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Cardiovascular peptide markers are associated with age-related macular degeneration in the Bialystok PLUS general population cohort

Glucosamine/chitosan blend surface-engineered rutin-loaded polymer/lipid hybrid nanoparticles for neuroprotection in induced schizophrenia model

Abstract The objective of this investigation is to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic activity of a hydrophobic flavonoid rutin, with reported neuroprotective potential, by developing an innovative drug delivery system. Rutin-loaded polymer/lipid hybrid nanoparticles comprising polycaprolactone and Geleol™ or Captex® were developed. They were assessed for entrapment efficiency, size, and zeta potential. The selected formula (F4) comprised equal ratios of polycaprolactone and Geleol™, revealed nanoparticle size (226.9 ± 38 nm) and a high entrapment efficiency value (78.84 ± 6.1%). A glucosamine/chitosan hydrochloride blend was used as a functional coating of F4. The studied formulations improved the release profiles of rutin, which were 33.60 ± 3.1%, 64.76 ± 5.8%, and 59.12 ± 4.3% for rutin, F4, and CF4, respectively. The efficacy of free rutin and the selected formulations was assessed using cuprizone-induced schizophrenia in mice. Behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological investigations demonstrated the therapeutic potential of rutin, which enhanced brain myelin basic protein (MBP) and neuregulin 1 (NRG1) levels, thereby restoring myelination. Rutin also stabilized dopamine and glutamate pathways, alleviating cognitive and neurochemical imbalances characteristic of schizophrenia. The designed rutin-loaded formulation proved more effective than the free rutin, and the functionalized formulation outperformed the uncoated formula. Collectively, these results underscore the promise of this delivery system, while further assessments for pharmacokinetics, brain uptake, and clinical investigations remain essential to verify its translational potential.

Secure IIoT architecture with blockchain-enabled anomaly detection for water distribution cyber–physical systems

Effect of different positions of lumbar traction on pain, function, and range of motion in adults with non-specific low back pain: a randomized clinical trial

Transient and Regulated Cycles of Chemically Driven Disassembly and Reassembly in Anion-Driven Supramolecular Polymers

Real-time multi-object tracking for sports scenarios: a lightweight detection and edge deployment co-design framework

Sex-specific associations between prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants and birth outcomes: a meconium biomonitoring study

Piecewise Stereoselective Assembly of Multisubstituted Alkenes

The synergistic pattern of metabolic-inflammatory changes jointly predicts cardiovascular risk in Chinese middle-aged and older adults: a prospective cohort study

Breaking Layered Limitations via Electrostatic-to-Covalent Conversion toward Three-Dimensional T2-Cluster-Based Chalcogenides

Computational stability analysis suggests binding-independent destabilization in pathogenic FBXO11 variants

Correction to “Triphase Interface Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold Bellflowers as Near-Infrared Light Mediated Acoustic and Thermal Theranostics”

Stability in the face of global decline: a 20-year study of arthropods in an oceanic archipelago

Abstract Insect declines are of global concern, yet no long-term ecological studies (LTER) have confirmed this trend on islands. This study utilises the first available LTER data on island arthropods, targeting epigeal and canopy species from the Azores Archipelago (Portugal), and covering over 20 years in three distinct sampling events from 30 standard sites. We investigate changes in abundance, biomass, and species richness within native forest arthropod communities, focusing on the proportions of endemic and introduced species, and temporal patterns among single-island endemics and forest-dependent endemics. Results reveal significant temporal variability, but overall abundance, biomass, and species richness remain stable across endemic and native non-endemic taxa. Among the species studied, 28% declined, 17% increased, and 55% showed no significant differences. Exotic invasions and related extinctions appear minimal. Forest-dependent endemic species declined below anticipated levels, suggesting that the extinction debt for these species may be less severe than initially expected. Nonetheless, some forest specialists have declined significantly, and seven species, not seen over 20 years, are considered to be extinct. The three-decade-long conservation of Azorean native forests may have contributed to the stability of some populations, thus these findings underscore the need for continued and enhanced conservation efforts of insular forest-associated diversity.

Thermo-mechanical response of layered perlite beams under transient thermal loading

Programmable Functionalizations of Tetramethylpiperidine N-Oxyl (TEMPO)–Acrolein Linchpins Derived from Alkoxyallenes

Visible-light-driven CO2 photoreduction to solar fuels over a Ni/Cu-loaded Bi2ZnTiO6/g-C3N4 0D/3D/2D QDs Schottky/Z-scheme ternary heterojunction photocatalyst

Kilowatt-Level Ethylene Glycol Electrooxidation at Industrial Current Densities Enabled by Synergistic C–H/O–H Activation on PdAu ₂ /Ni _{1– <i>x</i>} O

Investigating the flexural performance of reinforced concrete beams using eco-friendly geotextile and wire mesh reinforcements

Abstract This paper presents an experimental investigation on the flexural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with eco-friendly materials, specifically steel wire mesh and geotextiles, in conjunction with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Two strengthening techniques were investigated: (1) internal strengthening by embedding geotextile or steel wire mesh along the longitudinal reinforcement; (2) external strengthening by U-wrapping geotextile or steel wire mesh on the beam surface. Additionally, CNTs were incorporated into the concrete matrix as a third strengthening mechanism. Seven small-scale RC beams (600 × 150 × 150 mm) were tested under one-point bending. The findings demonstrate that all strengthened RC beams exhibited enhanced load-carrying capacity (up to 45% increase), ductility (up to 184% increase), and total energy absorption compared to un-strengthened specimens. Internal wire mesh (WF1) achieved the highest ultimate load (56.2 kN). External geotextile (PGF2) exhibited exceptional deformation capacity (32.7 mm deflection, 1376.9 kN·mm toughness). CNT-modified concrete demonstrated pseudo-ductile behavior with distributed micro-cracking and 666.3 kN·mm total toughness.

Mn(II) ¹⁹ F Electron–Nuclear Double Resonance Spectroscopy as a Structural Tool: Resolution of the Structural Diversity of a Mn(II) Dual ¹⁹ F/ ¹ H MRI Probe

Outcomes of keraring implantation for high regular astigmatism in non-ectatic corneas: A prospective pilot case series

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intracorneal ring segments (Keraring) implantation for the management of high regular astigmatism (&gt; 3.00 D) in eyes with non-ectatic corneas. Twenty eyes of twenty patients with high regular astigmatism and topographically normal corneas. All eyes underwent femtosecond laser–assisted implantation of SI-5 Keraring segments. Comprehensive preoperative and postoperative assessments included uncorrected and best-corrected distant visual acuity, manifest refraction, keratometric measurements, and anterior corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs). Follow-up examinations were performed at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months. Statistical analysis incorporated repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients. Significant improvement in UDVA was observed at all postoperative visits ( p  &lt; 0.001). CDVA improved significantly during the early postoperative period but not at 6 months. Mean refractive astigmatism decreased markedly from − 8.19 ± 2.50 D preoperatively to − 3.14 ± 1.55 D at 6 months postoperatively, corresponding to a mean reduction of 61.3% ( p  &lt; 0.000). Significant reductions were also observed in spherical equivalent, Keratometric indices, total HOAs and coma aberrations. Corneal thickness and spherical aberrations showed no significant changes throughout the follow-up period. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. Keraring implantation may provide meaningful improvements in visual acuity, refractive outcomes, corneal regularity, and selected higher-order aberrations in eyes with high regular astigmatism and non-ectatic corneas. Larger studies with longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.