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Performance analysis of a biomass gasification combined cycle power plant using rice husk and sugarcane bagasse with circular utilization of ash in green concrete
Association between depression and cardiometabolic multimorbidity: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction Cardio metabolic multimorbidity (CMM) is increasingly prevalent and associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, yet the role of depression in the clustering of cardiometabolic conditions has not been comprehensively synthesized. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize observational evidence on the association between depression and cardiometabolic multimorbidity and to estimate the prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity among adults with depression. Methods The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251079959) and is reported in accordance with PRISMA-P guidelines. We will include observational studies (cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional) involving adults aged ≥18 years that examine the association between depression and CMM. Depression must be assessed using validated diagnostic criteria, standardized screening instruments, or clinical codes. CMM will be defined as the coexistence of two or more cardiometabolic diseases, including at least one metabolic and one cardiovascular condition. Relevant studies will be identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus from inception to September 2026, without language restrictions. Two reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data, and assess risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort and case-control studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for cross-sectional studies. Random-effects meta-analyses will be conducted to pool adjusted association estimates. Where sufficient longitudinal data are available, longitudinal risk estimates will also be synthesized separately. Pooled prevalence of CMM among individuals with depression will also be estimated. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup analyses according to age, sex, geographic region, depression ascertainment method, and cardiometabolic multimorbidity definition will be conducted where sufficient data are available. Certainty of evidence will be evaluated using the GRADE approach. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis is expected to improve the understanding of the relationship between depression and cardiometabolic multimorbidity and to inform future research, clinical practice, and public health strategies.
PLGA-entrapped recombinant r63 chimeric protein induces mucosal immunity against adherence and toxicity of Vibrio cholerae
Abstract Injectable inactivated whole-cell cholera vaccines provide limited protection due to poor mucosal immunity, leading to a shift toward oral cholera vaccines (OCVs). Chimeric recombinant vaccines can deliver multiple antigens simultaneously, enhancing immune specificity and simplifying production. This study aimed to develop a PLGA-encapsulated OCV using a chimeric protein for enhanced mucosal delivery and immune response. A synthetic gene encoding r63 was cloned into pET28a and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3). The ~ 63 kDa His-tagged chimeric protein (r63) was purified via Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and entrapped in PLGA nanoparticles using a double emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. Particle size, zeta potential, SEM morphology, protein release kinetics, and encapsulation efficiency were evaluated. BALB/c mice were orally immunized with r63-PLGA, and IgG/IgA responses were measured by ELISA. Functional assays, including GM1-ELISA, Y-1 cell rounding, cAMP inhibition and rabbit ileal loop were performed to assess cholera toxin neutralization. In vitro adherence inhibition of V. cholera was investigated. The r63 was successfully expressed in E. coli and confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. PLGA- r63 nanoparticles showed high encapsulation efficiency (90.16 ± 3.4%), a size of 221 ± 10 nm, and a zeta potential of − 11.8 ± 2 mV. Release studies indicated sustained protein release fitting a zero-order kinetic model. Oral immunization elicited robust serum IgG and fecal IgA responses against all antigens. Immunized sera prevented CTB binding to GM1 receptor, neutralized the enterotoxicity of cholera toxin in the Y1 cell line, and inhibited cAMP production. The immunized serum also suppressed cholera toxin activity in the ileal loop test by up to 79% and inhibited 66% of the bacterial adhesion to Caco2 cells. The orally delivered PLGA-r63 candidate vaccine effectively induced systemic and mucosal immunity against adherence and toxicity Vibrio cholerae .
Editorial Note: The impact of COVID-19 on opioid toxicity deaths for people who experience incarceration compared to the general population in Ontario: A whole population data linkage study
Automated machine-learning framework for predicting drug solubility in supercritical CO2 for sustainable process development
Abstract Reliable prediction of drug solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ) is central to designing environmentally conscious pharmaceutical processes, yet experimental solubility measurements remain slow, resource-intensive, and often restricted to limited operating ranges. These constraints restrict the development of green technologies such as particle formation, controlled micronization, and solvent-free formulation strategies. This study introduces an automated computational framework that couples modern regression algorithms with bio-inspired optimization to deliver scalable solubility prediction across varying conditions. The approach employs Adaptive Boosting Regression and Light Gradient Boosting Regression as core learners, which are combined through hybrid ensemble schemes and tuned using two recent metaheuristic algorithms the Osprey Optimization Algorithm and the Artificial Protozoa Optimizer. Model behavior was assessed using repeated cross-validation, a suite of accuracy metrics (RMSE, R 2 , MDAPE, SI, NSE), non-parametric statistical comparison, and ANOVA-based sensitivity evaluation. A multi-criteria ranking using the TOPSIS method identified the APO-driven ensemble (ALAP) as the most reliable configuration, achieving RMSE = 0.191, R 2 = 0.982, and MDAPE = 15.6% on the test set. Beyond its algorithmic design, the framework offers a practical computational alternative to extensive laboratory experimentation, providing a transferable, data-driven tool for efficient and eco-friendly pharmaceutical process design.
Investigation of correlation between cholesterol intake, apolipoprotein B and Parkinson’s disease related genes in guinea pigs feeding a high-fat diet containing cholesterol
Apolipoprotein B (Apo B), which is involved in the transport of cholesterol, is thought to be associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease in addition to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate the possible correlation between cholesterol intake, Apo B and parkin RING domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PARKIN), phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN)-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and α-synuclein (SNCA), which have an important role in Parkinson’s disease. Throughout the 12-week experiment, female and male guinea pigs in control group were fed a standard chow diet, while those in experimental group were fed a high-fat diet containing cholesterol. When histochemical findings were analysed at the end of our study, neuronal degeneration in the midbrain and brain cortex sections of the group of male guinea pigs fed a high-fat diet containing cholesterol was more pronounced compared to the other groups. In addition, significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of PARKIN expression levels (p = 0.030) in the brain tissues and the immunolabeling densities of PINK1 (p = 0.027), phospho(ser228)-PINK1 (p = 0.031), phospho(ser129)-SNCA (p < 0.000), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (p = 0.033), particularly in the midbrain sections. Significant strong positive correlations (+0.5 < r<+1.0, p < 0.05) were observed in midbrain sections between phospho(Ser228)-PINK1 and TH immunolabeling and cholesterol (CHOL) levels, between phospho(Ser228)-PINK1 immunolabeling and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and between SNCA, phospho(Ser228)-PINK1, phospho(Ser129)-SNCA, and TH immunolabeling and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Our study demonstrated that a high-fat diet containing cholesterol was associated with significant changes in PARKIN gene expression and significant alterations in PINK1 protein levels in male guinea pigs in the experimental group.
Synthesis and electrophysical characterization of a three-phase Ca–Nd–Mn–Ni–O oxide system
Demography and life histories across the Roman frontier in Germany 400–700 ce
Abstract The emergence of new political and social structures in Western and Central Europe during the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages has long been attributed to large-scale migrations. Yet emerging evidence increasingly emphasizes the role of small-group mobility in reshaping the Roman world 1–3 . Here we present 258 ancient genomes from the former Roman frontier of southern Germany, which we analyse alongside 2,500 ancient and 379 modern genomes. Population genetic analyses reveal a major demographic shift coinciding with the late fifth century collapse of Roman state structures, when a founding population of northern European ancestry mixed with genetically diverse Roman provincial groups. Pedigree reconstruction and filia, a method for inferring the ancestry of unsampled relatives, indicate widespread intermarriage and minimal cultural differentiation. Genetic structure persisted through the sixth century, with admixture forming a population resembling modern Central Europeans by the early seventh century. Using Chronograph to refine the chronology of genealogically linked individuals, we estimate a generation time of 28 years, life expectancies of 39.8 years for women and 43.3 years for men, high infant mortality, and a society in which nearly one quarter of children lost at least one parent by age 10, yet most still grew up with grandparents. Pedigrees further reveal a society centred on nuclear families that practiced lifelong monogamy, strict incest avoidance, flexible lineage continuation and no levirate unions, indicating continuity with Late Roman social practices that later shaped the European family.
Childhood to Adult Neurodevelopment in Gene-Expanded Huntington’s Disease (ChANGE-HD): A prospective longitudinal neurodevelopmental study of Huntington’s disease
Although adult Huntington’s disease (HD) studies have significantly advanced our understanding of the course of degeneration, they may underrepresent critical neurodevelopmental aspects of the disease. Significant gaps remain in understanding how mutant huntingtin affects early neurodevelopment, its long-term impact, as well as potential implications for treatment outcomes. The Childhood to Adult Neurodevelopment in Gene-Expanded Huntington’s Disease ( ChANGE-HD; NCT01951588) study aims to evaluate brain structure and function in premanifest, at-risk children and young adults, and explore HD’s developmental origins. Here, we introduce the ChANGE-HD study, which will investigate and integrate the neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative aspects of HD. The ChANGE-HD study is a prospective, seven-year multi-site observational study with an accelerated longitudinal design, where participants are not bound to a fixed schedule across multiple visits. Four hundred and fifty participants aged 6–30 years who are at risk for HD will be recruited and asked to return for multiple visits (if possible). At each visit, cognitive, motor, behavioral, blood/saliva, and MRI data are collected. Alongside ChANGE-HD, we are also recruiting individuals for the juvenile-onset HD (JOHD) study to investigate the neuropathology of this rarer form of HD. ChANGE-HD represents the first prospective multi-site study to systematically document brain structure and function during the premanifest phase of HD in children and young adults. Data collection is ongoing with first results anticipated in 2026–2027. The ChANGE-HD approach is likely to provide novel physiological insights and guide the development of therapeutic strategies tailored to both the developmental and degenerative phases of the disease.
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for citizen science participation in air quality campaigns in Europe
Large-deformation consolidation analysis of foundations based on the elliptical cylinder equivalent drainage plate theory
Building upon the elliptical cylinder equivalence model, this study integrates the nonlinear variations in soil compressibility and permeability, together with the attenuation behavior of vacuum pressure, to develop large-deformation consolidation models that account for both vacuum loss and the effective influence zone at the base of drainage plates. Corresponding numerical solutions are derived. The results demonstrate that the model incorporating the bottom influence zone exhibits close agreement with experimental data from capped drainage plate tests, validating the rationality and applicability of the proposed consolidation framework and its numerical implementation. In contrast, the model considering only vacuum loss yields greater deviations relative to the experimental results. This finding indicates that neglecting the bottom influence zone of the drainage plate leads to an underestimation of total settlement, thereby misrepresenting the long-term consolidation behavior of ultra-soft soil foundations.
Sustained delivery of vemurafenib using polymeric nanocapsules induces apoptosis in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (8305C cancer cells)
Correction: Geometric and singularities insights of swept surfaces via the Bishop frame in Euclidean 3-Space
When scientific sources fail to convince: evidence-oriented thinking enhances the effectiveness of science-based corrections
Bioinformatics analysis of pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes in sepsis and diabetes mellitus
Sepsis and diabetes mellitus (DM) are major global health issues with high morbidity and mortality, necessitating new molecular insights for improved treatments. In this study, pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (PRDEGs) linked to both diseases were identified through bioinformatics analyses of GEO datasets (GSE28750 and GSE55098). These analyses included differential expression analysis, GO/KEGG pathway enrichment, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, and peripheral blood immune cell composition analysis. Seven PRDEGs ( GZMA, GZMB, MMP9, LCN2, ANXA3, PRF1, and CAMP ) were identified, involved primarily in cytolysis and the IL-17 signaling pathway. GSEA indicated transcriptional changes in the IL-12 signaling pathway. PPI analysis identified key hub genes related to sepsis and DM, and immune cell composition analysis revealed correlations between immune cells and PRDEGs. These findings indicate that the identified PRDEGs are closely associated with both sepsis and DM, suggesting their potential as molecular markers for future research into shared mechanisms underlying the two diseases.
Molecular epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome
Author Correction: Physiology and immunology of a pig-to-human decedent kidney xenotransplant
Postprandial lipid metabolism durably enhances T cell immunity
Social media activities to enhance the visibility of long-term invasive ventilation: A content and visibility analysis from the PRiVENT study
Background Despite the increasing number of patients receiving long-term invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and the social importance of this issue, it is largely neglected in the public perception. One aim of the PRIVENT project was to raise public awareness of the issue. Methods A team of physicians, health researchers, an art director and a scientific editor developed an information campaign, including blog posts, podcasts, social media posts and information for medical professionals or patients/their relatives and made them available to the public on a dedicated homepage and various social media platforms. The number of views was used to measure the reach of the campaign. Results In the period from 02/2021–03/2025, a total of 72 blog posts and 880 social media posts and 3 podcast seasons with 21 episodes were made available to the public. The total reach was 2.6 million, with Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn being the most used platforms with a total of 1872 followers. The most popular blog posts were those that explained the basics of IMV in plain language. Followers of the different social networks differ. Instagram users are younger and more likely to be female than those on Facebook and LinkedIn. Conclusion Our analysis shows that social media can increase the visibility of long-term invasive mechanical ventilation and reach diverse audiences. Although visibility does not equate to awareness, these findings highlight the potential of social media to support broader communication about long-term IMV and weaning within the medical community and society. Trial registration number: The PRiVENT study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05260853) on 02/03/2022.