Promoting longus colli muscle activation: Force direction in sitting matters.

Background: There is limited evidence to inform exercise prescription for deep neck flexor activation out of supine.

Objective: To compare activation of longus colli (LC) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) from supine to sitting, and to compare the effect of craniocervical flexion (CCF) exercises in sitting on activation.

Methods: Twenty-four individuals without neck pain (mean age 28.

Engineered extracellular vesicles for TGF-β encapsulation as a therapeutic strategy against LPS-induced systemic inflammation.

Inflammation underlies a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes, the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model is widely recognized as a classical inflammatory paradigm, while Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) serves as a potent immunosuppressant capable of inhibiting immune responses and mitigating inflammation. However, its in vivo instability and the high cost associated with purification have imposed limitations on its clinical application. Therefore, we propose a therapeutic strategy for genetically modifying extracellular vesicles (HEVs) derived from HEK-293 T cells to incorporate TGF-β which holds potential for mitigating LPS-induced inflammation.

Groundwater flowpath characteristics drive variability in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) loading across a stream-wetland system.

Groundwater-dependent ecosystems in areas with industrial land use are at risk of exposure to a PFAS chemicals. We investigated one such system with several known PFAS source areas, where high and low permeability sediments (glacial) coupled with groundwater-lake and groundwater/surface-water interactions created complex 'source to seep' dynamics. Using heat-tracing and chemical methods, numerous preferential groundwater discharge zones were identified and sampled across the upper Quashnet River stream-wetland system in Mashpee, MA, USA, downgradient of Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC).

Depression and Anxiety Disorders among Persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Hospital in Zaria, Nigeria.

Background: Depression and anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, leading to poor glycaemic control and quality of life through complex biopsychosocial mechanisms. A dual diagnosis of chronic medical and mental health conditions reduces the probability of early recognition and intervention for either. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety disorders among persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a tertiary hospital in North-West Nigeria.

Pilot work of the 10K Chinese People Genomic Diversity Project along the Silk Road suggests a complex east-west admixture landscape and biological adaptations.

Genomic sources from China are underrepresented in the population-specific reference database. We performed whole-genome sequencing or genome-wide genotyping on 1,207 individuals from four linguistically diverse groups (1,081 Sinitic, 56 Mongolic, 40 Turkic, and 30 Tibeto-Burman people) living in North China included in the 10K Chinese People Genomic Diversity Project (10K_CPGDP) to characterize the genetic architecture and adaptative history of ethnic groups in the Silk Road Region of China. We observed a population split between Northwest Chinese minorities (NWCMs) and Han Chinese since the Upper Paleolithic and later Neolithic genetic differentiation within NWCMs.

Review of Methods for Studying Viruses in the Environment and Organisms.

Recent decades have seen growing attention on viruses in the environment and their potential impacts as a result of global epidemics. Due to the diversity of viral species along with the complexity of environmental and host factors, virus extraction and detection methods have become key for the study of virus ecology. This review systematically summarises the methods for extracting and detecting pathogens from different environmental samples (e.

Innovative Strategies in Oncology: Bacterial Membrane Vesicle-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy.

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are double-layered structures of nanoscale lipids released by gram-negative bacteria. They have the same membrane composition and characteristics as primitive cells, which enables them to penetrate cells and tissues efficiently. These OMVs exhibit excellent membrane stability, immunogenicity, safety, and permeability (which makes it easier for them to penetrate into tumour tissue), making them suitable for developing cancer vaccines and drug delivery systems.

A Series of Novel Alleles of Modulating Heading and Salt Tolerance in Rice.

Rice ( L.) is a staple crop for nearly half of the global population and one of China's most extensively cultivated cereals. Heading date, a critical agronomic trait, determines the regional and seasonal adaptability of rice varieties.

Life History Strategies of the Winter Annual Plant (Asteraceae) in a Cold Desert Population.

Turcz. is a winter annual species of the Asteraceae family, distributed in sandy areas of northern China, and is crucial for wind avoidance and sand fixation. To understand the inter- and intra-annual population dynamics of in its cold desert habitats, we conducted long- and short-term demographic studies to investigate the timing of germination, seedling survival, soil seed bank and seed longevity of natural populations on the fringe of the Tengger Desert.

Correlation Analysis of Twig and Leaf Characteristics and Leaf Thermal Dissipation of in the Riparian Zone of the Taohe River in Gansu Province, China.

: The functional traits of twigs and leaves are closely related to the ability of plants to cope with heterogeneous environments. The analysis of the characteristics of twigs and leaves and leaf thermal dissipation in riparian plants is of great significance for exploring the light energy allocation and ecological adaptation strategies of plant leaves in heterogeneous habitats. However, there are few studies on the correlation between the twig-leaf characteristics of riparian plants and their heat dissipation in light heterogeneous environments.

Brid., a Bryophyta from Northwest Argentina as a Source of Antioxidants and Antimicrobials.

In recent years, numerous studies have emerged on the biological activities of bryophytes and their potential for therapeutic use. However, mosses appear to be a relatively overlooked group. The objective of this study was to conduct a phytochemical analysis of one hydroalcoholic extract of and to evaluate its potential as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent.

Enhancement of Fertilizer Efficiency Through Chinese Milk Vetch and Rice Straw Incorporation.

The incorporation of rice straw (RS) and Chinese milk vetch (CMV) with reduced chemical fertilizers (CFs) is a viable solution to reduce the dependency on CF. However, limited research has been conducted to investigate the impact of CMV and RS with reduced CF on rice production. A field trial was conducted from 2018 to 2021 with six treatments: CK (no fertilizer), F100 (100% NPK fertilizer (CF)), MSF100 (100% CF+CMV and RS incorporation), MSF80 (80% CF+CMV+RS), MSF60 (60% CF+CMV+RS), and MSF40 (40% CF+CMV+RS).

Nano-Zinc Oxide Can Enhance the Tolerance of Apple Rootstock M9-T337 Seedlings to Saline Alkali Stress by Initiating a Variety of Physiological and Biochemical Pathways.

Soil salinization severely restricts the growth and development of crops globally, especially in the northwest Loess Plateau, where apples constitute a pillar industry. Nanomaterials, leveraging their unique properties, can facilitate the transport of nutrients to crops, thereby enhancing plant growth and development under stress conditions. To investigate the effects of nano zinc oxide (ZnO NP) on the growth and physiological characteristics of apple self-rooted rootstock M9-T337 seedlings under saline alkali stress, one-year-old M9-T337 seedlings were used as experimental materials and ZnO NPs were used as donors for pot experiment.

Integrated Effects of Water and Nitrogen Coupling on Eggplant Productivity, Fruit Quality, and Resource Use Efficiency in a Cold and Arid Environment.

In order to explore the water and fertilizer requirements of eggplants in the western oasis of the river, the experiment was conducted in Minle County of Gansu Province in 2022 and 2023 under three water stress gradients and three nitrogen application levels: (1) moderate water stress (W, 50-60% in field water capacity [FC]), mild water stress (W, 60-70% in FC), and full irrigation (W, 70-80% in FC); (2) low nitrogen (N, 215 kg·ha), medium nitrogen (N, 270 kg·ha), and high nitrogen (N, 325 kg·ha). Moderate and mild water stress were applied during eggplant flowering and fruiting while full irrigation was provided during the other growth stages; a control class (CK) was established with full irrigation throughout the whole plant growth without nitrogen application. This study investigated the effects of water-saving and nitrogen reduction on the yield, quality, and water-nitrogen use efficiency of eggplants in a cold and arid environment in the Hexi Oasis irrigation area of China.

The Optimization of the Debittering Process and the Exploration of Bitter Metabolites of 'Fengdan' Seeds.

Tree peony seeds, traditionally used for edible oil production, are rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA). However, little attention is paid to their development as a healthcare food due to their bitter and astringent taste. The aim of this study was to optimize the debittering process of peony seeds on the basis of maintaining nutritional value and to identify the compounds that cause the taste of bitterness.

Bryophyte Flora of AlUla County (Saudi Arabia)-Distribution, Ecology, and Conservation.

Intensive surveys recently conducted in AlUla County (northwest Saudi Arabia) have made it possible to compile an exhaustive list of the forty-eight bryophyte species (six liverworts and forty-two mosses) known in this region and compare it with an updated checklist of bryophytes from Saudi Arabia, which now counts 31 liverworts and 135 mosses. The ecology, taxonomy, and distribution of each taxon are provided and discussed in a systematic catalog. Although particularly arid and lacking permanent watercourses, AlUla County has proven to be surprisingly rich in bryophytes.

Patterns and Drivers of Surface Energy Flux in the Alpine Meadow Ecosystem in the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China.

Alpine meadows are vital ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, significantly contributing to water conservation and climate regulation. This study examines the energy flux patterns and their driving factors in the alpine meadows of the Qilian Mountains, focusing on how the meteorological variables of net radiation (), air temperature, vapor pressure deficit (), wind speed (), and soil water content () influence sensible heat flux () and latent heat flux (). Using the Bowen ratio energy balance method, we monitored energy changes during the growing and non-growing seasons from 2022 to 2023.

Heartwood/Sapwood Characteristics of Oliv. Trunks and Their Relationship with Soil Physicochemical Properties in the Lower Tarim River, Northwest China.

The characteristics of heartwood and sapwood not only reflect tree growth and site quality but also provide insights into habitat changes. This study examines the natural Oliv. forest in the Arghan section of the lower Tarim River, comparing the heartwood and sapwood characteristics of at different distances from the river, as well as at varying trunk heights and diameters at breast height (DBH).

Genome-Wide Approach Identifies Natural Large-Fragment Deletion in ASFV Strains Circulating in Italy During 2023.

African swine fever (ASF), characterized by high mortality rates in infected animals, remains a significant global veterinary and economic concern, due to the widespread distribution of ASF virus (ASFV) genotype II across five continents. In this study, ASFV strains collected in Italy during 2022-2023 from two geographical clusters, North-West (Alessandria) and Calabria, were fully sequenced. In addition, an in vivo experiment in pigs was performed.

The Prevalence of Enteric Viruses in Bivalve Molluscs in a Farming Area in Liguria, Northwest Italy.

Bivalve molluscs are filter-feeding organisms, capable of concentrating pathogenic microorganisms from the surrounding environment, thus contributing to the spread of viral pathogens, which they can transmit to humans, especially if eaten raw or undercooked. Although norovirus (NoV) and the hepatitis A virus (HAV) are considered the most common causes of foodborne infections, in recent years, other viruses with a zoonotic potential have been identified in shellfish, such as the hepatitis E virus (HEV), astrovirus (AsV), and aichi virus (AiV). The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of classical and emerging pathogenic enteric viruses in oysters () and mussels () from a mollusc farming area in the northwest of Italy, between April 2022 and March 2023.

Determination of Cenozoic Sedimentary Structures Using Integrated Geophysical Surveys: A Case Study in the Hebei Plain, China.

The strong multi-stage tectonic movement caused the northwest of the North China Plain to rise and the southeast to fall. The covering layer in the plain area was several kilometers thick. In addition to expensive drilling, it is difficult to obtain deep geological information through traditional geological exploration.

Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensing Technology for Monitoring Soil Deformation Induced by Leakage in Buried Water Pipelines: A Model Test Study.

Water pipelines in water diversion projects can leak, leading to soil deformation and ground subsidence, necessitating research into soil deformation monitoring technology. This study conducted model tests to monitor soil deformation around leaking buried water pipelines using distributed fiber optic strain sensing (DFOSS) technology based on optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR). By arranging strain measurement fibers in a pipe-soil model, we investigated how leak location, leak size, pipe burial depth, and water flow velocity affect soil strain field monitoring results.

Screening of Solvent Systems for Countercurrent Chromatography Separation of Polar Constituents from L. Seeds.

The separation of large polar constituents presents a substantial challenge in natural product research when employing column chromatography techniques, as the process is both complex and time-consuming. In this study, an acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran/di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid/aqueous saturated sodium chloride solvent system was developed and utilized for the countercurrent chromatography of polar constituents from L. seeds.

Morphological Evolution and Extinction of Eodiscids and Agnostoid Arthropods.

The temporal range of eodiscids and agnostoid arthropods overlaps with several early Paleozoic geological events of evolutionary significance. However, the responses of agnostids to these events and how the perturbations associated with them (both abiotic and/or biotic) may have impacted agnostids remain uncertain. To address this uncertainty, we employ geometric morphometrics to reconstruct morphospace occupation for agnostids, thereby elucidating their evolutionary response to geological events during the early Paleozoic.

Gut Microbial Composition and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in Dairy Calves with Diarrhea.

Calf diarrhea is a prevalent and significant health issue in dairy farming, severely impacting feed intake, weight gain, and survival rates in young calves. This study aimed to investigate the microbial composition and antibiotic resistance profiles of diarrheic calves to provide insights into the epidemiology and management of the condition. The prevalence of diarrhea in 1685 calves was analyzed.