Biodegradation Assessment of Bioplastic Carrier Bags Under Industrial-Scale Composting Conditions.

In recent years, the environmental impacts of plastic production and consumption have become increasingly significant, particularly due to their petroleum-based origins and the substantial waste management challenges they pose. Currently, global plastic waste production has reached 413.8 million metric tons across 192 countries, contributing notably to greenhouse gas emissions.

12-week melatonin intake attenuates cardiac autonomic dysfunction and oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can induce cardiac autonomic dysfunction identified by a decreased heart rate variability (HRV) which was linked to oxidative stress, vitamin D deficiency and sleep disturbance. Previous MS studies revealed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of exogenous melatonin, as well as its benefits on sleep and vitamin D. We aimed to investigate the change in HRV, oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and sleep following melatonin supplementation in MS patients.

Benefits of self-paced concurrent training on lung function, cardiopulmonary fitness and fatigue perception in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Studying the effects of self-paced concurrent high-intensity interval training and resistance training (HIIT-RT) on respiratory function, cardiopulmonary fitness and fatigue perception in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Twenty-three PwMS were randomized into a 12-week training group (three times per week) (TG, n = 11) or a control group (CG, n = 12). Lung function (spirometry), aerobic capacity (graded cardiopulmonary-exercise-testing) and perceived fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)) were evaluated pre- and post-intervention.

Ischemic Stroke in Young Tunisian Adults.

Introduction: Ischemic Stroke in young adults is a real public health problem; it's a major cause of disability, alters quality of life and has a great socio-economic impact.

Aim: determine risk factors and specify the etiology of arterial ischemic stroke in young Tunisian adults.

Methods: In this 5 years retrospective study (2015-2020), we included all young adults (18-50 years) admitted for arterial ischemic stroke (AIS).

Effects of a nighttime melatonin ingestion on dynamic postural balance and muscle strength the following morning in people living with multiple sclerosis: A preliminary study.

Background: Decreased endogenous melatonin concentrations in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are associated with fatigue and pain that impair postural balance and muscle strength. Melatonin ingestion had analgesic and anti-fatigue effects. However, the acute effect of exogenous melatonin on dynamic postural stability and muscle strength has not been studied yet in PwMS.

Analysis of Fuel Alternative Products Obtained by the Pyrolysis of Diverse Types of Plastic Materials Isolated from a Dumpsite Origin in Pakistan.

The current energy crisis and waste management problems have compelled people to find alternatives to conventional non-renewable fuels and utilize waste to recover energy. Pyrolysis of plastics, which make up a considerable portion of municipal and industrial waste, has emerged as a feasible resolution to both satisfy our energy needs and mitigate the issue of plastic waste. This study was therefore conducted to find a solution for plastic waste management problems, as well as to find an alternative to mitigate the current energy crisis.

PTPA variants and impaired PP2A activity in early-onset parkinsonism with intellectual disability.

The protein phosphatase 2A complex (PP2A), the major Ser/Thr phosphatase in the brain, is involved in a number of signalling pathways and functions, including the regulation of crucial proteins for neurodegeneration, such as alpha-synuclein, tau and LRRK2. Here, we report the identification of variants in the PTPA/PPP2R4 gene, encoding a major PP2A activator, in two families with early-onset parkinsonism and intellectual disability. We carried out clinical studies and genetic analyses, including genome-wide linkage analysis, whole-exome sequencing, and Sanger sequencing of candidate variants.

Dynamics of an impacting emulsion droplet.

Emulsions are widely used in agriculture where oil-based pesticides are sprayed as an emulsion. However, emulsion droplets can bounce off hydrophobic plant surfaces, leading to major health and environmental issues as pesticides pollute water sources and soils. Here, we report an unexpected transition from bouncing to sticking to bouncing as the droplet impact speed increases.

Heart rate variability and sympathetic skin response for the assessment of autonomic dysfunction in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 associated Parkinson's disease.

Objectives: We aimed to assess and compare autonomic function in Parkinson's disease (PD) associated with the leucine-rich repeat kinase (LRRK2) G2019S mutation (LRRK2-PD) and non-LRRK2 PD, by the study of heart rate variability (HRV) and sympathetic skin responses (SSR).

Methods: In a cross-sectional three-year study, fifty LRRK2-PD and fifty clinically matched non-LRRK2 PD patients were included. Cardiac parasympathetic functions were assessed using heart rate variation to deep breathing (HR-DB), to the Valsalva maneuver (HR-V) and to standing (HR-S) and the sympathetic autonomic system by sympathetic skin responses (SSR).

How physical activity behavior affected well-being, anxiety and sleep quality during COVID-19 restrictions in Iran.

Objective: The Islamic Republic of Iran has displayed one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infection in the world and the highest rate of mortality in the Middle East. Iran has used a stringent package of preventive health measures to mitigate the spread of infection, which however has negatively affected individuals' physical and psychological health. This study aimed at examining whether physical-activity (PA) behavior, anxiety, well-being, and sleep-quality changed in response to the COVID-19-related public health restrictions enforced in Iran.

Guillain-Barré syndrome following the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: case report and review of reported cases.

Background: Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has started in December 2019, millions of people have been infected all over the world. Vaccination is the most efficient tool to end this pandemic, but vaccine surveillance is necessary to identify side effects. Some studies have shown that neurological complications after COVID-19 vaccination are rare and dominated by demyelinating disease.

Author Correction: Enhancing droplet deposition through in-situ precipitation.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

A Plasmonic Painter's Method of Color Mixing for a Continuous Red-Green-Blue Palette.

The ability of mixing colors with remarkable results had long been exclusive to the talents of master painters. By finely combining colors in different amounts on the palette, intuitively, they obtain smooth gradients with any given color. Creating such smooth color variations through scattering by the structural patterning of a surface, as opposed to color pigments, has long remained a challenge.

Environmental quality assessment of the fish farms' impact in the Monastir Bay (eastern of Tunisia, Central Mediterranean): a benthic foraminiferal perspective.

Offshore fish farms have been active inside the Monastir Bay, Hammemet Gulf for over 10 years, but their environmental impact is still unknown. This study focuses on the evaluation of the fish farming activity impact in the Monastir Bay as revealed by geochemical and benthic foraminiferal data. Samples were collected around three fish cages at different water depths.

Assessment of organic and metallic contamination in the surface sediment of Monastir Bay (Eastern Tunisia): Spatial distribution, potential sources, and ecological risk assessment.

To investigate the current environment status in Monastir Bay (Tunisia), surface sediments from 32 stations were assessed for heavy metal and organic matter concentrations, and the results were compared with values of natural metal content, marine sediment quality standards, and other results concerning sediments from other Mediterranean coasts. The study of their spatial distributions refined by complementary approaches, including potential ecological risks determined through the enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index, contamination factor, potential ecological risk index, pollution load index, and principal component analysis, showed a significant impact of multiple anthropogenic sources. Moderate pollution of sediments, particularly by Ni and Cu, was also observed.

Myelopathy after zoster virus infection in immunocompetent patients: A case series.

Context: After primary infection, varicella zoster virus (VZV) becomes latent in ganglionic neurons. If immunity declines, VZV is reactivated and can spread to the dermatome depending from this ganglion and in some cases to the spinal cord. Myelopathy is rare and may develop in the absence of skin rash making the diagnosis very difficult.