Mapping environmental perceptions in Romania: A mixed-methods research.

The present study investigates environmental perceptions in Romania, emphasizing their role in shaping individual and collective responses to ecological challenges. By exploring how people understand and interact with their natural environment, the research aims to explore values, needs, behaviors, and motivations that drive pro-environmental actions. We used a mixed-methodology approach, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses to capture a comprehensive view of these perceptions.

Quercetin and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Metabolism: A Comparative Analysis of Young and Senescent States.

Quercetin is a natural flavonoid renowned for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and antibacterial properties, making it a highly promising candidate for the treatment of various medical conditions. Our current study investigates the influence of quercetin on energy metabolism, fatty acid composition, oxidative stress gene expression, and sirtuin expression in early- and late-stage passages of stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs). Mitochondrial respiration was analyzed by measuring oxygen consumption following a 24 h quercetin treatment, while fatty acid profiles were examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Review of Bio-Based Biodegradable Polymers: Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Packaging.

Conventional passive packaging plays a crucial role in food manufacturing by protecting foods from various external influences. Most packaging materials are polymer-based plastics derived from fossil carbon sources, which are favored for their versatility, aesthetic appeal, and cost-effectiveness. However, the extensive use of these materials poses significant environmental challenges due to their fossil-based origins and persistence in the environment.

Thorough Wide-Temperature-Range Analysis of Pt/SiC and Cr/SiC Schottky Contact Non-Uniformity.

This paper evaluates the non-uniformity degree of platinum and chromium Schottky contacts on silicon carbide. The forward characteristics of experimental samples were acquired in a wide, 60-500 K, temperature range. Microstructural and conventional electrical characterizations were performed, revealing the presence of inhomogeneities on the contact surface.

Stem Cells Derived from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Functional Assessment: Exploring the Changes of Free Fatty Acids Composition during Cultivation.

The metabolic regulation of stemness is widely recognized as a crucial factor in determining the fate of stem cells. When transferred to a stimulating and nutrient-rich environment, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) undergo rapid proliferation, accompanied by a change in protein expression and a significant reconfiguration of central energy metabolism. This metabolic shift, from quiescence to metabolically active cells, can lead to an increase in the proportion of senescent cells and limit their regenerative potential.

The usability of daytime and night-time heart rate dynamics as digital biomarkers of depression severity.

Background: Alterations in heart rate (HR) may provide new information about physiological signatures of depression severity. This 2-year study in individuals with a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) explored the intra-individual variations in HR parameters and their relationship with depression severity.

Methods: Data from 510 participants (Number of observations of the HR parameters = 6666) were collected from three centres in the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK, as a part of the remote assessment of disease and relapse-MDD study.

An intergenerational reading of climate change-health concern nexus: a qualitative study of the Millennials' and Gen Z participants' perceptions.

Background: The study of climate change through a generational lens is meaningful when one considers the distinct attitudes, behaviors, values, and motivations of each generation. Individuals born between 1980 and 1999, referred to as the Millennial Generation (Millennials) and individuals born up to five years before or after 2000, referred to as Generation Z (Gen Z), may differ widely in their views, values, attitudes, and behaviors. This may lead to conflicts between these two cohorts.

Long-term participant retention and engagement patterns in an app and wearable-based multinational remote digital depression study.

Recent growth in digital technologies has enabled the recruitment and monitoring of large and diverse populations in remote health studies. However, the generalizability of inference drawn from remotely collected health data could be severely impacted by uneven participant engagement and attrition over the course of the study. We report findings on long-term participant retention and engagement patterns in a large multinational observational digital study for depression containing active (surveys) and passive sensor data collected via Android smartphones, and Fitbit devices from 614 participants for up to 2 years.

Understanding the Subjective Experience of Long-term Remote Measurement Technology Use for Symptom Tracking in People With Depression: Multisite Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis.

Background: Remote measurement technologies (RMTs) have the potential to revolutionize major depressive disorder (MDD) disease management by offering the ability to assess, monitor, and predict symptom changes. However, the promise of RMT data depends heavily on sustained user engagement over extended periods. In this paper, we report a longitudinal qualitative study of the subjective experience of people with MDD engaging with RMTs to provide insight into system usability and user experience and to provide the basis for future promotion of RMT use in research and clinical practice.

The Osiris family genes function as novel regulators of the tube maturation process in the Drosophila trachea.

Drosophila trachea is a premier model to study tube morphogenesis. After the formation of continuous tubes, tube maturation follows. Tracheal tube maturation starts with an apical secretion pulse that deposits extracellular matrix components to form a chitin-based apical luminal matrix (aECM).

Biopsychosocial Response to the COVID-19 Lockdown in People with Major Depressive Disorder and Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Changes in lifestyle, finances and work status during COVID-19 lockdowns may have led to biopsychosocial changes in people with pre-existing vulnerabilities such as Major Depressive Disorders (MDDs) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Data were collected as a part of the RADAR-CNS (Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse-Central Nervous System) program. We analyzed the following data from long-term participants in a decentralized multinational study: symptoms of depression, heart rate (HR) during the day and night; social activity; sedentary state, steps and physical activity of varying intensity.

Associations Between Depression Symptom Severity and Daily-Life Gait Characteristics Derived From Long-Term Acceleration Signals in Real-World Settings: Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Gait is an essential manifestation of depression. However, the gait characteristics of daily walking and their relationships with depression have yet to be fully explored.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore associations between depression symptom severity and daily-life gait characteristics derived from acceleration signals in real-world settings.

Lessons learned from recruiting into a longitudinal remote measurement study in major depressive disorder.

The use of remote measurement technologies (RMTs) across mobile health (mHealth) studies is becoming popular, given their potential for providing rich data on symptom change and indicators of future state in recurrent conditions such as major depressive disorder (MDD). Understanding recruitment into RMT research is fundamental for improving historically small sample sizes, reducing loss of statistical power, and ultimately producing results worthy of clinical implementation. There is a need for the standardisation of best practices for successful recruitment into RMT research.

COVID-19 Associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Report of Nine New Cases and a Review of the Literature.

Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)-a rare condition characterized by acute-onset immune-mediated polyneuropathy-has been registered as a neurological manifestation of COVID-19, suggesting a possible link between these two conditions.

Methods: We report a case series of patients with COVID-19-related GBS hospitalized in the Neurology Department of Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, between March 2020 and March 2021. Several variables were analyzed, such as the mean interval between the onset of COVID-19 symptoms and neurological ones, clinical features, treatment course, and outcome.

Predictors of engagement with remote sensing technologies for symptom measurement in Major Depressive Disorder.

Background: Remote sensing for the measurement and management of long-term conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is becoming more prevalent. User-engagement is essential to yield any benefits. We tested three hypotheses examining associations between clinical characteristics, perceptions of remote sensing, and objective user engagement metrics.

Longitudinal Relationships Between Depressive Symptom Severity and Phone-Measured Mobility: Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling Study.

Background: The mobility of an individual measured by phone-collected location data has been found to be associated with depression; however, the longitudinal relationships (the temporal direction of relationships) between depressive symptom severity and phone-measured mobility have yet to be fully explored.

Objective: We aimed to explore the relationships and the direction of the relationships between depressive symptom severity and phone-measured mobility over time.

Methods: Data used in this paper came from a major EU program, called the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse-Major Depressive Disorder, which was conducted in 3 European countries.

Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse in Major Depressive Disorder (RADAR-MDD): recruitment, retention, and data availability in a longitudinal remote measurement study.

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is prevalent, often chronic, and requires ongoing monitoring of symptoms to track response to treatment and identify early indicators of relapse. Remote Measurement Technologies (RMT) provide an opportunity to transform the measurement and management of MDD, via data collected from inbuilt smartphone sensors and wearable devices alongside app-based questionnaires and tasks. A key question for the field is the extent to which participants can adhere to research protocols and the completeness of data collected.

The Association Between Home Stay and Symptom Severity in Major Depressive Disorder: Preliminary Findings From a Multicenter Observational Study Using Geolocation Data From Smartphones.

Background: Most smartphones and wearables are currently equipped with location sensing (using GPS and mobile network information), which enables continuous location tracking of their users. Several studies have reported that various mobility metrics, as well as home stay, that is, the amount of time an individual spends at home in a day, are associated with symptom severity in people with major depressive disorder (MDD). Owing to the use of small and homogeneous cohorts of participants, it is uncertain whether the findings reported in those studies generalize to a broader population of individuals with MDD symptoms.

Inorganic Element Determination of Romanian L. Buds Extract and In Vitro Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Evaluation on A549 Human Lung Cancer Cell Line.

L. is a plant from family, native in Europe. Many parts of this tree can be used as active ingredients, but the most valuable are the buds.

Remote Measurement in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Qualitative Analysis of Patient Perspectives.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by recurrent fluctuations in symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Remote measurement technologies (RMTs) offer the opportunity to track symptoms continuously and in real time; therefore, they may provide a more accurate picture of RA disease activity as a complement to prescheduled general practitioner appointments. Previous research has shown patient interest in remote symptom tracking in RA and has provided evidence for its clinical validity.

Differential methylation pattern of xenobiotic metabolizing genes and susceptibility to Balkan endemic nephropathy, in a cohort of Romanian patients.

A severe, chronic and irreversible kidney disease affecting discrete rural populations in the Balkan Peninsula countries, Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) has been a scientific puzzle for more than half a century. Many environmental and other factors have been suggested as the primary cause and recent significant findings have linked BEN to aristolochic acids, phytotoxins derived from the plant Aristolochia clematitis, found in high density in the endemic areas. However, given that the incidence of BEN is less than 10% in affected villages, and it tends to have a family aggregation, as yet unidentified genetic factors may also play a role.