and left). Results: TMD signs or symptoms were present in 31.8% of patients. A weak negative correlation was observed between incisor inclination and sagittal condylar guidance for patients with positive overjet and overbite values. Retroclined maxillary incisors were weakly associated with a steeper condylar path (correlation values between R = −0.122 and R = 0.177). No significant relation was found between maxillary incisors’ inclination and the presence of TMD (p > 0.05). No significant association was found between TMD prevalence and skeletal or dental classifications (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Although some correlations reached statistical significance, their magnitude was below the accepted threshold for small effects (r ≥ 0.30), indicating negligible clinical impact. These findings suggest that maxillary incisor inclination does not meaningfully influence condylar guidance and should not be considered a primary determinant in treatment planning. Instead, it should be integrated only as a contextual variable within a multifactorial functional assessment. Full article

The construction field needs to reduce carbon emissions; therefore, many methods are being attempted applying to materials research. Concrete and asphalt are the representative materials for the pavement system. However, a lack of aggregates and certain limits in binder replacement are the main obstacles to achieving a reduction in carbon emissions. This study aims to address the lack of sustainable alternatives in pavement materials by investigating recycled plastic composites with Mg(OH)₂, thereby filling a research gap in low-carbon, mechanically viable solutions for smart mobility infrastructure. Three types of recycled plastics—polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and OTHER (OTH) resins—were combined with Mg(OH)₂ to produce nine specimen configurations. The mechanical behavior and flexural performance were evaluated through displacement–flexural stress curve tests, while missing experimental data were reconstructed using a Bayesian long short-term memory (BLSTM) machine learning approach. The BLSTM model achieved an average R² of 0.8018 in testing and 0.7618 in validation, confirming reliable prediction capability even with a small dataset. All composites demonstrated a minimum flexural strength of 30 MPa, with PP-based specimens reaching approximately 40 MPa, confirming their suitability for pavement applications. These results highlight the flexural performance of each composite type, with PP emerging as the most promising candidate. Full article

Local Feature generation for vehicle re-identification is a challenging research area that is not yet well-investigated. The part-based convolutional baseline model with refined part pooling (PCB-RPP) architecture commonly approached in person reidentification problems was experimented over two standard vehicle image datasets (VReId and VehicleId) to establish that RPP over uniform partitions do not work well. To address the limitation, we propose a novel approach, Overlapped-PCB, which overlaps parts of two adjacent parts to generate new parts to train the classifiers. The results are concatenated to generate the feature set and this improves the re-identification accuracy in comparison to the RPP approach. Performance comparison results of extensive testing are also presented using re-ranking and ensembling in the evaluation stage. Our proposed model has been ensembled over three architectures, ResNet50, ResNet101, and ResNext50, to show the extent of performance improvement over existing works. The re-ranking process is shown to be strongly dataset-dependent for which the conventionally used k-reciprocal neighbors method has been improved by augmenting a new simple score-based algorithm for obtaining the best mix of component distances. This can be used as a generalized tool to finetune re-ranking for different datasets. Full article

The growing environmental impact of plastic waste and the high energy consumption in traditional asphalt production have driven the search for more sustainable alternatives in road construction. This systematic review evaluates the incorporation of recycled plastics into Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), focusing on their effects on mechanical performance and environmental outcomes. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA/ScR) methodology, 39 studies published between 2012 and 2023 were analyzed to compare plastic types, incorporation methods (dry, wet, and pyrolysis), and dosage levels. Results show that plastics such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP) can improve stiffness, rutting resistance, and fatigue life. WMA technologies, while less commonly applied, offer significant environmental advantages by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. The review highlights the critical role of plastic type, blending method, and local conditions in optimizing performance. Overall, integrating recycled plastics into asphalt mixtures presents a promising pathway toward more durable and sustainable pavement infrastructure. Full article

The rate pressure product (RPP) is a non-invasive index of myocardial oxygen consumption, derived from heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). While aerobic exercise is known to improve cardiovascular efficiency, evidence is limited for racialized populations, particularly African Canadians and South Asians who face elevated cardiovascular risk. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine whether a 10-session dance aerobics program provides a cardiovascular stimulus sufficient to affect RPP and blood pressure responses in these groups. Methods: A total of 160 participants with hypertension or related conditions (80 African Canadians, 80 South Asians) completed 10 sessions of community-based aerobic dance. Pre- and post-intervention measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), HR, and RPP were obtained and analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests. Results: Both groups showed reductions in blood pressure after the intervention. South Asians demonstrated moderate decreases in SBP and RPP, while African Canadians exhibited stable or slightly increased RPP values despite improvements in SBP and DBP. Between-group comparisons showed significant differences in SBP and HR (p < 0.05), but changes in RPP did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Despite the modest reductions in systolic BP (≥5 mmHg), this may carry clinical significance. Conclusion: This study highlights that blood pressure and RPP responses to exercise may differ across ethnic groups. Short-term dance aerobics effectively reduced blood pressure in both African Canadian and South Asian participants, supporting its role as a culturally adaptable intervention. These findings underline the importance of tailoring exercise recommendations to ethnic and cultural contexts and provide a case for larger studies in a multi-ethnic population. Full article

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between flexible working arrangements (FWAs), employee experiences (EEs), and perceived productivity (PP) in the context of New Zealand employees. The study aims to understand how opportunities and challenges within FWAs impact employee productivity, utilising the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model as a theoretical framework. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted with 176 employees who transitioned from traditional office settings to FWAs. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire measuring work demand, autonomy, employee experiences, and perceived productivity. The analysis involved correlational and moderated regression techniques to assess the relationships between the variables. Findings: The study found that positive employee experiences (expressed as opportunities) are significantly associated with higher perceived productivity (r = 0.610, p < 0.001), while negative experiences (expressed as challenges) are associated with lower perceived productivity (r = 0.515, p < 0.001). Moreover, management strategies were found to moderate these relationships, further influencing perceived productivity. Originality: This research contributes to the understanding of how FWAs, when effectively managed, can enhance employee productivity by fostering positive experiences. It also highlights the importance of addressing challenges to mitigate negative impacts on productivity. The use of the JD-R model offers a novel approach to exploring these dynamics in the context of FWAs. Practical and social implications: Organisations can enhance productivity by focusing on management strategies that amplify positive employee experiences and reduce challenges within FWAs. Effective FWAs can improve work–life balance, employee wellbeing, and organisational commitment, contributing to a more satisfied and productive workforce. Full article

Elevated human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels decreased in patients with CF (pwCF) in response to CFTR-specific drugs and negatively correlated with FEV1% predicted values (ppFEV1). Objectives: Although elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI, Kaftrio^®) demonstrates more substantial effectiveness than lumacaftor/ivacaftor (LUM/IVA, Orkambi^®) in pwCF, plasma biomarkers have not been used to compare treatment efficacy. Hence, our aim was to correlate the change in HE4 levels and the clinical effects of these CFTR modulators (CFTRm). Methods: Serum HE4 concentrations were measured in a total of 123 pwCF homozygous for the p.Phe508del-CFTR variant before treatment and 1–6 months after either ETI or LUM/IVA administration. A correlation between serum HE4 and ppFEV1 was assessed using the Spearman test. HE4 protein levels were also analyzed in the supernatants of p.Phe508del-CFTR CFBE 41o- cells before and after treatment with these CFTRm, and their direct effect on CFTR function was monitored by the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Results: Serum HE4 levels were reduced below baseline after 3 months of either ETI or LUM/IVA (mean delta HE4: −38.5 vs. −18.5 pmol/L, respectively) when the mean change of ppFEV1 was 13.6 vs. 1.6% and remained decreased up to 6 months. A significant inverse correlation between HE4 and ppFEV1 was observed in both study cohorts (r = −0.537 and r = −0.575, respectively; p < 0.0001). In agreement with ex vivo results, the effect on p.Phe508del-CFTR was more pronounced by ETI than LUM/IVA in CFBE cells, showing a larger improvement in p.Phe508del-CFTR function and reductions in HE4 levels at 24 h. Conclusions: Serum HE4 negatively correlates with lung function improvement and monitors better drug efficacy in pwCF under ETI than LUM/IVA. Full article

Polymer recycling is challenging due to practical classification difficulties. Even when the polymer matrix is identified, the presence of various polymeric composites complicates their accurate classification. In this study, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used in combination with artificial neural networks (ANNs) to quantitatively predict the mineral filler content in polypropylene (PP) composites. Calibration curves were developed to correlate ATR-FTIR spectral features (600–1700 cm⁻¹) with the concentration (wt.%) of three mineral fillers: talc (PP-Talc), calcium carbonate (PP-CaCO₃), and glass fiber (PP-GF). ANN models developed in MATLAB 2024a achieved prediction errors below 7.5% and regression coefficients (R²) above 0.98 for all filler types. The method was successfully applied to analyze a commercial recycled pellet, and its predictions were validated by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). This approach provides a simple, rapid, and non-destructive tool for non-expert users to identify both the type and amount of mineral filler in recycled polymer materials, thereby reducing misclassification in their commercialization or quality control in industrial formulations. Full article

Molecular research for genetic variants underlying body weight (BW) provides crucial information for this important selected trait when developing productive poultry breeds, lines and crosses. We searched for molecular markers—single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—and candidate genes associated with this trait in 240 F₂ resource population Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). This population was produced by crossing two breeds with contrasting growth phenotypes, i.e., Japanese (with lower growth) and Texas White (with higher growth). The birds were genotyped using the genotyping-by-sequencing method followed by a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Using 74,387 SNPs, GWAS resulted in 142 significant SNPs and 42 candidate genes associated with BW at the age of 1, 14, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 days. Hereby, 25 SNPs simultaneously associated with BW at more than one age were established that colocalized with nine prioritized candidate genes (PCGs), including ITM2B, SLC35F3, ADAM33, UNC79, LEPR, RPP14, MVK, ASTN2, and ZBTB16. Twelve PCGs were identified in the regions of two or more significant SNPs, including MARCHF6, EGFR, ADGRL3, ADAM33, NPC2, LTBP2, ZC2HC1C, SATB2, ASTN2, ZBTB16, ADAR, and LGR6. These SNPs and PCGs can serve as molecular genetic markers for the genomic selection of quails with desirable BW phenotypes to enhance growth rates and meat productivity. Full article

Promoting low-carbon travel modes is crucial for China’s transportation sector to achieve the dual carbon goals. When exploring the mechanisms behind individuals’ travel decisions, the relationships between factors such as the built environment and transportation policies are often derived from prior experience or subjective judgment, rather than being grounded in a solid theoretical foundation. In this paper, we build on and integrate the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by introducing built environment perception (BEP), encouraging policy perception (EPP), and restrictive policy perception (RPP) as either perceived ease of use (PEOU) or perceived usefulness (PU). The integration aims to explain how the latent variables in TPB and TAM jointly affect low-carbon travel intention. We conduct a traveler survey in Shanghai, China to obtain the data and employ a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to characterize the latent mechanisms. The SEM results show that traveler attitude is the most critical variable in shaping low-carbon travel intentions. Perceived ease of use has a significant positive effect on perceived usefulness, and both constructs directly or indirectly influence attitude. As for transportation policies, encouraging policies are more effective in fostering voluntary low-carbon travel intentions than restrictive ones. Considering the heterogeneity of the traveling population, differentiated policy recommendations are proposed based on machine learning modeling and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis, offering theoretical support for promoting low-carbon travel strategies. Full article