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Sorption site competition determines phosphorus availability of agrifood residues
Wild Florida mottled ducks demonstrate strong heterogeneity in their humoral innate immune response
The Florida Mottled Duck ( Anas fulvigula fulvigula ) is a unique subspecies of waterfowl whose range is limited to peninsular Florida, USA. As an endemic subspecies, Florida Mottled Ducks face numerous conservation stressors, such as habitat conversion and hybridization with non-native Mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ). In addition to these numerous stressors, Mottled Ducks are also contending with emerging and/or geographically expanding waterborne pathogens such as Vibrio spp., due to the effects of climate change. However, even given their conservation needs, little is known with respect to the health, physiology, and the immunity of wild Mottled Ducks in Florida. Given this lack of data, we performed health assessments of Mottled Ducks in the Central Florida area. Specifically, we examined the humoral innate immune system, i.e., the plasma of Mottled Ducks in response to a common but extraneous pathogen: Escherichia coli strain American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) number 8739. We utilized a bactericidal assay (“bacterial killing assay” or BKA) commonly used in eco-immunology, to provide insight into the bactericidal capacities of captured Florida Mottled Ducks. We statistically tested the BKA capacity, or microbial killing ability, of 23 Mottled Ducks in response to age and whole blood lead levels (Pb). We found that there was no statistically significant relationship between the covariates we measured and Mottled Duck BKA capacity against E. coli . However, the variability we observed in the BKA capacity of this subspecies warrants further research into additional physiological and ecological covariates coupled with potential immune stressors that Florida Mottled Ducks may be contending with.
Thermally reversible switching between Faraday and Polar Kerr rotations based on graphene and VO2 included layered structures
Cooperative longevity of interaction model for addressing paused handoff problem in smart city intelligent transportation systems
Smart cities use Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to manage traffic by continuously communicating with roadside infrastructure and nearby vehicles. Paused handoff interrupts grounded congestion, signal supervision, and path-shifting knowledge. Paused handoffs occur when cars wait to interact owing to volatile neighbours or heavily crowded roadside units. In congested metropolitan areas, ITS vehicle communication interruptions are a significant issue. This research addresses this issue. Hence, the research introduces the Cooperative Longevity of Interaction Model (CLoIM) to enhance communication reliability by minimizing the impact of paused handoff. The model employs a hybrid trained herd optimization algorithm to improve the longevity for interaction between vehicles and roadside units, minimizing handoff interruptions. The approach dynamically adjusts search strategies to prioritize high longevity interactions, improving communication stability. Results show that CLoIM increases longevity by 10.81% and reduces the paused handoff lag by 9.17%, effectively addressing the challenges of vehicle density and mobility in ITS scenarios.
Association of visceral adiposity index and chronic pain in US adults: a cross-sectional study
Consequences of platelet-educated cancer cells on the expression of inflammatory and metastatic glycoproteins
Cancer-associated thrombosis, a major cause of mortality in cancer patients, exhibits a 4 to 7 times higher incidence compared to the general population. Platelet activation by tumor cells contributes to this pro-thrombotic state. Cancer cell-educated platelets have also been described to be implicated in promoting metastasis. Intriguingly, our team, among others, unveils a reverse process, wherein platelets educate cancer cells by transferring lipids, RNAs, and proteins. Here, focusing on colorectal and pancreatic cancers, our study investigates genes and proteins mediating platelet education of cancer cells. We demonstrated, for the first time, that platelets can educate cancer cells by inducing changes in the transcription of genes related to glycosylation, inflammation, and metastasis in cancer cells themselves. These results indicate a direct impact of platelets on cancer cell phenotype. This novel insight suggests potential therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment, disrupting platelet-mediated alterations and influencing the course of cancer progression.
Evaluating the quality of TikTok videos on coronary artery disease using various scales to examine correlations with video characteristics and high-quality content
Non-synaptic plasticity enables memory-dependent local learning
Synaptic plasticity is essential for memory formation and learning in the brain. In addition, recent results indicate that non-synaptic plasticity processes such as the regulation of neural membrane properties contribute to memory formation, its functional role in memory and learning has however remained elusive. Here, we propose that non-synaptic and synaptic plasticity are both essential components to enable memory-dependent processing in neuronal networks. While the former acts on a fast timescale for rapid information storage, the latter shapes network processing on a slower timescale to harness this memory as a functional component. We analyse this concept in a network model where pyramidal neurons regulate their apical trunk excitability in a Hebbian manner. We find that local synaptic plasticity rules can be derived for this model and show that the interplay between this synaptic plasticity and the non-synaptic trunk plasticity enables the model to successfully accommodate memory-dependent processing capabilities in a number of tasks, ranging from simple memory tests to question answering.
Elevated UBC9 expression and its oncogenic role in colorectal cancer progression and chemoresistance
Correction: Flow cytometric analysis identifies changes in S and M phases as novel cell cycle alterations induced by the splicing inhibitor isoginkgetin
A science-based approach to classifying light vehicles in Europe: methodology and case studies
Self-suppressing behavioral patterns and depressive traits exacerbate chronic pain: Psychological trait assessment using the structured association technique method
This study investigated the relationship between psychological traits and chronic pain using the Structured Association Technique (SAT) method to evaluate psychological factors associated with chronic pain. The participants included 105 older adults (23 men, 82 women, mean age 80.82 years) who received rehabilitation services. Chronic pain severity was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS), and psychological traits were evaluated by SAT. In addition, maternal attachment experiences in childhood were examined. The NRS showed significant positive correlations with the self-suppressing behavioral pattern (S) scale (r = 0.31, p = 0.001), and the depression (D) scale (r = 0.31, p = 0.001). The proportion of participants with high scores on both the S and D scales (SD group) was notably higher in the high NRS group. Logistic regression analysis showed that the SD group had a higher odds ratio (OR = 8.469, p = 0.004) for severe chronic pain, suggesting that SD traits independently contribute to worse pain. In the SD group, the self-denial scale scores were high, and self-denial traits showed a negative correlation with maternal attachment experiences in childhood. This finding indicates that poor maternal attachment may enhance self-denial traits, which in turn indirectly worsen pain through their effects on S and D traits. The results of this study highlight the importance of S and D traits as psychological factors in chronic pain, particularly in Japanese populations, and suggest that assessing self-suppressing behavioral patterns may be beneficial for pain management. However, the cross-cultural validity of the SAT scales requires further investigation. SAT therapy may provide a comprehensive approach to the treatment and prevention of complex conditions influenced by psychological and social factors, including chronic pain.
Mitigation of adverse effect of cadmium toxicity in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) through foliar application of chitosan and spermidine
The influence of psychological capital on employment expectations of vocational undergraduate students: The chain mediating role of active coping style and educational flow experience
As vocational undergraduate students in China face increasing challenges in the job market, understanding the factors that shape their employment expectations is crucial. Psychological capital is considered a key factor influencing students’ career outlooks. This study aims to examine the relationship between psychological capital (PC) and employment expectations (EE), while exploring the mediating roles of educational flow experience (EFE) and active coping style (ACS) in this relationship. Based on positive psychology and career development theories, a theoretical model was constructed to understand how psychological capital affects employment expectations through the chain mediation of educational flow experience and active coping style. A sample of 693 vocational undergraduate students (316 males and 377 females) from a university in Guangdong Province participated in the study. Participants completed the Psychological Capital Scale (PCS), the Career Expectation Scale (CES), the Educational Flow Experience Scale (EduFlow-2), and the Coping Style Scale (CSS). Results indicate that higher levels of psychological capital significantly predict stronger employment expectations. Moreover, educational flow experience and active coping style both serve as significant mediators in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations, with a chain mediation effect also observed. These findings provide valuable insights into the psychological processes that influence career expectations among vocational undergraduates, highlighting the importance of fostering psychological capital and creating supportive learning environments to improve students’ employability. The results offer practical implications for educators and policymakers, suggesting that vocational institutions should integrate strategies to enhance psychological capital, promote educational flow experiences, and support active coping styles to better prepare students for the labor market.
Analysis of factors influencing the psychological status and cognitive function of postoperative head and neck tumor patients
Optimal dimensions and performance evaluation of a truncated spherical dielectric lens antenna at X-band frequencies
This study presents the design and development of a truncated spherical dielectric lens antenna. The primary goal of this research is to significantly improve and optimize the directivity and beamwidth characteristics of the feed antenna by adjusting the feed position around the focal point of the lens. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), with a dielectric constant of 2.1, is chosen as the lens medium. Simulations are carried out using the CST-Studio Suite across the span of 8 to 12 GHz. Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) and an anechoic chamber are utilized for experimental validation. Directivity of 21.9 dBi and a beamwidth of 13.1° have been achieved by optimizing the dimensions of 24.34 mm thickness, 55 mm center of curvature and 110 mm aperture of the lens. By utilizing its simple geometrical shape, compact size, and ease of design and construction, this dielectric lens antenna is ideal for RF applications, particularly when energy concentration is necessary.
Seminal plasma exosome derived miR-26-5p can regulate decidual macrophage polarization via PTEN / PI3K / AKT signaling pathway
A novel simplified structural design as an artificial enzyme for efficient hydrolysis of PNPA
Abstract In this study, a novel artificial enzyme Zn(II)-SMM with simple organic structure for PNPA-directed hydrolysis is proposed. The introduction of hydrophobic quinoline and dipyridinium in Zn(II)-SMM system demonstrates high activity for the complexation of Zn2+ and hydrolysis of PNPA, and the catalytic rate (kcat/kuncat) exceeds 5239 times that of non-catalytic systems. The newly designed small molecule organic complex effectively binds to and catalyzes the hydrolysis of substrate PNPA in accordance with Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The mechanism with activation by single Lewis acid provides fundamental insights for the development of small molecule hydrolases.