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Mitigation of arsenic toxicity in natural waters using a bacterial biomineralizing system
Sexual health education improves psychological health, social well-being, and sexual self-efficacy among married older women: a randomized controlled trial
Design and Optimization of AlGaN/GaN Graded Barrier MOS-HEMT Biosensor for Breast Cancer Biomolecule detection
Abstract In this paper, we have designed and simulated an AlGaN/GaN graded barrier metal oxide semiconductor high electron mobility transistor (MOS-HEMT) heterojunction biosensor for detection of Breast Cancer biomolecules. A graded AlGaN barrier layer is utilized to enhance polarization-induced charges, thus increasing the density of 2DEG and improving carrier mobility in the channel. The proposed device uses Triple Metal Gate (TMG) with different work functions (M1, M2, M3) for controlling the electric field profile along the channel and improves the electrostatic control of the proposed biosensor. AlGaN graded barrier MOS-HEMT heterojunction biosensor was evaluated using Silvaco TCAD. The performance of proposed device analyzed using healthy Breast Cancerous biomolecules (K = 4.5(MCF-10)) and non-healthy Breast Cancerous biomolecules (K = 22(Hs578T), 27.5(MCF-7), 32(T47D)). The device characteristics are evaluated through transfer characteristics (I d –V gs ), output characteristics (I d –V ds ), electron (e - ) mobility and surface potential. Moreover, the effect of different positions for cavity fillings on I on /I off ratio sensitivity and V th sensitivity is examined under different conditions. The sensitivity of the device is 0.147 × 10 2 , subthreshold swing (SS) value is 60 mV/dec, I on /I off ratio sensitivity is 3.67 × 10 5 at K = 32. The results reveal that the sensitivity of the biosensor is based on the number of biomolecules rather than their position. The proposed biosensor has a relatively higher sensitivity compared to existing biosensors, making it a promising device for detecting Breast Cancer biomolecules.
Combined impact of recent sexual activity and vaginal product use on genital immune activation in South African women: implications for HIV risk
Design, control, and computational validation of a mechanically decoupled 3-DOF ankle rehabilitation device
Abstract This paper presents the design methodology, kinematic analysis, finite element structural validation, and closed-loop computational simulation of a novel 3-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) ankle-foot rehabilitation exoskeleton. The proposed exoskeleton addresses the simultaneous rehabilitation of dorsiflexion/plantarflexion (DF/PF), abduction/adduction (AB/AD), and inversion/eversion (INV/EV) in a seated configuration suited to patients with weight-bearing restrictions. Three NEMA 23 stepper motors independently actuate each axis through custom two-stage spur gear transmissions, achieving positive torque margins of + 6%, + 35%, and + 25% and sub-degree angular resolution. Full kinematic decoupling between all three axes is established through two independent architectural strategies. A finite element analysis (FEA) conducted on all four critical Al 6061-T6 structural components confirms safety factors between 2.82 and 4.87 under worst-case loading. A closed-loop PID control framework with adaptive range-of-motion (ROM) regulation, simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK, demonstrates tracking performance characterised by maximum overshoots of 0.02°–0.12°, settling times of 3.7–7.8 s, and steady-state errors below ± 0.04° across all nine simulation scenarios. The results confirm the mechanical feasibility, structural integrity, and control effectiveness of the proposed exoskeleton as a viable platform for multi-DOF seated ankle rehabilitation.
Frailty mediates the association between sleep duration and physical, psychological, and cognitive multimorbidity in Chinese middle-aged and older adults
A markerless virtual coach for home-based exercise: movement guidance and training intensity feedback
Impact of imbibition on the regulation of antioxidant metabolism in naturally versus artificially aged chickpea seeds
Monocytes strongly induce (myo)fibroblast contraction in a 3D skin model to understand inflammation-fibrosis crosstalk
Abstract Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by excessive fibrosis and tissue stiffness, in which monocytes and macrophages are increasingly recognized as key contributors to pro-fibrotic myofibroblast formation, although the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we used a three-dimensional (3D) skin model to study how CD14 + monocytes, M1 and M2-like macrophages induce fibroblasts activation and contraction in collagen type I hydrogels. We identified that the co-culture of dermal (myo)fibroblasts with monocytes displayed strong spontaneous hydrogel contraction, coupled with an upregulation of myofibroblast activation-associated markers, such as alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Using transcription factor-responsive reporter constructs and small-molecule inhibitors, we demonstrated that monocytes-(myo)fibroblasts communication was mediated by JAK/STAT3 and TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathways. Flow cytometry analyses revealed that monocytes, after interacting with (myo)fibroblasts, differentiated into a mixed M1/M2 polarization phenotype, characterized by CD163, CD206, CD86, and HLA-DR expression. Both M1 and M2-like macrophages promoted significant (myo)fibroblast contraction, which could be mimicked by supernatant transfer. TGF-β neutralization but not IL-6 blocking abolished this effect. This study demonstrates that monocytes/macrophages can strongly induce (myo)fibroblasts activation/contraction. Together, our work contributes to elucidating pathways and mechanisms associated with skin fibrosis in SSc and paves the way for developing new platforms for targeted therapy testing.
A novel combined approach for peel and pulp color classification in guava (Psidium guajava L.)
Red blood cell-derived parameters as a potential tool in the differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes
Correlation and predictive value of first-trimester serum markers (PAPP-A, Free β-hCG) for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA): a prospective cohort study
Developability engineering of scFvs enables robust CAR function under transient mRNA expression
Delineation of site-specific nutrient management zones using PCA and fuzzy C-means clustering in Aroressa district, Sidama region, Ethiopia
Abstract Soil fertility variability is a major constraint to agricultural productivity in Ethiopian highlands, yet uniform nutrient management persists due to inadequate characterization of spatial heterogeneity. This study addressed the need for site-specific nutrient management zones (MZs) in Aroressa district, Sidama region. One hundred fifty-four soil samples (77 disturbed, 77 undisturbed) were collected from 0 to 20 cm depth. Analysis included pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (av.P), exchangeable cations (K, Ca, Mg), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and bulk density (BD). Geostatistical analysis with semi-variogram modeling and ordinary kriging mapped spatial distribution. Principal component analysis (PCA) reduced dimensionality, and Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering delineated MZs, validated by ANOVA. Soils were strongly to moderately acidic (mean pH 5.19), with critically low TN (0.19%), moderate OC (2.40%), and highly heterogeneous K (CV 62.2%) and av.P (CV 32.8%). Semi-variogram models showed moderate to strong spatial dependence for most nutrients (range: 19.7–317 m). PCA retained three components explaining 71.73% variance. Five optimal MZs were delineated, significantly differentiating all soil properties ( p < 0.01). MZ delineation reduced within-zone variability substantially: K (74.2%), CEC (51.0%), OC (49.3%), BD (54.7%), and av.P (40.2%). The PCA-FCM approach effectively captured soil fertility gradients, with Zone 5 showing highest fertility (CEC 35.3 cmol(+)/kg, K 1.33 cmol(+)/kg) and Zone 4 the most acidic (pH 4.66). Results support transitioning from uniform to site-specific nutrient management, with variable-rate K and P fertilization, targeted liming, and zone-specific organic matter restoration strategies.
Sustainable miniaturized smartphone-coupled TLC platform for innovative cleaning validation: application to tizanidine combinations under challenging concentration ratios
Abstract Cross-contamination in pharmaceutical industry is a critical threat to patient safety, potentially reducing therapeutic efficacy and causing adverse effects and addiction. Drugs with narrow therapeutic index and high abuse potential are high-risk candidates, such as tizanidine (TZN). Its carryover may trigger harmful effects, withdrawal symptoms, and unintended dependence. Although cleaning validation minimizes these risks, rapid and reliable tools are still needed to support routine monitoring. To address this need, a portable at-line analytical platform was developed for TZN determination in combination with aceclofenac (ACF), ibuprofen (IBF), and paracetamol (PRC). It employs FDA-recommended swabbing approach, followed by smartphone-based TLC coupled with Color Analyzer and ImageJ for image processing. It provides a rapid, simple, and eco-friendly on-site tool for cleaning validation, enabling both quantitative analysis and qualitative screening via color density charts; a combination not achieved by reported methods. The mobile phase was optimized as toluene-acetone-ethanol (2.3:2.7:0.6 v/v/v), and smartphone-based analysis parameters were optimized. Validation according to ICH guidelines demonstrated good linearity and high sensitivity for the investigated drugs, with quantitation limits below established acceptance limits. Multidimensional sustainability was confirmed using moGAPI, CACI, VIGI, and RGB-12 assessments, highlighting the method as a novel sustainable tool for reliable cleaning validation of TZN combinations.