Impact of Frailty on Antihypertensive Treatment in Older Adults.

Background: The association between systolic blood pressure and all-cause mortality differs between frail and nonfrail individuals, highlighting uncertainties about the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatments in frail populations.

Methods: Using data from the SHEP trial (Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program), a baseline frailty index (FI), including 55 variables, was constructed. Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the association between baseline FI and the risks of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause death, as well as to examine whether the impact of antihypertensive treatment on these outcomes was modified by baseline FI.

On Demand Copper Electrochemical Deposition on Laser Induced Graphene for Flexible Electronics.

The rapid development of flexible electronics necessitates simplified processes that integrate heterogeneous materials and structures. In this study, laser engraving is combined with electrochemical deposition (ECD) to directly fabricate various micro/nano-structured components and flexible electronic circuits. A theoretical framework and simulation model are developed to design the on-demand ECD on laser induced graphene (LIG), enabling the generation of multi-scale copper (Cu) materials with controllable oxidation states.

Bioinspired Electrostatic Capture-and-Release System for Precise Microdroplet Manipulation.

The application of physical fields is crucial for droplet generation and manipulation, underpinning technologies like printing, microfluidic biochips, drug delivery, and flexible sensors. Despite advancements, precise micro/nanoscale droplet generation and accurate microfluidic reactions remain challenging. Inspired by the liquid ejection mechanisms in microscopic organisms, an electrostatic manipulator for the precise capture, emission, and transport of microdroplets is proposed.

Recovery of Nd and Dy from E-Waste Using Adsorbents from Spent Tyre Rubbers: Batch and Column Dynamic Assays.

This paper investigates the use of spent tyre rubber as a precursor for synthesising adsorbents to recover rare earth elements. Through pyrolysis and CO activation, tyre rubber is converted into porous carbonaceous materials with surface properties suited for rare earth element adsorption. The study also examines the efficiency of leaching rare earth elements from NdFeB magnets using optimised acid leaching methods, providing insights into recovery processes.

Voices of Nanomedicine: Blueprint Guidelines for Collaboration in Addressing Global Unmet Medical Needs.

The "" under this Perspective underline the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships across several disciplines, such as medical science and technology, medicine, bioengineering, and computational approaches, in bridging the gap between research, manufacturing, and clinical applications. Effective communication is key to bridging team gaps, enhancing trust, and resolving conflicts, thereby fostering teamwork and individual growth toward shared goals. Drawing from the success of the COVID-19 vaccine development, we advocate the application of similar collaborative models in other complex health areas such as nanomedicine and biomedical engineering.

Dynamical properties of the composed Logistic-Gauss map.

This study focuses on the analysis of a unique composition between two well-established models, known as the Logistic-Gauss map. The investigation cohesively transitions to an exploration of parameter space, essential for unraveling the complexity of dissipative mappings and understanding the intricate relationships between periodic structures and chaotic regions. By manipulating control parameters, our approach reveals intriguing patterns, with findings enriched by extreme orbits, trajectories that connect local maximum and minimum values of one-dimensional maps.

The Omics-Driven Machine Learning Path to Cost-Effective Precision Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant and growing global health challenge, making early detection and slowing disease progression essential for improving patient outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods such as glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria are insufficient to capture the complexity of CKD. In contrast, omics technologies have shed light on the molecular mechanisms of CKD, helping to identify biomarkers for disease assessment and management.

Harnessing nature's palette: Exploring photosynthetic pigments for sustainable biotechnology.

Photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, microalgae, and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB) have emerged as sustainable and economic biotechnology platforms due to their ability to transform energy from light into chemicals through photosynthesis. The light is absorbed by photosynthetic pigment-protein antenna complexes which are composed of pigments such as bacteriochlorophylls (BChl) and carotenoids in APB, and chlorophylls (Chl), phycobiliproteins (PBP), and carotenoids in cyanobacteria and microalgae. These photosynthetic pigments are essential in the physiology of photosynthetic microorganisms and offer significant health benefits due to their potent antioxidant activity, with properties that include anticancer, antiaging, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects.

Effect of extrinsic pigmentation and multiple firing cycles on the properties of a zirconia-containing lithium silicate ceramic.

Purpose: To assess the impact of staining and multiple firings on the mechanical, optical, and surface characteristics of zirconia-containing lithium silicate ceramics (ZLS).

Materials And Methods: Ninety ZLS discs (Suprinity, VITA Zahnfabrick) were divided according to the "Number of firings" protocol: Ctr-control, no characterization; SC-single firing cycle (for characterization, crystallization and staining simultaneously); and DC-double firing cycle (crystallization firing cycle was performed separately from the staining firing). Extrinsic pigmentation was performed to replicate the characterization of a monolithic restoration.

Green Sol-Gel Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications.

Background/objectives: The unique properties of iron oxide nanoparticles have attracted significant interest within the biomedical community, particularly for magnetic hyperthermia applications. Various synthesis methods have been developed to optimize these nanoparticles.

Methods: In this study, we employed a powdered coconut water (PCW)-assisted sol-gel method to produce magnetite nanoparticles for the first time.

Respiratory Pathogen Coinfection During Intersecting COVID-19 and Influenza Epidemics.

Respiratory pathogen coinfections pose significant challenges to global public health, particularly regarding the intersecting epidemics of COVID-19 and influenza. This study investigated the incidences of respiratory infectious pathogens in this unique context. We collected throat swab samples from 308 patients with a fever from outpatient and emergency departments at sentinel surveillance hospitals in Xiamen, southeast of China, between April and May 2023, testing for SARS-CoV-2 and 26 other respiratory pathogens.

Analysis of Plasticizer Contamination Throughout Olive Oil Production.

This study monitored the contamination of 32 plasticizers in olive oil throughout the production and storage process. Samples were collected at different stages of production from three olive oil production lines in distinct regions of Portugal and analyzed for 23 phthalates and 9 phthalates substitutes to identify contamination sources. The developed analytical method employed liquid-liquid extraction with hexane/methanol (1:4, /), followed by centrifugation, extract removal, and freezing as a clean-up step.

Similarly to , Is a Positive Regulator of the Humoral Immune Response in the Silkworm, .

Toll receptors play important roles in the development and innate immunity of insects. Previously, we reported the immunological function of in silkworm, , larvae. In this study, we focused on the role of as a regulator in the Toll signaling pathway.

Fossil Pollen from the Eocene of Kenya: The Paleophytogeograpy and Paleoclimate of a Relict Plant Genus Endemic to the Cape Province, South Africa.

On the African continent, Picrodendraceae are represented by four genera. Their intracontinental paleophytogeographic histories and paleoecological aspects are obscured by the lack of pre-Miocene fossils. For this study, late Eocene sediments from Kenya were investigated.

Land Use Change Consistently Reduces α- But Not β- and γ-Diversity of Bees.

Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e.

Interfacial Engineering with One-Dimensional Lepidocrocite TiO-Based Nanofilaments for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells.

The optimization of nonradiative recombination losses through interface engineering is key to the development of efficient, stable, and hysteresis-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, for the first time in solar cell technology, we present a novel approach to interface modification by employing one-dimensional lepidocrocite (henceforth referred to as 1DL) TiO-based nanofilaments, NFs, between the mesoporous TiO (mp TiO) and halide perovskite film in PSCs to improve both the efficiency and stability of the devices. The 1DLs can be easily produced on the kilogram scale starting with cheap and earth-abundant precursor powders, such as TiC, TiN, TiB, etc.

Colon-targeted engineered postbiotics nanoparticles alleviate osteoporosis through the gut-bone axis.

The potential for mitigating intestinal inflammation through the gut-bone axis in the treatment of osteoporosis is significant. While various gut-derived postbiotics or bacterial metabolites have been created as dietary supplements to prevent or reverse bone loss, their efficacy and safety still need improvement. Herein, a colon-targeted drug delivery system is developed using surface engineering of polyvinyl butyrate nanoparticles by shellac resin to achieve sustained release of postbiotics butyric acid at the colorectal site.

The effect of genotype and sex on carcass characteristics and fatty acid profile of Pekin broiler ducks.

The aim of this study was to compare two different strains of Pekin duck and to answer one scientific hypothesis: 1) Strain and sex influence live body weight, hot and cold carcass weights and carcass portions weights and yields, fatty acid content, fatty acid total cholesterol and α-tocopherol contents of meat. The study used 50 individuals of each strain in comparison (Cherry Valley and Grimaud) equally divided between both sexes), raised in equal rearing and feeding conditions. The results show that, when raised in equal rearing and feeding conditions and slaughtered at matching age, the strain had no significant influence on live body weight at slaughter, warm and cold carcass weights.

How to determine hands' vibration perception thresholds - a systematic review.

The vibration perception threshold (VPT) is the minimum amplitude required for conscious vibration perception. VPT assessments are essential in medical diagnostics, safety, and human-machine interaction technologies. However, factors like age, health conditions, and external variables affect VPTs.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth investigating functional heterogeneity in immunomodulation.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The inadequate understanding of MSCs and their heterogeneity can impact the immune environment, which may be the cause of the good outcomes of MSCs-based therapy that cannot always be achieved. Recently, stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) showed great potential in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases due to their immature properties compared with MSCs.

A Worm-like Soft Robot Based on Adhesion-Controlled Electrohydraulic Actuators.

Worms are organisms characterized by simple structures, low energy consumption, and stable movement. Inspired by these characteristics, worm-like soft robots demonstrate exceptional adaptability to unstructured environments, attracting considerable interest in the field of biomimetic engineering. The primary challenge currently involves improving the motion performance of worm-like robots from the perspectives of actuation and anchoring.

Key concepts and a world-wide look at plant recruitment networks.

Plant-plant interactions are major determinants of the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. There is a long tradition in the study of these interactions, their mechanisms and their consequences using experimental, observational and theoretical approaches. Empirical studies overwhelmingly focus at the level of species pairs or small sets of species.

Synergistic Optimization of Buried Interface via Hydrochloric Acid for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Incorporating chlorine into the SnO electron transport layer (ETL) has proven effective in enhancing the interfacial contact between SnO and perovskite in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, previous studies have primarily focused on the role of chlorine in passivating surface trap defects in SnO, without considering its influence on the buried interface. Here, hydrochloric acid (HCl) is introduced as a chlorine source into commercial SnO to form Cl-capped SnO (Cl-SnO) ETL, aiming to optimize the buried interface of the PSC.

To kill or to piggyback: Switching of viral lysis-lysogeny strategies depending on host dynamics.

Viruses wield significant influence over microbial communities and ecosystem function in marine environments. However, the selection of viral life strategies and their impacts on microbial communities remains enigmatic. In this study, we utilized a large-scale macrocosm, established using water samples from a marine coastal region, to enable community-level investigation.