Spatial Distribution of Genetic, Ploidy, and Morphological Variation of the Edaphic Steno-Endemic (Brassicaceae) from the Western Balkans.

Polyploidy is a powerful mechanism driving genetic, physiological, and phenotypic changes among cytotypes of the same species across both large and small geographic scales. These changes can significantly shape population structure and increase the evolutionary and adaptation potential of cytotypes. , an edaphic steno-endemic species with a narrow distribution in the Balkan Peninsula, serves as an intriguing case study.

Micronutrient-Antioxidant Therapy and Male Fertility Improvement During ART Cycles.

Today, accumulating evidence highlights the impact of oxidative stress (OS) on semen quality. It is considered to be a key factor contributing to the decline in male fertility. OS is detected in 30-80% of men with infertility, highlighting its strong association with impaired reproductive function and with clinical outcomes following the use of assisted reproductive technologies.

Cross-National Survey About Nutrition and Nutrition Communication Among Older Adults Aged 60 Years and Above.

The global population is undergoing a significant demographic shift characterised by an increasing proportion of older individuals. Healthy aging has become a priority for personal well-being and sustainable healthcare systems, with nutrition playing a pivotal role. However, the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), malnutrition, and a shift in eating behaviour underscore the need for tailored, effective nutrition communication strategies.

A Guinea Pig Model of Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis: Poor Vitamin C Status May Advance Disease.

Children and teenagers display a distinct metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) phenotype, yet studies of childhood MASH are scarce and validated animal models lacking, limiting the development of treatments. Poor vitamin C (VitC) status may affect MASH progression and often co-occurs with high-fat diets and related metabolic imbalances. As a regulator of DNA methylation, poor VitC status may further contribute to MASH by regulating gene expression This study investigated guinea pigs-a species that, like humans, depends on vitC in the diet-as a model of pediatric MASH, examining the effects of poor VitC status on MASH hallmarks and global DNA methylation levels.

Combined Effects of Spirulina Liquid Extract and Endurance Training on Aerobic Performance and Muscle Metabolism Adaptation in Wistar Rats.

Background: Physical activity, such as running, protects against cardiovascular disease and obesity but can induce oxidative stress. Athletes often consume antioxidants to counteract the overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during exercise. , particularly its phycocyanin content, activates the Nrf2 pathway, stimulating antioxidant responses.

An Extensive Study of an Eco-Friendly Fireproofing Process of Lignocellulosic × Particles and Their Application in Flame-Retardant Panels.

Increasing the flame retardancy of lignocellulosic materials such as × can effectively enable their wide use. This study examines the fireproofing process of Miscanthus particles using an eco-friendly process by grafting phytic acid and urea in aqueous solution. Miscanthus particles underwent a steam explosion step before being grafted.

Adsorption and Bulk Assembly of Quaternized Hydroxyethylcellulose-Anionic Surfactant Complexes on Negatively Charged Substrates.

This study examines the adsorption and bulk assembly behaviour of quaternized hydroxyethylcellulose ethoxylate (QHECE)-sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) complexes on negatively charged substrates. Due to its quaternized structure, QHECE, which is used in several industries, including cosmetics, exhibits enhanced electrostatic interactions. The phase behaviour and adsorption mechanisms of QHECE-SDS complexes are investigated using model substrates that mimic the wettability and surface charge of damaged hair fibres.

The Role of Light Irradiation and Dendrimer Generation in Directing Electrostatic Self-Assembly.

pH-responsive polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are used as well-defined building blocks to design light-switchable nano-assemblies in solution. The complex interplay between the photoresponsive di-anionic azo dye Acid Yellow 38 (AY38) and the cationic PAMAM dendrimers of different generations is presented in this study. Electrostatic self-assembly involving secondary dipole-dipole interactions provides well-defined assemblies within a broad size range (10 nm-1 μm) with various shapes.

Acoustic, Mechanical, and Thermal Characterization of Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA)-Based Wood Composites Reinforced with Beech and Oak Wood Fibers.

Considering the growing need for developing ecological materials, this study investigates the acoustic, mechanical, and thermal properties of wood composites reinforced with beech or oak wood fibres. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a complex network of interconnected pores within the composite materials, with varying pore sizes contributing to the material's overall properties. Acoustic characterization was conducted using a two-microphone impedance tube.

2-Aminothiophene Derivatives-New Drug Candidates Against Leishmaniasis: Drug Design, Synthesis, Pharmacomodulation, and Antileishmanial Activity.

: Leishmaniasis is one of the 20 Neglected Tropical Diseases according to the WHO, affecting approximately 12 million people in four continents, generating serious public health problems. The lack of therapeutic options, associated with toxicity and the emergence of resistance to the few available drugs, makes it urgent to develop new drug options. In this context, the aims of this work are to expand the knowledge about the pharmacophore group responsible for the antileishmanial potential of 2-aminothiophene derivatives.

The Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Glimepiride-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Glimepiride (GLM), a commonly used sulphonylurea drug for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has been the subject of numerous studies exploring its kinetic behaviors. However, a comprehensive evaluation that synthesizes all available pharmacokinetic (PK) data across diverse populations remains limited. This systematic review aims to provide detailed knowledge about the pharmacokinetics (PK), the associated pharmacodynamics (PD), and the drug interactions of GLM, which can be used to assess key parameters and identify factors influencing variability across diverse populations and clinical settings.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Cytotoxic Activity of RuCp(II) Complexes Bearing (Iso)nicotinic Acid Based Ligands.

Background/objectives: Cancer remains one of the major challenges of our century. Organometallic ruthenium complexes are gaining recognition as a highly promising group of compounds in the development of cancer treatments.

Methods: Building on the auspicious results obtained for [Ru(η-CH)(PPh)(bipy)][CFSO] (TM34), our focus has shifted to examining the effects of incorporating bioactive ligands into the TM34 framework, particularly within the cyclopentadienyl ring.

Anti-Biofilm Agents to Overcome Antibiotic Resistance.

is one of world's most threatening bacteria. In addition to the emerging prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains, the bacterium also possesses a wide variety of virulence traits that worsen the course of the infections. Particularly, its ability to form biofilms that protect colonies from antimicrobial agents is a major cause of chronic and hard-to-treat infections in immune-compromised patients.

Development of a Hydrocortisone Orodispersible Thin Film Containing Its Succinate Prodrug.

Unlabelled: Orodispersible thin film (ODF) is an innovative dosage form that allows for adjustable dosing and improved patient compliance. It is administered by mouth, where it dissolves, making it suitable for children.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop and characterize an optimal ODF formulation containing equivalent hydrocortisone at 0.

Advancing Therapeutic Targets in IBD: Emerging Goals and Precision Medicine Approaches.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, relapsing conditions characterized by dysregulated immune responses and persistent intestinal inflammation. This review aims to examine new potential therapeutic targets in IBD starting from the STRIDE-II statements. Key targets now include clinical remission, endoscopic remission, and biomarker normalization (such as C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin).

Optimization of the Antibacterial Activity of a Three-Component Essential Oil Mixture from Moroccan , , and Using a Simplex-Centroid Design.

Background/objectives: The rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has become a global health crisis, necessitating the development of alternative antimicrobial strategies. This study aimed to optimize the antibacterial effects of essential oils (EOs) from , , and , enhancing their efficacy through optimized mixtures.

Methods: This study utilized a simplex-centroid design to optimize the mixture ratios of EOs for maximal antibacterial and antioxidant effectiveness.

A Case of Dibothriocephalosis () from Iseo Lake (Northern Italy): An Update on a Persistent Sanitary Issue.

Dibothriocephalosis is a fish-borne parasitic zoonosis that is caused by tapeworms of the (syn. ) genus. This paper describes a human case of dibothriocephalosis associated with the consumption of a presumably infected fish, prepared at a restaurant near Iseo Lake (northern Italy).

The Body of Chagas Disease Vectors.

Morphometry is an effort to describe or measure the morphology of the body, or parts of it. It also provides quantitative data on the interactions of living organisms with their environment, external or internal. As a discipline, morphometrics has undergone significant developments in the last decade, making its implementation more visual and less laborious.

, , and : An Emerging Triad of Vector-Borne Co-Infections?

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), caused by the protozoan and transmitted primarily by phlebotomine sand flies, poses significant challenges for zoonotic disease management [...

Minimizing Delay and Power Consumption at the Edge.

Edge computing systems must offer low latency at low cost and low power consumption for sensors and other applications, including the IoT, smart vehicles, smart homes, and 6G. Thus, substantial research has been conducted to identify optimum task allocation schemes in this context using non-linear optimization, machine learning, and market-based algorithms. Prior work has mainly focused on two methodologies: (i) formulating non-linear optimizations that lead to NP-hard problems, which are processed via heuristics, and (ii) using AI-based formulations, such as reinforcement learning, that are then tested with simulations.

A Review of CNN Applications in Smart Agriculture Using Multimodal Data.

This review explores the applications of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in smart agriculture, highlighting recent advancements across various applications including weed detection, disease detection, crop classification, water management, and yield prediction. Based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 115 recent studies, coupled with a bibliometric study of the broader literature, this paper contextualizes the use of CNNs within Agriculture 5.0, where technological integration optimizes agricultural efficiency.

A Novel Ultrasound Thermometry Method Based on Thermal Strain and Short and Constant Acoustic Bursts: Preliminary Study in Phantoms.

In the field of ultrasound therapy, the estimation of temperature to monitor treatments is becoming essential. We hypothesize that it is possible to measure temperature directly using a constant acoustic power burst. Under the assumption that the acoustic attenuation does not change significantly with temperature, the thermal strain induced by such bursts presents a linear relation with temperature.

A Comprehensive Survey on the Integrity of Localization Systems.

This survey extends and refines the existing definitions of integrity and protection level in localization systems (localization as a broad term, i.e., not limited to GNSS-based localization).

A Technique to Augment Arthroscopic Bankart Repair With or Without a Metal Block: A Comparison.

Arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) is associated with an increased failure rate over time. The Recenter implant, a metal block, is designed to reinforce capsulolabral repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of the Recenter implant to ABR reduces the rate of recurrence in patients with glenohumeral anterior instability.

Evaluating ChatGPT-4 for the Interpretation of Images from Several Diagnostic Techniques in Gastroenterology.

Several artificial intelligence systems based on large language models (LLMs) have been commercially developed, with recent interest in integrating them for clinical questions. Recent versions now include image analysis capacity, but their performance in gastroenterology remains untested. This study assesses ChatGPT-4's performance in interpreting gastroenterology images.