While RNA sequencing and multi-omic approaches have significantly advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment, their limitation in preserving critical spatial information has been a notable drawback. This spatial context is essential for understanding cellular interactions and tissue dynamics. Multiplex digital spatial profiling (MDSP) technologies overcome this limitation by enabling the simultaneous analysis of transcriptome and proteome data within the intact spatial architecture of tissues. In breast cancer research, MDSP has emerged as a promising tool, revealing complex biological questions related to disease evolution, identifying biomarkers, and discovering drug targets. This review highlights the potential of MDSP to revolutionize clinical applications, ranging from risk assessment and diagnostics to prognostics, patient monitoring, and the customization of treatment strategies, including clinical trial guidance. We discuss the major MDSP techniques, their applications in breast cancer research, and their integration in clinical practice, addressing both their potential and current limitations. Emphasizing the strategic use of MDSP in risk stratification for women with benign breast disease, we also highlight its transformative potential in reshaping the landscape of breast cancer research and treatment. Full article

Willow (Salix spp.) trees, found worldwide, contain secondary metabolites that are valuable as dietary supplements for animal feed and as antiparasitic compounds. We quantified secondary metabolites (phenolics, flavonoids, and salicylic acid) in ethanolic extracts from leaves and branches of three Salix acmophylla Boiss. genotypes and investigated their potential to inhibit Eimeria sp. sporulation, a major concern in ruminants. The total phenolic content of willow leaves and branches was similar in two of three different genotypes. The total flavonoid content of the branches was significantly higher than that of leaves of the same genotype; however, the salicylic acid content was significantly higher in leaves than in branches. Importantly, all extracts exhibited significant inhibition of Eimeria sporulation, where over 70% inhibition was obtained at concentrations as low as 750 mgL⁻¹. The sporulation inhibition by branch or leaf extracts exceeded 80% for leaves and 90% for branches at concentrations above 1250 mgL⁻¹. The study highlights the potential of using Salix extracts as bioactive compounds for biological control of coccidiosis in ruminants. We conclude that all parts and all investigated genotypes of S. acmophylla can provide secondary metabolites that act as a coccidiostat to treat Eimeria in goats. Full article

This study explored the association between renewable energy uptake and digitalization in the sector by reviewing relevant literature (published 2010–2022), with the aim of identifying the existing utilization of digital technologies within the sector, challenges to adoption, and future prospects. Different search engines (SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were used to locate relevant papers and documents. The results revealed the high significance of digital technologies in supporting the renewable energy sector, with high costs and security risks representing the key challenges. Most papers reviewed had a positive outlook, but recommended further research and development for effective energy transition and resilient infrastructure. The current drivers of the integration of digital technologies to support the diffusion of renewable energy sources appear to extend beyond energy demand and involve many aspects of sustainability and sustainable development. Compared with previous reviews, this work has unique scope and novelty since it considers the bigger picture of the coupling between digitalization and the renewable energy sector, with a greater focus on critical areas in these two interconnected bodies that need to be addressed. The relatively small sample of relevant papers (69 from 836 hits) located in the literature review confirms the need for more research covering the subject in greater depth. Full article

Chronic migraine is a disease with a high burden on patients from both a working and quality of life point of view. The pathophysiology of this subtype of migraine is due to several factors, such as medication overuse. Nevertheless, the detrimental recurring of headache attacks with central and peripheral sensitization plays a central role and explains some additional symptoms complained about by these patients even in the interictal phase. OnabotulinumtoxinA is a therapy indicated for chronic migraine since it has proven to reduce peripheral sensitization, showing even efficacy on central symptoms. The aim of this narrative review is to present the current evidence regarding the effect of OnabotulinumtoxinA on sensitization and interictal symptoms. Full article

H19 is an essential imprinted gene that is expressed to govern normal embryonic development. During reprogramming, the parental pronuclei have asymmetric reprogramming capacities and the critical reprogramming factors predominantly reside in the male pronucleus. After inhibiting the expression of H19 and Gtl2, androgenetic haploid ESCs (AG-haESCs) can efficiently and stably support the generation of healthy SC pups at a rate of ~20%, and double-knockout parthenogenetic haESCs can also produce efficiently. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell reprogramming is thought to have a characteristic epigenetic pattern that is the reverse of its developmental potential; however, it is unclear how H19 participates in iPS cell reprogramming. Here, we showed that the expression of H19 was transiently increased during iPSC reprogramming. H19 knockdown resulted in greater reprogramming efficiency. The genes associated with pluripotency showed enhanced expression during the early reprogramming process, and the Oct4 promoter was demethylated by bisulfite genomic sequencing analysis. Moreover, expression analysis revealed that the mesenchymal master regulators associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were downregulated during reprogramming in H19 knockdown. These findings provide functional insight into the role of H19 as a barrier to the early reprogramming process. Full article

Background: Palliative care is a challenging specialty, especially when it comes to caring for children with serious life-limiting conditions and supporting their families. Workers face significant challenges and experience major impacts on their wellbeing. We conducted a qualitative study to understand the sources of stress in the palliative care team, their work expectations, and how they can cope with the demands. Methods: We used an online questionnaire about the causes of stress, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which support is needed in the workplace. Results: Of the 56 palliative care professionals who participated in the survey, 57.1% considered the main causes of stress to be high workload, difficult emotional burdens (55.4%) affecting their outlook on life (61.2%), the death of patients (46.4%), and communication with patients’ families (26.8%). The COVID-19 pandemic increased stress levels for the majority of respondents (89.3%). The need for specialised training (53.6%), support groups, psychological counselling and adapted organisational policies was highlighted. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the importance of understanding the needs of both paediatric and adult palliative care staff in order to provide optimal care and support their balance in this demanding area of the healthcare system. Full article

Leaf movement is a manifestation of plant response to the changing internal and external environment, aiming to optimize plant growth and development. Leaf movement is usually driven by a specialized motor organ, the pulvinus, and this movement is associated with different changes in volume and expansion on the two sides of the pulvinus. Blue light, auxin, GA, H⁺-ATPase, K⁺, Cl⁻, Ca²⁺, actin, and aquaporin collectively influence the changes in water flux in the tissue of the extensor and flexor of the pulvinus to establish a turgor pressure difference, thereby controlling leaf movement. However, how these factors regulate the multicellular motility of the pulvinus tissues in a species remains obscure. In addition, model plants such as Medicago truncatula, Mimosa pudica, and Samanea saman have been used to study pulvinus-driven leaf movement, showing a similarity in their pulvinus movement mechanisms. In this review, we summarize past research findings from the three model plants, and using Medicago truncatula as an example, suggest that genes regulating pulvinus movement are also involved in regulating plant growth and development. We also propose a model in which the variation of ion flux and water flux are critical steps to pulvinus movement and highlight questions for future research. Full article

It is a challenging task to accurately segment damaged road markings from images, mainly due to their fragmented, dense, small-scale, and blurry nature. This study proposes a multi-scale spatial kernel selection net named M-SKSNet, a novel model that integrates a transformer and a multi-dilated large kernel convolutional neural network (MLKC) block to address these issues. Through integrating multiple scales of information, the model can extract high-quality and semantically rich features while generating damage-specific representations. This is achieved by leveraging both the local and global contexts, as well as self-attention mechanisms. The performance of M-SKSNet is evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively, and the results show that M-SKSNet achieved the highest improvement in F1 by 3.77% and in IOU by 4.6%, when compared to existing models. Additionally, the effectiveness of M-SKSNet in accurately extracting damaged road markings from images in various complex scenarios (including city roads and highways) is demonstrated. Furthermore, M-SKSNet is found to outperform existing alternatives in terms of both robustness and accuracy. Full article

The ergogenic effects of simultaneous lower- and upper-body ischemic preconditioning (IPC) are a factor that has not been investigated exhaustively. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of IPC on 500 m rowing performance (time, relative peak [RPP] and mean [MPP] power output, time to peak power [TPP], and blood lactate concentration [BLa]), as well as heart rate (HR) among forty-three physically active male (n = 24) and female (n = 19) subjects. In this cross-over randomized trial, either the IPC (220 mmHg) or SHAM (20 mmHg) protocol was applied to the upper and lower limbs simultaneously for 5 min. Then, after 5 min of reperfusion, the participants performed an all-out 500 m rowing trial. During rowing, HR was recorded, and after the completion of the rowing, the BLa concentration was determined. Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test showed a significantly shorter TPP in the SHAM condition compared to under the IPC condition for females (Z = 2.415, p = 0.017), but not for males (Z = 1.914, p = 0.056). Moreover, a significant main effect of the group was reported for rowing time, BLa, RPP, and RMP (p < 0.001 for all dependent variables). No significant interactions nor a main effect of the condition were observed for rowing time, BLa, RPP, RMP, HR_WP, HR_MEAN, and HR_MAX (p > 0.05 for all dependent variables). Simultaneous lower- and upper-body IPC led to a significant decrease in the time to peak power during the 500 m ergometer rowing trial in females but not in males. Additionally, no significant effects on the time or other power output variables, HR, or BLa concentration were registered. Full article

This article examines the performance of the proposed complex-order, conventional and fractional-order controllers for process automation and control in process plants. The controllers are compared regarding disturbance rejection and set-point tracking, considering variables such as response time, robustness to uncertainty, and steady-state error. The study shows that a complex PI-PD controller has better accuracy, faster response time, and better noise rejection. Still, implementation is challenging due to increased complexity and processing requirements. In contrast, a standard PI-PD controller is a known solution but may have problems with accuracy and robustness. Fractional-order controllers based on fractional computations have the potential to improve control accuracy and robustness of non-linear and time-varying systems. Experimental insights and real-world case studies are used to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each controller. The findings provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of complex-order and fractional-order controllers and help to select the appropriate controller for specific process plant requirements. Future perspectives on controller design and performance optimization are detailed, identifying the potential benefits of using complex and fractional-order controllers in process plants. Full article

Motors serve as the primary power sources in a wide range of industrial fields. In recent years, their application has been expanded to electric and hybrid electric vehicles. As the performance of the motors installed in electric vehicles directly affects human life, it is critical to diagnose the condition of the windings. The objective of this article is to establish a method to identify the short-circuit fault points in concentrated stator windings based on the magnetic flux density distribution near the stator windings. Unlike with distributed windings, the coils are wound around the teeth in concentrated windings. Thus, it is expected that the accurate position specification of the short circuit can be realized if a detailed magnetic flux density distribution over the teeth is obtained with an appropriate magnetic field sensor. The problem of sensor positioning is solved with two stepper motors moving the search coil in the rotational and longitudinal directions independently at specified intervals. The excellent capability of the proposed system is verified through experiments using the stator winding employed in hybrid electric vehicles. The accuracy and sensitivity of the proposed identification system for short-circuit fault points may enable its practical application in industries, for example, shipping and periodic inspections as well as the production management of motors with concentrated stator windings. Full article

Myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS) is a heterogeneous group of clonal hematological disorders that originate from the hematopoietic and progenitor cells and present with cytopenias and morphologic dysplasia with a propensity to progress to bone marrow failure or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Genetic evolution plays a critical role in the pathogenesis, progression, and clinical outcomes of MDS. This process involves the acquisition of genetic mutations in stem cells that confer a selective growth advantage, leading to clonal expansion and the eventual development of MDS. With the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays, an increasing number of molecular aberrations have been discovered in recent years. The knowledge of molecular events in MDS has led to an improved understanding of the disease process, including the evolution of the disease and prognosis, and has paved the way for targeted therapy. The 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification and the International Consensus Classification (ICC) have incorporated the molecular signature into the classification system for MDS. In addition, specific germline mutations are associated with MDS development, especially in pediatrics and young adults. This article reviews the genetic abnormalities of MDS in adults with a brief review of germline predisposition syndromes. Full article

(1) Background: The research group has developed a new small molecule, 6-Isopropyldithio-2′-deoxyguanosine analogs-YLS004, which has been shown to be the most sensitive in acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Moreover, it was found that the structure of Nelarabine, a drug used to treat acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia, is highly similar to that of YLS004. Consequently, the structure of YLS004 was altered to produce a new small molecule inhibitor for this study, named YLS010. (2) Results: YLS010 has exhibited potent anti-tumor effects by inducing cell apoptosis and ferroptosis. A dose gradient was designed for in vivo experiments based on tentative estimates of the toxicity dose using acute toxicity in mice and long-term toxicity in rats. The study found that YLS010 at a dose of 8 mg/kg prolonged the survival of late-stage acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia mice in the mouse model study. (3) Conclusions: YLS010 has demonstrated specific killing effects against acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia both in vivo and in vitro. Preclinical studies of YLS010 offer a new opportunity for the treatment of patients with acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia in clinical settings. Full article

Fungicides play a crucial role in conventional agriculture for disease control, but their prolonged use raises health and environmental concerns. Fusarium culmorum (F. culmorum), a major wheat pathogen causing Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Fusarium crown rot (FCR), poses significant mycotoxigenic threats. The application of natural plant extracts has been proven to fight against phytopathogenic fungi. This study aimed to a field experiment that was carried out at the Field Experimental Station of the Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute in Winna Góra, Poland, during the 2022/2023 season to evaluate the potential of Lamium album (L. album) flower extract as a foliar spray against mycotoxigenic fungi in two winter wheat varieties: Arkadia and Julius. The supercritical carbon dioxide extraction method (SC-CO₂) was employed to obtain the L. album flower extract. Ergosterol (ERG) and mycotoxin accumulation in the harvested wheat grains were analyzed using chromatography-based methods. The results demonstrated a notable reduction in ERG content in the field plots treated with L. album flower extract, from 26.07 µg/g (control group) to 8.91 µg/g (extract-treated group) for Arkadia and from 70.02 µg/g (control group) to 30.20 µg/g (extract-treated group) for Julius. The treatment with L. album reduced mycotoxin biosynthesis in both varieties, with deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) production significantly decreased. Additionally, Arkadia exhibited greater resistance to Fusarium infection, and the antifungal effect of L. album was more pronounced than in the Julius variety, which proved to be more sensitive. In conclusion, L. album flower extract exhibited promising antifungal effects in field experiments to fight against F. culmorum in winter wheat varieties, suggesting a potential alternative to synthetic fungicides. However, as complete prevention of mycotoxin contamination was not achieved, further research is warranted to optimize extract concentrations and conduct long-term analyses to consider this plant extract as a sustainable control agent. Full article

Background/Objectives: An accurate diagnosis of vertigo is crucial in patient care. Traditional balance function tests often fail to offer independent, conclusive diagnoses. This study aimed to bridge the gap between traditional diagnostic approaches and the evolving landscape of automated diagnostic tools, laying the groundwork for advancements in vertigo care. Methods: A cohort of 1400 individuals with dizziness underwent a battery of equilibrium function tests, and diagnoses were established based on the criteria by the Japanese Society for Vertigo and Equilibrium. A multivariate analysis identified the key diagnostic factors for various vestibudata nlar disorders, including Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Results: This study underscored the complexity of diagnosing certain disorders such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, where clinical symptoms play a crucial role. Additionally, it highlighted the utility of specific physical balance function tests for differentiating central diseases. These findings bolster the reliability of established diagnostic tools, such as audiometry for Meniere’s disease and spontaneous nystagmus for vestibular neuritis. Conclusions: This study concluded that a multifaceted approach integrating multiple diagnostic indicators is crucial for accurate clinical decisions in vestibular disorders. Future studies should incorporate novel tests, quantitative assessments, and advanced technologies to enhance the diagnostic capabilities of vestibular medicine. Full article

Wood basic density (WD) plays a crucial role in estimating forest biomass; moreover, improving wood-density estimates is needed to reduce uncertainties in the estimates of tropical forest biomass and carbon stocks. Understanding variations in this density along the tree trunk and its impact on biomass estimates is underexplored in the literature. In this study, the vertical variability of WD was assessed along the stems of large trees that had a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 50 cm from a dense ombrophilous forest on terra firme (unflooded uplands) in Acre, Brazil. A total of 224 trees were sampled, including 20 species, classified by wood type. The average WD along the stem was determined by the ratio of oven-dry mass to saturated volume. Five models were tested, including linear and nonlinear ones, to fit equations for WD, selecting the best model. The variation among species was notable, ranging from 0.288 g cm⁻³ (Ceiba pentandra, L., Gaertn) to 0.825 g cm⁻³ (Handroanthus serratifolius, Vahl., S. Grose), with an average of 0.560 g cm⁻³ (±0.164, standard deviation). Significant variation was observed among individuals, such as in Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (H. ex D.), which ranged from 0.305 to 0.655 g cm⁻³. WD was classified as low (≤0.40 g cm⁻³), medium (0.41–0.60 g cm⁻³), and high (≥0.61 g cm⁻³). The variability in WD along the stem differs by wood type. In trees with low-density wood, density shows irregular variation but tends to increase along the stem, whereas it decreases in species with medium- and high-density wood. The variation in WD along the stem can lead to underestimations or overestimations, not only in individual trees and species but also in total stocks when estimating forest biomass. Not considering this systematic bias results in significant errors, especially in extrapolations to vast areas, such as the Amazon. Full article

Solid–liquid interfacial phenomena play an essential role in our everyday lives and are often regarded as the outcome of interactions at the solid–liquid interface. However, the intricately intrinsic mechanism underlying interfacial interactions renders in situ simulations and direct measurements challenging. As an effective analytic method for studying solid–liquid interfacial interactions, microcalorimetry can provide the most basic thermodynamic information (including changes in enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy during solid–liquid binding/separation processes), which is extremely crucial for understanding interaction directionality and limitation. This review is dedicated to highlighting the pivotal role of microcalorimetry in studying solid–liquid immersion and adsorption processes. Specifically, we provide an overview of the commonly employed microcalorimetric methods, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and immersion microcalorimetry (IM), and delve into the influence factors of enthalpy change, and finally discuss the specific applications of microcalorimetry in studying various solid–liquid binding processes. There remains a vast expanse of thermodynamic information regarding solid–liquid interactions that await exploration via calorimetry. Full article

Introduction: Basicervical femoral neck fracture (FNF) is an uncommon type of femoral neck fracture and is associated with an increased risk of fixation failure due to its inherent instability. The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical parameters and reoperation rate between the use of a multiple cannulated screw (MCS) and fixed angle device (FAD) in treating basicervical FNFs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 885 patients who underwent internal fixation between May 2004 and August 2019 to determine basicervical FNF with at least 12 months of follow-up. Among the identified 77 patients with basicervical FNF, 17 patients who underwent multiple cannulated screw (MCS) fixation and 36 patients who underwent fixed angle device (FAD) fixation were included. We compared the rates of fracture-site collapse and reoperations according to the fixation device. Results: Among the 53 patients with basicervical FNF, 13 patients (24.5%) sustained surgical complications (8 collapses of fracture site and 5 reoperations). The reoperation rate in the MCS group was significantly higher than that in the FAD group (23.5% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.016), without any significant difference in the collapse of the fracture site (11.8% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.642). Conclusions: Although basicervical FNF was rare among hip fractures, fracture site collapse was prevalent and prone to fixation failure. Surgeons should keep this in mind, and consider FAD for basicervical FNF. Full article

The excessive emission of iron will pollute the environment and harm human health, so the fluorescence detection and adsorption of Fe³⁺ are of great significance. In the field of water treatment, cellulose-based gels have attracted wide attention due to their excellent properties and environmental friendliness. If carbon dots are used as a crosslinking agent to form a gel with cellulose, it can not only improve mechanical properties but also show good biocompatibility, reactivity, and fluorescence properties. In this study, silicon-doped carbon dots/carboxymethyl cellulose gel (DCG) was successfully prepared by chemically crosslinking biomass-derived silicon-doped carbon dots with carboxymethyl cellulose. The abundant crosslinking points endow the gel with excellent mechanical properties, with a compressive strength reaching 294 kPa. In the experiment on adsorbing Fe³⁺, the theoretical adsorption capacity reached 125.30 mg/g. The introduction of silicon-doped carbon dots confers the gel with excellent fluorescence properties and a good selective response to Fe³⁺. It exhibits a good linear relationship within the concentration range of 0–100 mg/L, with a detection limit of 0.6595 mg/L. DCG appears to be a good application prospect in the adsorption and detection of Fe³⁺. Full article

Uneven rainfall, in the context of global warming, can cause soil moisture fluctuations (SMFs) that harm crop growth, and it is not yet known whether nitrogen (N) can mitigate the harm caused by a strong SMF. This paper uses okra as a test subject and sets three SMFs of 45–55% FC (W₁), 35–65% FC (W₂), and 25–75% FC (W₃) and three N applications of 0 kg hm⁻² (N₀), 110 kg hm⁻² (N₁), and 330 kg hm⁻² (N₂) to investigate the effects of SMF and N application on the physiological and biochemical aspects of okra. The results demonstrated that okra exhibited the highest values in stem diameter, number of leaves, photosynthesis characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, and yield under the N₁ treatment. The average yield in the N₁ treatment was 149.8 g, significantly surpassing the average yields of the N₀ (129.8 g) and N₃ (84.0 g) treatments. Stomatal density, antioxidant enzyme activity, malondialdehyde content, and proline content in okra leaves were highest in the W₃ treatment, indicating that plants experienced stress in the W₃ treatment. However, the agronomic traits and yields of okra in the N₁ treatment were higher than those in the N₀ and N₁ treatments, indicating that the crop damage caused by W₃ could be mitigated by an appropriate amount of N application. The N₁W₁ treatment emerged as the most suitable combination for okra growth in this study, exhibiting the highest stem diameter, leaf count, photosynthetic characteristics, and yield (201.3 g). Notably, this yield was 67.8% higher than the lowest treatment (N2W3), signifying a significant improvement. Full article

Infections with phytoplasma present one of the most significant biotic stresses influencing plant health, growth, and production. The phytoplasma ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ infects a variety of plant species. This pathogen impacts the physiological and morphological characteristics of plants causing stunting, yellowing, leaf curling, and other symptoms that can lead to significant economic losses. The aim of this study was to determine biochemical changes in peony (Paeonia tenuifolia L.), mint (Mentha × piperita L.), and dill (Anethum graveolens L.) induced by ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ in Serbia as well as to predict the impact of the biotic stress using artificial neural network (ANN) modeling. The phylogenetic position of the Serbian ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ strains originated from the tested hosts using 16S rRNA (peony and carrot strains) and plsC (mint and dill strains) sequences indicated by their genetic homogeneity despite the host of origin. Biochemical parameters significantly differed in asymptomatic and symptomatic plants, except for total anthocyanidins contents in dill and the capacity of peony and mint extracts to neutralize superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed a correlation between different chemical parameters and revealed a clear separation among the samples. Based on the ANN performance, the optimal number of hidden neurons for the calculation of TS, RG, PAL, LP, NBT, ^•OH, TP, TT, Tflav, Tpro, Tant, DPPH, and Car was nine (using MLP 8-9-13), as it produced high r² values (1.000 during the training period) and low SOS values. Developing an effective early warning system for the detection of plant diseases in different plant species is critical for improving crop yield and quality. Full article