Border militarization affects people's interactions with nature in Białowieża Forest.

Border militarization can impede people's interactions with nature in borderlands. We surveyed one border community to understand how local use of Białowieża Forest, one of Europe's last primary forest complexes, is affected by militarization. Out of 100 returned surveys, most respondents had a negative view of enforced border security measures (closure of the border zone, construction of a border barrier, military activities).

Global burden of non-rheumatic valvular heart disease in older adults (60-89 years old), 1990-2019: Systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Background: Understanding the global burden and risk factors of non-rheumatic valvular heart disease (NRVHD) in older adults is important for effective disease control. We wanted to analyze the prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rate, mortality rate, and risk factors of NRVHD in older adults aged 60-89 years.

Methods: Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019 was used as the data source.

Mental healthcare for older adults among countries in World Psychiatric Association Zone 10.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare mental healthcare services for older adults aged ≥65 years among countries in World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Zone 10.

Methods: A culturally sensitive questionnaire was developed and sent to the presidents of national psychiatric associations of the eight countries in WPA Zone 10 (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Uzbekistan).

Results: Psychiatric associations of six countries responded to the questionnaire (Armenia and Moldova did not respond).

Efficacy of p62-expressing plasmid in treatment of canine osteoarthritis.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative disease of synovial joints which is highly prevalent in dogs and results in lameness, loss of joint function and mobility, chronic pain, and reduced quality of life. Traditional OA management consist of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and remains challenging because of significant side effects, thus there is an urgent need for new effective and safe therapeutics for OA.

Methods: Here we present the results of our one-arm open-label pilot clinical study of our novel biologics, a DNA plasmid encoding SQSTM/p62, in 17 companion dogs suffering from OA.

Catechol-derived Mannich bases: radical regulatory properties, cytotoxicity and interaction with biomolecules.

Free radicals are ubiquitous in biological systems, being responsible for pathogenesis of degenerative diseases and participating in vitally important biochemical processes, which are mediated by radical regulatory agents. The effects of the aliphatic amine substituents in the catechol-derived Mannich bases on their antioxidant and pro-oxidant activity were investigated. It has been found that the presence of catechol moiety in the structure of Mannich bases allows them to act as Cu(II) reductants, efficient Fe(II) chelators and potent DPPH radical scavengers.

Wear Resistance Design of Laser Cladding Ni-Based Self-Fluxing Alloy Coating Using Machine Learning.

To improve the collaborative design of laser cladding Ni-based self-fluxing alloy (SFA) wear-resistant coatings, machine learning methods were applied. A comprehensive database was constructed from the literature, linking alloy composition, processing parameters, testing conditions, and the wear properties of Ni-based SFA coatings. Feature correlation analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficient and feature importance assessment via the random forest (RF) model highlighted the significant impact of C and B elements.

Thermal Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Different Lattice Structures Fabricated Using Selective Laser Melting.

In this study, the size of molten pool and the porosity of parts under different processing parameters are studied using numerical simulation. According to the results, the appropriate processing parameters were selected to simulate the temperature and residual stress distribution during the forming process of body-centered cube (BCC), face-centered cube (FCC) and rhombic dodecahedron (Dode) lattice structures. In addition, three lattice structures were fabricated via selective laser melting (SLM) technology, and quasi-static compression experiments were carried out to study their mechanical properties.

Calcium Transport Activity of UV/HO-Degraded Fucoidans and Their Structural Characterization.

Calcium-chelated polysaccharides have been increasingly considered as promising calcium supplements. In this study, degraded fucoidans (DFs) with different molecular weights (Mws) were prepared after UV/HO treatment; their calcium-chelating capacities and intestinal absorption properties were also investigated. The results showed that the calcium-chelating capacities of DFs were improved with a decrease in Mw.

Collaborative Outcomes Study on Health and Functioning During Infection Times (COH-FIT): Global and Risk-Group Stratified Course of Well-Being and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adolescents.

Objective: To identify the COVID-19 pandemic impact on well-being/mental health, coping strategies, and risk factors in adolescents worldwide.

Method: This study was based on an anonymous online multi-national/multi-language survey in the general population (representative/weighted non-representative samples, 14-17 years of age), measuring change in well-being (World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index [WHO-5]/range = 0-100) and psychopathology (validated composite P-score/range = 0-100), WHO-5 <50 and <29, pre- vs during COVID-19 pandemic (April 26, 2020-June 26, 2022). Coping strategies and 9 a priori- defined individual/cumulative risk factors were measured.

Multi-analytical study for the art historical science: The mystery of the "Portrait of a young man in a wide-brimmed hat with a feather".

In this work, we performed a comprehensive spectroscopic analysis of the "Portrait of a Young Man in a Wide-Brimmed Hat with a Feather" authored by an unknown artist and housed in the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus. Previously this portrait was a part of the Myatlev collection (St. Petersburg, Russia).

Microplastic-induced changes in Cd and Cr behavior in the agricultural soil-wheat system: Insights into metal bioavailability and phytotoxicity.

Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals widely coexist in agricultural soils, posing significant risks to soil-plant ecosystems. This study explores the effects of five common MPs-polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA)-and environmental-simulating microplastics (EMPs), composed based on the composition of local MPs in agricultural soils, on the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of Cd and Cr in soils. Pot experiments demonstrated that MPs, particularly PE and EMPs at a 5 % dosage, markedly decreased soil pH, water-holding capacity, and soil organic carbon content.

Mechanism of hydrocolloids effect on buckwheat starch gels from interaction and structural perspectives: A comparative study.

Controlling the digestibility and gel properties of Tartary buckwheat starch (TBS) has become a central issue for functional foods. The effects of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), guar gum (GG) and Konjac glucomannan (KGM) on TBS from the interaction and structural perspectives were studied. Three hydrocolloids increased the peak, trough and final viscosity of TBS in a concentration-dependent manner.

MXene Manipulating the Electronic and Photoelectric Properties of a Fullerene-Layered Heterojunction.

An in-depth study of the substrate effect is crucial for optimizing and designing the performance of two-dimensional (2D) materials in practical applications. Fullerene monolayers (FMs), a new pure carbon system successfully prepared recently, have prompted renewed interest in the question of whether FMs might be exploited to create carbon-based functional materials with improved performance. Here, the electronic structure of a MXene-supported FM was investigated by first-principles calculations.

Dendrimer/Copper(II) Complex-Mediated siRNA Delivery Disrupts Lactate Metabolism to Reprogram the Local Immune Microenvironment against Tumor Growth and Metastasis.

Solid tumors reprogram metabolic pathways to meet their biosynthesis demands, resulting in elevated levels of metabolites in the tumor microenvironment (TME), including lactate. Excessive accumulation and active transportation of lactate within the TME drives tumor progression, metastasis, and immunosuppression. Interruption of TME lactate metabolism is expected to restore antitumor responses and sensitize tumor immunotherapy.

How symmetry helps to improve the estimation of the hyperfine splitting of torsional levels due to tunneling. The case of the HSSSH molecule.

In this study, we analyze a series of molecules belonging to the C(M) molecular symmetry group which are characterized by several conformers. The use of molecular symmetry at each stage of calculating the energy of stationary torsional states is demonstrated. In particular, the importance is shown of preliminary symmetrization of physical characteristics of the molecules obtained by quantum chemical calculations.

The Role of HE4 in the Follow-Up of Advanced Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer-CEEGOG OX-01 Study.

: Ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers often share clinical characteristics and are typically diagnosed at advanced stages due to nonspecific symptoms. The utility of tumor markers, particularly CA125 and HE4, in the diagnosis and follow-up of these cancers remains an area of active investigation. : The CEEGOG (Central and Eastern European Gynecologic Oncology Group) OX-01 study aimed to evaluate HE4's role alongside CA125 in follow-up for advanced-stage ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers.

Photochemical Metal-Free synthesis and biological Assessment of isocryptolepine analogues targeting estrogen receptor Alpha in breast cancer cells.

The aim of this study was to develop a new series of isocryptolepines and evaluate their antiproliferative and antiestrogenic activities on cancer cells. A series of isocryptolepine derivatives were synthesized using developed one-pot photochemical, metal-free protocol, employing readily available 2-arylindoles as starting compounds. The resulting isocryptolepines demonstrated (sub)micromolar inhibitory activity against selected breast cancer cell lines.

Multi-Cavity Nanorefractive Index Sensor Based on MIM Waveguide.

Within this manuscript, we provide a novel Fano resonance-driven micro-nanosensor. Its primary structural components are a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide, a shield with three disks, and a T-shaped cavity (STDTC). The finite element approach was used to study the gadget in theory.