Browse Articles

Association between Ki-67 and clinical outcomes in 324 Chinese patients with resectable acral melanoma

Boosting green hydrogen generation using Zn-substituted CoFe2O4 catalysts prepared by sol-gel technique for water splitting applications

Aging-related changes in neuromuscular control strategies and their influence on postural stability

Abstract Altered neuromuscular strategies are suggested to contribute to age-related decreases in postural stability. Current approaches tend to overlook global (whole body) neuromuscular postural control strategies, potentially due to methodological constraints or residual influence from a longstanding, but outdated, biomechanical view in which postural sway is represented by a single-jointed inverted pendulum. In this study, we investigate age-related differences in postural strategies during upright static balance maintenance by assessing global neuromuscular control. We collected simultaneous posturography and electromyography (EMG) data from young (18–35 years, n = 32) and older (65–85 years, n = 33) participants while they stood upright on a force plate or on foam pads thereon, with eyes open or closed. Postural instability was assessed by the standard deviation and velocity of the center of pressure. EMG sensors recorded the activity of thirty muscles (15 on each hemibody). Co-contraction across all muscle pairs was measured with Falconer’s co-contraction index (CCI), and muscle synergy with non-negative matrix factorization. The older group possessed increased global co-contraction intensity, marked by more frequent use of a knee extensor synergy, and was more unstable than the younger group. Notably, advancing age modulated the variability of co-contraction intensity, where the oldest individuals consistently adopted a pure co-contraction strategy marked by the highest CCI values and lowest variability. Age-corrected correlations revealed that knee extensor CCI values were significantly related to postural instability. Taken together, global co-contraction appears to be a signature of elderly postural strategy and age-related instability may be directly related to the extent of knee extensor co-contraction. These results stress the importance of zooming out from classical agonist–antagonist muscle pair investigations in the endeavor to understand elderly postural control strategy.

High prevalence of penicillin-resistant group B Streptococcus among pregnant women in Northwest Ethiopia

Optic nerve sheath diameter measurements monitor the impact of venous sinus stenosis and surgery on intracranial pressure in NF2 meningioma patients

Abstract The study aimed to evaluate intracranial pressure (ICP) in NF2-associated meningiomas using perioperative optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurements. We retrospectively analyzed bilateral ONSD in 48 NF2 patients with 90 operated intracranial meningiomas. The mean ONSD was calculated while considering factors like symptoms of increased ICP, tumor location, tumor-induced venous sinus stenosis, and Simpson grading. 403 ONSD measurements were performed over a mean follow-up of 68 ± 67 months before and 27 ± 35 months after surgery. Tumor locations included the skull base (49%), convexity (22%), falx (18%), tentorium (6%), orbit (3%), and the ventricle (2%). Significant findings included a decrease in ONSD from 6.11 ± 0.89 mm to 5.88 ± 0.91 mm postoperatively (p = 0.01), with further reduction at the last MRI (mean 5.76 ± 0.86 mm, p < 0.001). Higher preoperative ONSD was associated with venous sinus stenosis (p < 0.001) and increased ICP symptoms (p = 0.033). Postoperatively, there was a complete regression of symptoms in patients with preoperative increased ICP. Early and continual ONSD monitoring is crucial for NF2 patients with intracranial meningiomas, particularly those with venous sinus stenosis or increased ICP symptoms. Surgery that preserves the venous sinus while reducing tumor volume can lower intracranial pressure even in the long run.

Regulatory role of LncRNA FMR1-AS1 in the pathogenesis of alzheimer’s disease based on bioinformatics and in vitro experimental validation

Interobserver agreement in BPPV diagnosis using eye movement recordings

Deep learning and wavelet packet transform for fault diagnosis in double circuit transmission lines

Male newborn as a determinant of severe preeclampsia: a case-control study

Randomized clinical trial on effectiveness of modified Akinosi technique in mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis during endodontic therapy

Nanoparticle-driven growth enhances mechanical properties of flax stems

Predicting onset of myopic refractive error in children using machine learning on routine pediatric eye examinations only

Prediction of single nucleotide polymorphisms of RNA dependent RNA polymerase for the potato leafroll virus using computational and experimental approaches

Abstract Potato leafroll disease, caused by potato leafroll virus (PLRV), is one of the most devastating diseases, resulting in significant losses to the potato crop. Research on comprehensive studies examining the prediction of mutations in PLRV genes for this viral disease is limited. This study aims to quantify and characterize the accumulation of these genetic mutations by predicting SNPs for PLRV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) using computational approaches. We utilized advanced online protein prediction tools to explore the impact of DNA mutations on protein function and structure. These tools enabled us to assess the potential level and location of disorder within proteins, providing crucial insights into their behavior. In our study, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) yielded a product corresponding to the PLRV-RdRp gene, measuring 450 base pairs (bp). This sequence has been documented in GenBank under the access number MT576073 and is cataloged in the UniProt database with the ID A0A8E6I3S8. The phylogenetic analysis of the PLRV-RdRp sequence involved a comparative study with reference sequences in the NCBI database. We focused on two notable predicted inversion mutations located at positions 93 (A93T) and 117 (K117G). Remarkably, the (Lys/Gly) mutation at position 117 exhibited a substantial disorder percentage of 61%, significantly higher than the reference sequence’s 13.4%. These single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are not just statistical anomalies; they have real implications. They alter RdRp protein stability and physicochemical properties, altering pocket residues and influencing the protein’s interaction with natural compounds. In conclusion, our findings provide a solid foundation for future research and development efforts focused at the rapid diagnosis and sustainable management of PLRV.

Effects of appearance modifications on oral presentation anxiety in video conferencing

Abstract Oral presentations are considered to provoke high levels of anxiety, yet limited research has explored this phenomenon in the context of video conferences. Considering the feasibility of private facial filters in video calls and the impact of audience appearance on speakers’ experiences, we propose modifying the visual representation of the audience to reduce oral presentation anxiety in video conferences. We found literature evidence supporting the effectiveness of both highly familiar appearances and attractive anime characters in reducing anxiety. Building on this, we conducted a real video presentation experiment with 45 participants, comparing the effects of these two visual modifications through physiological signals, behavioral data, and self-reported measures. The results showed that the appearance of a good friend as a facial filter more effectively alleviated self-perceived oral presentation anxiety and led to higher performance evaluations during one-on-one video conferences, confirming that a familiar audience is a more universally effective approach. On the other hand, the anime character primarily reduced the speaker’s attention to the audience’s gaze, potentially benefiting in reducing the pressure of being watched. By shedding light on the role of audience appearance in video conference anxiety, this study offers valuable insights and practical strategies for designing customized computer-mediated communication environments that enhance speaker comfort and confidence.

Response of stalk lodging resistance traits, yield and quality of silage maize to high density

Unleashing the biological potential of marine algal extracts against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from ready-to-eat beef products

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus is the causative agent of zoonotic diseases that are of increasing epidemiological importance and have significant implications for public health. One hundred fifty ready-to-eat meat product samples were collected from local shops in Qena City, Egypt, to investigate the bacteriological profile of S. aureus and evaluate the antimicrobial effects of marine algal extracts against identified S. aureus isolates in vitro. S. aureus was detected in 30.7% of the samples examined, with the highest incidence in luncheon samples. Detection of virulence genes revealed that 58.7%, 47.8%, 0%, 13%, and 0% of S. aureus isolates harbored coa, nuc, sea, seb, and sec genes. S. aureus isolates demonstrated a high level of antimicrobial resistance. Genetic analysis of antimicrobial resistance determinants revealed that 65.2% of the isolates carried the mecA gene, 72.2% harbored the vanA gene, and 33.3% contained the optrA gene. These findings indicate a significant prevalence of genetic markers associated with resistance to methicillin, vancomycin, and oxazolidinones, respectively, among the studied S. aureus isolates. In addition, these isolates produced various biofilm phenotypes. The most-produced biofilm phenotype was strong (32.6%). Luncheon meat showed the highest MRSA confirmation rate (36.4%), followed by sausage (37.5%), while burger products had the lowest confirmation rate (25.0%). Halimeda opuntia, Jania rubens, and Caulerpa racemosa marine algal extracts’ antimicrobial activity was studied. The major constituent of Caulerpa racemosa extract was spathulenol, and the methanol extract of Caulerpa racemosa (1.5 mg/ml) exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. RT-PCR revealed significant downregulation of coa (98.7% reduction) and nuc (68.8% reduction) in Caulerpa racemosa extract-treated S. aureus. Algal extracts present a hopeful prospect for developing innovative antibacterial substances with great promise for application in food preservation and medicine.

Efficient purification of CrocinI from saffron stigmas using antisolvent precipitation to implications for food technology

Modulation of retinal inflammation delays degeneration in a mouse model of geographic atrophy

Ultra-compact quad-band half-mode SIW bandpass filter for Sub-6 GHz 5G applications

Therapeutic potential of greenly synthesized selenium nanoparticles against experimental cyclosporiasis

Abstract Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis), an opportunistic intracellular coccidian, is responsible for chronic debilitating diarrheal outbreaks possessing life-threatening penalties, especially in immunocompromised patients. The solemn therapeutic agents against cyclosporiasis are limited by their grave effects and high recurrence rate. The current study aimed to utilize greenly synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and evaluate their therapeutic efficacy on cyclosporiasis in immunosuppressed murine models. They were biosynthesized proficiently using Alcaligenes faecalis and characterized by assorted analytical techniques. After molecular confirmation of the parasite strain, immunosuppressed mice were infected with 10,000 C. cayetanensis sporulated oocysts. The anti-Cyclospora activity of seven-day oral treatment of 10 mg/kg of SeNPs was assessed through parasitological, ultrastructural, histopathological, and biochemical studies. The in vivo safety of SeNPs was assessed clinically, biochemically, and histopathologically. Parasitologically, SeNPs recorded the highest statistically significant decrease in the fecal oocyst burden (97.96%R) on the 30th day post-infection (PI). Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed remarkably deformed SeNPs-treated oocysts. SeNPs-treated mice exhibited impressive amelioration in intestinal architecture and inflammation, protracted to the 30th day PI. Colorimetric analysis revealed that SeNPs have recorded the highest serum reduced glutathione (GSH) level (300% increase) that swiftly repressed malondialdehyde (MDA) by 63.46%R. The present work has shed the first light on biogenic SeNPs as a safe, promising, proficient antioxidant nanotherapeutic for the treatment of experimental cyclosporiasis.