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Introduction: Asthma is a heterogeneous condition that is characterized by reversible airway obstruction. Childhood-onset asthma (COA) and adult-onset asthma (AOA) are two prominent asthma subtypes, each with unique etiological factors and prognosis, which suggests the existence of both shared and distinct risk factors. Methods: Here, we employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to elucidate the causal association between genes within lung and whole-blood-specific gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and the development of unspecified asthma, COA, and AOA using the Wald ratio method. Lung and whole blood-specific GRNs, encompassing spatial eQTLs (instrumental variables) and their target genes (exposures), were utilized as exposure data. Genome-wide association studies for unspecified asthma, COA, and AOA were used as outcome data in this investigation. Results: We identified 101 genes that were causally linked to unspecified asthma, 39 genes causally associated with COA, and ten genes causally associated with AOA. Among the identified genes, 29 were shared across some, or all of the asthma subtypes. Of the identified causal genes, ORMDL3 had the strongest causal association with both unspecified asthma (OR: 1.49; 95% CI:1.42-1.57; p=7.30x10-51) and COA (OR: 3.37; 95% CI: 3.02-3.76; p=1.95x10-102), whereas PEBP1P3 had the strongest causal association with AOA (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.16-1.41; p=0.007). Discussion: This study identified shared and unique genetic factors causally associated with different asthma subtypes. In so doing, our study emphasizes the need to move beyond perceiving asthma as a singular condition to enable the development of therapeutic interventions that target sub-type specific causal genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, there has been an increasing penetration of new smart grids (SG) and distributed generations (DG) that are connected to the distribution network (DN). Thus, it is critical for utilities to analyze and assess their impact on the power system networks, which often necessitates major decisions about network operation and planning. Consequently, researchers are constantly developing new and improved methods of advanced control and operation to address these challenges. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of realistic DN models that are made publicly available by the utilities for the development, testing, and evaluation of such new methods. This is mainly caused by the utilities' concerns and reluctance to reveal the public's real and "sensitive" network information. Although international standard test systems such as IEEE and CIGRE are publicly available, these test network models are customized based on the US DN and are not representative of the other networks that operate under different network settings. This paper presents a brief literature survey of existing and prominent representative DNs with a special emphasis on identifying the general description, and application, as a comparison for future development of test network in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regeneration of orofacial tissues is hampered by the lack of adequate vascular supply. Implantation of in vitro engineered, prevascularized constructs has emerged as a strategy to allow the rapid vascularization of the entire graft. Given the angiogenic properties of dental pulp stem cells, we hereby established a preclinical model of prevascularized constructs loaded with stem cells from human exfoliating deciduous teeth (SHED) in a 3-dimensional-printed material and provided a functional analysis of their in vivo angiogenesis, vascular perfusion, and permeability. Three different cell-loaded collagen hydrogels (SHED–human umbilical vein endothelial cell [HUVEC], HUVEC with SHED-conditioned medium, and SHED alone) were cast in polylactic acid (PLA) grids and ectopically implanted in athymic mice. At day 10, in vivo positron emission tomography (PETscan) revealed a significantly increased uptake of radiotracer targeting activated endothelial cells in the SHED-HUVEC group compared to the other groups. At day 30, ex vivo micro–computed tomography imaging confirmed that SHED-HUVEC constructs had a significantly increased vascular volume compared to the other ones. Injection of species-specific lectins analyzed by 2-photon microscopy demonstrated blood perfusion of the engineered human vessels in both prevascularized groups. However, in vivo quantification showed increased vessel density in the SHED-HUVEC group. In addition, coinjection of fluorescent lectin and dextran revealed that prevascularization with SHED prevented vascular leakage, demonstrating the active role of SHED in the maturation of human-engineered microvascular networks. This preclinical study introduces a novel PLA prevascularized and implantable construct, along with an array of imaging techniques, to validate the ability of SHED to promote functional human-engineered vessels, further highlighting the interest of SHED for orofacial tissue engineering. Furthermore, this study validates the use of PETscan for the early detection of in vivo angiogenesis, which may be applied in the clinic to monitor the performance of prevascularized grafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common complaint after general anesthesia. POST is defined by the presence of a self-reported foreign body sensation or a painful sensation in the throat after general anesthesia. This condition may affect recovery and patient satisfaction and is associated with many factors, including intubation tools. Previous studies have reported conflicting results on POST. This retrospective cohort study, with sample size of 9,881 patients, was conducted to confirm the hypothesis that the use of video laryngoscopy (VL) is associated with a lower incidence of POST compared with direct laryngoscopy (DL). Methods: Data were extracted from a prospectively maintained quality improvement database. A total of 9,881 patients were included in the study. Statistical analysis was conducted for comparisons of demographic characteristics and to determine the effect of intubation tools on the incidence of POST. Results: The patients had similar baseline demographic characteristics. Compared with DL, VL was associated with a lower incidence of POST (12.98% vs. 17.49%, P < 0.001). In addition, the use of Pentax Airway Scope (AWS) was associated with a lower incidence of POST compared with the use of GlideScope (GVL, 8.14% vs. 16.25%, P < 0.001). To better adjust for possible confounding factors, mixed-effects generalized linear model analysis revealed that older age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.995, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.992–0.999, P = 0.006), AWS compared to DL (OR: 0.416, 95% CI: 0.350–0.494, P < 0.001), and male sex (OR: 0.836, 95% CI: 0.747–0.935, P = 0.002) are associated with reduced incidence of POST. Conclusion: Compared with DL, VL is associated with a lower incidence of POST. In addition, the use of AWS is associated with a lower incidence of POST compared with the use of GVL. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered, NCT06515808, date of registration: 23/07/2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article looks at the equalization/normalization problem through the lens of campaign spending and investigates the effect of expenses for digital tools on the electoral result of individual candidates in an open list proportional representation system. A multilevel analysis of the campaign expenses of 1253 serious contenders in the Belgian 2019 concurrent federal, regional, and European elections shows that the investment in both owned Web 1.0 media and paid Web 2.0 media does not have an effect on electoral performance. Investing in traditional tools, by contrast, does have a significant positive effect. While most candidates use digital tools, they invest only a small part of their budget in these, which may explain the absence of a digital expense effect. These findings put the use of digital campaigning in perspective, showing that the effect of paid online tools should not be overestimated, and that the role of traditional campaigning is still dominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As a high-sensitivity and non-invasive technique, optical molecular tomography (OMT) can locate and visualize tissue quantitatively in three dimensions by collecting surface photons generated from luminescent biomarkers. It has great potential for tumor detection, surgery guidance, and pharmacokinetics research studies. However, due to the limited measurable surface photons and the highly scattered feature of photons, the reconstruction of OMT is highly ill-posed and ill-conditioned, which limits the performance in practice. To improve the accuracy of OMT, plenty of studies focus on precisely modeling photon propagation and accurately reconstructing light source. Since these methods are carried out based on different theories, we review famous solutions for the reconstruction in terms of the photon propagation models and inverse reconstruction algorithms to make an overall understanding for the methods of OMT reconstruction. Additionally, some prospects are listed to provide possible research orientation that may benefit future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generalisability of deep neural network classifiers is emerging as one of the most important challenges of our time. The recent COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge of deep learning publications that proposed novel models for the detection of COVID-19 from chest x-rays (CXRs). However, despite the many outstanding metrics reported, such models have failed to achieve widespread adoption into clinical settings. The significant risk of real-world generalisation failure has repeatedly been cited as one of the most critical concerns, and is a concern that extends into general medical image modelling. In this study, we propose a new dataset protocol and, using this, perform a thorough cross-dataset evaluation of deep neural networks when trained on a small COVID-19 dataset, comparable to those used extensively in recent literature. This allows us to quantify the degree to which these models can generalise when trained on challenging, limited medical datasets. We also introduce a novel occlusion evaluation to quantify model reliance on shortcut features. Our results indicate that models initialised with ImageNet weights then fine-tuned on small COVID-19 datasets, a standard approach in the literature, facilitate the learning of shortcut features, resulting in unreliable, poorly generalising models. In contrast, pre-training on related CXR imagery can stabilise cross-dataset performance. The CXR pre-trained models demonstrated a significantly smaller generalisation drop and reduced feature dependence outwith the lung region, as indicated by our occlusion test. This paper demonstrates the challenging problem of model generalisation, and the need for further research on developing techniques that will produce reliable, generalisable models when learning with limited datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ameloblastoma and odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) are odontogenic tumors that develop from remnants of odontogenic epithelium. Both display locally invasive growth characteristics and high predilection for recurrence after surgical removal. Most ameloblastomas harbor BRAFV600E mutation while OKCs are associated with PATCH1 gene mutation but distinctive indicators of ameloblastoma growth characteristics relative to OKC are still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess hub genes that underlie ameloblastoma growth characteristics using bioinformatic analysis, ameloblastoma samples and mouse xenografts of human epithelial-derived ameloblastoma cells. Methods: RNA expression profiles were extracted from GSE186489 gene expression dataset acquired from Gene Expression Ominibus (GEO) database. Galaxy and iDEP online analysis tools were used to identify differentially expressed genes that were further characterized by gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis using ShineyGO. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for significantly upregulated differentially expressed genes using online database STRING. The PPI network visualization was performed using Cytoscape and hub gene identification with cytoHubba. Top ten nodes were selected using maximum neighborhood component, degree and closeness algorithms and analysis of overlap was performed to confirm the hub genes. Epithelial-derived ameloblastoma cells from conventional ameloblastoma were transplanted into immunocompromised mice to recreate ameloblastoma in vivo based on the mouse xenograft model. The top 3 hub genes FN1, COL I and IGF-1 were validated by immunostaining and quantitative analysis of staining intensities to ameloblastoma, OKC samples and mouse ameloblastoma xenografts tissues. Results: Seven hub genes were identified among which FN1, COL1A1/COL1A2 and IGF-1 are associated with extracellular matrix organization, collagen binding, cell adhesion and cell surface interaction. These were further validated by positive immunoreactivity within the stroma of ameloblastoma samples but both ameloblastoma xenograft and OKC displayed only FN1 and IGF-1 immunoreactivity while COL 1 was unreactive. The expression levels of both FN1 and IGF-1 were much lower in OKC relative to ameloblastoma. Conclusion: This study further validates a differentially upregulated expression of matrix proteins FN1, COL I and IGF-1 in ameloblastoma relative to OKC. It suggests that differential stromal architecture and growth characteristics of ameloblastoma relative to OKC could be an interplay of differentially upregulated genes in ameloblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, among emerging adults, we investigated the interrelationships of explicit and implicit measures of sexual assertiveness (SA) and sexual double standard endorsement (SDS) on the one hand, and different aspects of sexual and interactional competence (SAIC) on the other hand, using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) of cross-sectional data. Participants were 159 sexually active, heterosexual individuals in the Netherlands between 18 and 25 years. No exclusion criteria were used. The Sexual Competence and Interaction Competence in Youth and lifetime number of sexual partners were used to measure SAIC. Explicit SA was measured using the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness, while Explicit SDS was assessed using the Scale for the Assessment of Sexual Standards in Youth. Two implicit association tests were performed to measure implicit SA and SDS. Participants accessed these computerized reaction time tasks via a secure online data collection platform. Results showed a strong association between the latent factors of sexual attitudes and SAIC. Greater SA and lower SDS were associated with a greater competence level. No gender effects were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolfram syndrome (WS) is a rare childhood disease characterized by diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, blindness, deafness, neurodegeneration and eventually early death, due to autosomal recessive mutations in the WFS1 (and WFS2) gene. While it is categorized as a neurodegenerative disease, it is increasingly becoming clear that other cell types besides neurons may be affected and contribute to the pathogenesis. MRI studies in patients and phenotyping studies in WS rodent models indicate white matter/myelin loss, implicating a role for oligodendroglia in WS-associated neurodegeneration. In this study, we sought to determine if oligodendroglia are affected in WS and whether their dysfunction may be the primary cause of the observed optic neuropathy and brain neurodegeneration. We demonstrate that 7.5-month-old Wfs1∆exon8 mice display signs of abnormal myelination and a reduced number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) as well as abnormal axonal conduction in the optic nerve. An MRI study of the brain furthermore revealed grey and white matter loss in the cerebellum, brainstem, and superior colliculus, as is seen in WS patients. To further dissect the role of oligodendroglia in WS, we performed a transcriptomics study of WS patient iPSC-derived OPCs and pre-myelinating oligodendrocytes. Transcriptional changes compared to isogenic control cells were found for genes with a role in ER function. However, a deep phenotyping study of these WS patient iPSC-derived oligodendroglia unveiled normal differentiation, mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane interactions and mitochondrial function, and no overt signs of ER stress. Overall, the current study indicates that oligodendroglia functions are largely preserved in the WS mouse and patient iPSC-derived models used in this study. These findings do not support a major defect in oligodendroglia function as the primary cause of WS, and warrant further investigation of neurons and neuron-oligodendroglia interactions as a target for future neuroprotective or -restorative treatments for WS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft robotics, an emerging field that focuses on the development of robots utilizing soft, flexible, and deformable materials, is revolutionizing traditional robotics (reliant on rigid materials and motors) and broadening its range of applications and potential uses. In addition, by emulating the structure, function, and characteristics of biological systems, bioinspired materials are facilitating significant progress in a diverse array of soft robotic applications. This review offers an overview of bioinspired materials employed in soft robotics, exploring their potential applications, challenges, and future research directions. For an intuitive understanding, soft robots based on the primary abilities required and the habitats (terrestrial, aquatic, aerial) of the animals and plants they mimic are categorized. Furthermore, real‐world applications of developed soft robots in everyday human life are presented. The novel category classification and comprehensive analysis presented in this review provide insights into the development of soft robotic systems with the potential to transform various industries and enhance quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the distribution system, proper placement of distributed generation (DG) is still a very challenging issue for getting their maximum potential benefits. Power system stability should be determined through load modeling, hybrid energy storage system (HESS), and photovoltaics (PV) modeling. This paper proposed the optimal sizing and location of photovoltaic using the Modified Harris Hawk Optimization (MHHO) algorithm. The energy generated from the photovoltaic (PV) is stored in the HESS, where the energy's charging and discharging from the storage unit is framed with a reduced power loss (active and reactive power). The optimal sizing and placement of the PV system will provide better voltage stability. The Modified Harris Hawk Optimization Algorithm (MHHO) frames the system's voltage stability. The Newton-Raphson load flow method is used to analyze the loading in the power system. The IEEE 33 and 69 bus systems are used to analyze the load flow to the consumers, thus analyzing the power system's dynamic performance. The performance and voltage stability of the presented model are compared with the existing optimization techniques, which include the Firefly Algorithm (FA), Crow Search Optimization (CSO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Analytical PSO (APSO), Improved Cayote Optimization Algorithm (COA) and Whale optimization algorithm (WOA) through the MATLAB/Simulink platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has been declared as a pandemic. The early detection of COVID-19 is necessary to interrupt the spread of the virus and prevent its transmission. X-rays and CT scans can assist radiologists in disease detection. However, detecting COVID-19 on chest radiographs is challenging due to similarities with other bacterial and viral pneumonias. Therefore, it is essential to develop a fast and accurate algorithm for detecting COVID-19. In this work, we applied pre-processing in order to increase the contrast in X-rays. We then use the ResNet-50 model to differentiate between normal and COVID-19 images. Images classified as COVID-19 were investigated with an ensemble detection model (deep learning models—You Only Look Once version 5 and X). The classification model achieved an accuracy of 0.864 and an AUC of 0.904 in 5-fold cross-validation. The overlap between the predicted bounding boxes and the ground truth reached, in the ensemble model, a mAP of 59.63% in 5-fold cross-validation. Thus, we consider that the result was significant in terms of the global classification of the images, as well as in the location of suspicious regions that require greater attention from the specialist, which makes the developed model a fast and promising way to aid the specialist in decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) concrete printing is increasingly becoming popular because it provides a powerful platform for the fabrication of structural components in freeform architectural shapes. Although manufacturing technology and material property improvement are advancing rapidly, the development of methods to predict the structural capacity of printed elements is lagging. This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation to predict the axial load capacity of a printed concrete wall module. The module geometry contains two parallel thin wall sections connected by an internal sine wave. The thin wall section reduces the concrete consumption, and the internal sine wave provides lateral stability during printing and in the hardened state. It is a popular pattern printed by many researchers and in some real constructions. Two wall module specimens with the prescribed geometry were 3D-printed and tested under compression. The maximum loads of 2,890 and 2,924 kN were obtained for the first and second wall specimens, respectively. Additionally, samples were taken from different locations of a printed prototype to identify printed material characteristics. These experimental characteristics were then introduced to a finite-element numerical model for predicting the structural performance of the printed wall module under compression load. The results showed that the experimental maximum load and stiffness have 1% and 5% differences with numerical outputs, respectively. Based on such a validated model, the failure modes are discussed, and an analytical method is proposed for predicting the axial capacity for the prescribed geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the application of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) within a distribution network to boost energy efficacy. The investigation specifically scrutinizes the integration of BESS into the distribution network feeder, both in the presence and absence of distributed photovoltaic penetration, with a focus on enhancing load factor and power factor. Utilizing the OpenDSS software with a Python interface, simulations were conducted to assess a range of scenarios involving the injection and absorption of active and reactive power. The outcomes underscore noteworthy enhancements in both load factor and power factor at the feeder output. Additionally, the integration of BESS exhibits a reduction in power losses along the feeder. These findings offer valuable perspectives for advancing energy efficiency in distribution networks, and have implications for future research and practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal approach to managing postnatal cytomegalovirus disease (pCMV) among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants remains unknown. Methods to facilitate screening are needed., Objective: Determine whether mother's milk and infant saliva can be used to reliably identify maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus and detect infant pCMV acquisition., Methods: This was a single-center, prospective cohort study of VLBW infants, and their mothers, born between 2017 and 2020. Maternal milk samples were tested for CMV immunoglobulin G (IgG) using a CMV glycoprotein B binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the results were compared with maternal serum CMV IgG results. Biweekly paired saliva and urine samples were collected from infants born to mothers with positive or unknown CMV serostatus. Saliva samples were tested for CMV DNA by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and compared with urine CMV qualitative PCR results obtained from a clinical laboratory., Results: Among 108 infants without congenital CMV included in the study, 10 (9%) acquired pCMV. Both milk and blood CMV serology results were available for 70 mothers. Maternal milk antibody testing had a sensitivity of 97.2% (95% CI: 85.5-99.9%) and specificity of 91.2% (95% CI: 76.3-98.1%) in establishing CMV serostatus. Paired serially collected saliva and urine samples (n = 203) were available for 66 infants. Saliva PCR had a sensitivity of 30.0% (95% CI: 6.7-65.2%) and specificity of 92.7% (95% CI: 88.1-96.0%) in detecting pCMV acquisition., Conclusions: Maternal breast milk is a reliable alternative sample to determine CMV serostatus. Serial testing of infant saliva was not adequately sensitive for identifying pCMV acquisition in preterm infants., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To identify neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features that predict the likelihood of children with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) developing epilepsy, together with clinical features and a validated MRI scoring system., Method: This was a retrospective descriptive cohort study of infants with cCMV referred to a paediatric infectious disease centre between April 2012 and March 2022, and followed up for at least 2 years. MRI was performed before 4 months of age and assessed by two paediatric neuroradiologists., Results: Ninety children with cCMV were included, 46 were female and 44 were male. The median age at MRI was 20 days, (standard deviation = 34, range = 1-200). Seventy-two of 90 children were symptomatic at birth and 7 of 72 developed epilepsy (9.7% of symptomatic infants, 7.8% of total). None of 18 asymptomatic children developed epilepsy. Those with epilepsy were more likely to be symptomatic at birth (100% vs. 76%, p = 0.14) and to have cortical malformations (86% vs. 15%, p < 0.001). Infants with polymicrogyria (PMG) were more likely to develop epilepsy (odds ratio = 35 [3.9-317.1], p < 0.001). A 1-year remission was achieved in three of seven children; four required multiple antiseizure medications without remission., Interpretation: The strongest correlate of epilepsy development was PMG. Infants with symptomatic cCMV at birth and PMG were more likely to develop epilepsy, and were likely to require one or more antiseizure medications. Parents of infants with cCMV and cortical malformations should be counselled regarding this risk. Including PMG severity in cCMV MRI scoring could improve epilepsy risk prediction., (© 2025 The Author(s). Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Mac Keith Press.)

Perinatal white matter injury (WMI), which is prevalent in premature infants, involves M2 microglia affecting oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) through exosomes, promoting OPC growth and reducing WMI. The molecular mechanism of WMI remains unclear, and this study explored the role of M2 microglia-derived exosomes in WMI. A tMCAO rat model was constructed to simulate WMI characteristics in vivo. Cresyl violet staining, neurobehavioral tests, rotarod tests, immunofluorescence and immunochemistry were used to assess the role of exos-derived miR-144-5p in pathological and neurological changes in rats. OGD/R cellular models were constructed to mimic WMI characteristics in vitro. CCK-8, TUNEL, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to assess the role of exos-derived miR-144-5p in OPC phenotypes. Rescue assays were used to assess the role of the PTEN/AKT pathway in miR-144-5p-mediated OPC phenotypes. Bioinformatics and mechanistic experiments were used to assess the association of PTEN or KLF12 with miR-144-5p in OPCs. M2-Exos suppressed cerebral injury and facilitated demyelination repair in rats post WMI. M2-Exos suppressed OGD/R-stimulated OPC apoptosis and facilitated OGD/R-stimulated OPC differentiation. M2-Exo-derived miR-144-5p suppressed OGD/R-stimulated OPC apoptosis and facilitated OGD/R-stimulated OPC differentiation. M2-Exo-derived miR-144-5p suppressed cerebral injury and facilitated demyelination repair in rats post WMI. MiR-144-5p suppressed OGD/R-stimulated OPC apoptosis and facilitated OGD/R-stimulated OPC differentiation through PTEN downregulation. MiR-144-5p targeted the KLF12 3'UTR to repress PTEN transcription in OPCs. M2 microglia secrete miR-144-5p to reduce WMI by targeting KLF12 in OPCs, inhibiting PTEN/AKT pathway activity, and offering potential targeted therapeutic insights for WMI., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: There are no declared conflicts of interest. Ethical Approval: All animal research complied with the National Institutes of Health guidelines. The Laboratory Animal Ethical Committee of School of Medicine, Southeast University, approved animal experiments. Consent to Participate: Not applicable. Consent for Publication: Not applicable., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Carbohydrate utilization is a crucial aspect of sustainable resource development and offers a promising avenue for replacing fossil fuels. In carbohydrate reaction systems, solvent effects influence the interactions among carbohydrates, catalysts, and solvents. These can affect the reaction trajectory and selectivity, making them a crucial tool for cost-effectively regulating reactions. This review summarizes the primary types of carbohydrate chemical transformation and commonly used solvent systems, providing an overview of solvent effects in these reactions and an insight into solvent effects from a microscopic perspective. Additionally, it provides insights into the current state of solvent engineering and the challenges limiting the development of solvent-based carbohydrate transformation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human relationships with nature may sometimes manifest through fear, disgust and other disease‐avoidance mechanisms. While there is an evolutionary utility to these so‐called 'biophobias', many people exhibit phobic responses towards organisms that pose no tangible threats, potentially leading to excessive anxiety and avoidance of interactions with nature. Understanding the drivers of the prevalence and spread of biophobias in modern societies is, therefore, a growing concern.Here, we posit that online information‐seeking patterns may reveal general insights into biophobias. Using a culturomics approach, we gathered temporal (2004–2022) and country‐level data on the volume of internet searches for 25 biophobias, as well as 25 general phobias acting as a benchmark group. We explored temporal trends in the volume of search for each biophobias and modelled relationships between search volume for biophobias and five country‐level variables.We observed a steady increase in online search volume for biophobias between 2004 and 2022. Yet, there were marked differences in individual trends, with 17 biophobias showing positive, three negative and five stationary temporal trends. Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) attracted the most interest, followed by mysophobia (fear of microbes) and parasitophobia (fear of parasites).The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Mexico and India recorded wide interest in most biophobias, whereas 49% of countries showed no search volume for any biophobia. Search patterns for biophobias were strongly associated with the percentage of urban population, urban population growth and the number of extant venomous species in a given country. Conversely, search patterns for biophobias were weakly correlated with the incidence of anxiety disorders in a country's population and the likelihood of encounters with venomous animals.Our results provide quantitative support to the hypothesis that biophobias are broadly prevalent and possibly increasing as a result of widespread urbanisation and loss of experiences with nature. We suggest that people affected by biophobic disorders may be using the Internet as a key venue to seek relevant information to appraise their condition and identify coping mechanisms. These findings have broad ramifications for understanding and mitigating human–wildlife conflicts and the prevalence of widespread biophobic sentiments in modern societies. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital viral infection. Although most children with congenital CMV (approximately 85%–90%) are asymptomatic at birth, findings such as sensorineural hearing loss, microcephaly, and neurodevelopmental retardation can be observed during the follow-up. Among the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of CMV are white matter abnormalities, polymicrogyria, and periventricular calcification. Since a definitive diagnosis of congenital CMV cannot be made after the neonatal period, the identification of the associated phenotype is diagnostically important, but data are limited in patients who have been retrospectively diagnosed with congenital CMV infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term neurological follow-up results of congenital CMV infections in a tertiary hospital. Materials and methods: The neurological results of fifteen patients under the age of 18 years, who had a definitive diagnosis of congenital CMV infection and were followed up in a tertiary care hospital between 2011 and 2020, were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Ten of the patients in our study group were male. The mean age at presentation for neurological evaluation was 2.02 ± 1.54 months, with a median follow-up time of 36.3 months (range: 9.3–129.4 months). Neurological disorders detected during the long-term follow-up included cerebral palsy (46.7%), cognitive impairment (46.7%), epilepsy (40%), and sensorineural hearing loss (26.7%). The most common abnormality observed on MRI scans was white matter involvement (53.3%). Conclusion: Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial in congenital CMV infection, as it commonly results in neurological involvement among the patients in our series. This preventable condition warrants further research regarding prenatal/neonatal screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review delves into the groundbreaking impact of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and three-dimensional organoid models in propelling forward neuropathology research. With a focus on neurodegenerative diseases, neuromotor disorders, and related conditions, iPSCs provide a platform for personalized disease modeling, holding significant potential for regenerative therapy and drug discovery. The adaptability of iPSCs, along with associated methodologies, enables the generation of various types of neural cell differentiations and their integration into three-dimensional organoid models, effectively replicating complex tissue structures in vitro. Key advancements in organoid and iPSC generation protocols, alongside the careful selection of donor cell types, are emphasized as critical steps in harnessing these technologies to mitigate tumorigenic risks and other hurdles. Encouragingly, iPSCs show promising outcomes in regenerative therapies, as evidenced by their successful application in animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue-specific gene expression and gene regulation lead to a better understanding of tissue-specific physiology and pathophysiology. We analyzed the transcriptome and genetic regulatory profiles of two distinct gastric sites, corpus and antrum, to identify tissue-specific gene expression and its regulation. Gastric corpus and antrum mucosa biopsies were collected during routine gastroscopies from up to 431 healthy individuals. We obtained genotype and transcriptome data and performed transcriptome profiling and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) studies. We further used data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of various diseases and traits to partition their heritability and to perform transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS). The transcriptome data from corpus and antral mucosa highlights the heterogeneity of gene expression in the stomach. We identified enriched pathways revealing distinct and common physiological processes in gastric corpus and antrum. Furthermore, we found an enrichment of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based heritability of metabolic, obesity-related, and cardiovascular traits and diseases by considering corpus- and antrum-specifically expressed genes. Particularly, we could prioritize gastric-specific candidate genes for multiple metabolic traits, like NQO1 which is involved in glucose metabolism, MUC1 which contributes to purine and protein metabolism or RAB27B being a regulator of weight and body composition. Our findings show that gastric corpus and antrum vary in their transcriptome and genetic regulatory profiles indicating physiological differences which are mostly related to digestion and epithelial protection. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that the genetic regulation of the gastric transcriptome is linked to biological mechanisms associated with metabolic, obesity-related, and cardiovascular traits and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weibel Palade bodies (WPB) are lysosome‐related secretory organelles of endothelial cells. Commonly known for their main cargo, the platelet and leukocyte receptors von‐Willebrand factor (VWF) and P‐selectin, WPB play a crucial role in hemostasis and inflammation. Here, the authors identify the glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase domain‐containing protein 5 (GDPD5) as a WPB cargo protein and show that GDPD5 is transported to WPB following uptake from the plasma membrane via an unique endocytic transport route. GDPD5 cleaves GPI‐anchored, plasma membrane‐resident proteins within their GPI‐motif, thereby regulating their local activity. The authors identify a novel target of GDPD5 , the complement regulator CD59, and show that it is released from the endothelial surface by GDPD5 following WPB exocytosis. This results in increased deposition of complement components and can enhance local inflammatory and thrombogenic responses. Thus, stimulus‐induced WPB exocytosis can modify the endothelial cell surface by GDPD5‐mediated selective release of a subset of GPI‐anchored proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligodendrocytes originating in the brain and spinal cord as well as in the ventral and dorsal domains of the neural tube are transcriptomically and functionally distinct. These distinctions are also reflected in the ultrastructure of the produced myelin, and the susceptibility to myelin-related disorders, which highlights the significance of the choice of patterning protocols in the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into oligodendrocytes. Thus, our first goal was to survey the different approaches applied to the generation of iPSC-derived oligodendrocytes in 2D culture and in organoids, as well as reflect on how these approaches pertain to the regional and spatial fate of the generated oligodendrocyte progenitors and myelinating oligodendrocytes. This knowledge is increasingly important to disease modeling and future therapeutic strategies. Our second goal was to recap the recent advances in the development of oligodendrocyte-enriched organoids, as we explore their relevance to a regional specification alongside their duration, complexity, and maturation stages of oligodendrocytes and myelin biology. Finally, we discuss the shortcomings of the existing protocols and potential future explorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass remains underutilized despite its annual production in gigaton quantities. Sulfur is another vastly underutilized waste product of fossil fuel refining. New mechanistic insight into the reactions of sulfur unveiled since 2020 suggest a rich and hitherto unexplored chemistry between biomass‐derived olefins and elemental sulfur. In this study, four biomass‐derived olefins (eugenol (1), 4‐allyl‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol (2), o‐eugenol (3), and 2‐allyl‐6‐methylphenol (4)) were reacted with elemental sulfur to elucidate the S−C bond‐forming and other reactivity of these compounds. Each of the compounds was reacted with elemental sulfur in three sulfur : organic reactant ratios (2 : 1, 4 : 1 and 9 : 1) and at two temperatures (180 °C or 230 °C). Product mixtures were characterized using 1H NMR spectrometry and GC‐MS analysis. Products resulting from a range of mechanisms were unveiled, including inverse vulcanization, S−Callylic/benzylic bond formation, S−Caryl bond formation, intramolecular cyclization, C−C σ‐bond scission, and C−O σ‐bond scission. It is anticipated that the insights from this study will support further synergy between the critical sustainability goals of biomass and sulfur utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonvolatile memories using molecule (molecule memories) are attracting attention. This is because these materials are suitable for miniaturization and higher capacity of memories in terms of their properties and dimensions. We have already demonstrated that the metal–insulator–metal (MIM) devices with sumanene-inserted bilayer graphene show huge resistive switching characteristics. However, the reason why resistive switching occurs in the graphene/sumanene/graphene structure has yet to be clarified. In this work, to investigate the mechanisms of the resistive switching phenomenon in sumanene-inserted bilayer graphene, plural kinds of stacked MIM structures are fabricated and evaluated. As a result, the measurement results clearly show that the graphene/sumanene/graphene structure is indispensable in the resistive switching phenomenon. Furthermore, based on the temperature dependence of the resistive switching, it is confirmed that a significant I ON/ I OFF ratio can be obtained at higher operation temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, plastics are ubiquitous in everyday life, problem solvers of modern technologies, and crucial for sustainable development. Yet the surge in global demand for plastics of the growing world population has triggered a tidal wave of plastic debris in the environment. Moving from a linear to a zero-waste and carbon-neutral circular plastic economy is vital for the future of the planet. Taming the plastic waste flood requires closing the carbon loop through plastic reuse, mechanical and molecular recycling, carbon capture, and use of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. In the quest for eco-friendly products, plastics do not need to be reinvented but tuned for reuse and recycling. Their full potential must be exploited regarding energy, resource, and eco-efficiency, waste prevention, circular economy, climate change mitigation, and lowering environmental pollution. Biodegradation holds promise for composting and bio-feedstock recovery, but it is neither the Holy Grail of circular plastics economy nor a panacea for plastic littering. As an alternative to mechanical downcycling, molecular recycling enables both closed-loop recovery of virgin plastics and open-loop valorization, producing hydrogen, fuels, refinery feeds, lubricants, chemicals, and carbonaceous materials. Closing the carbon loop does not create a Perpetuum Mobile and requires renewable energy to achieve sustainability., (© 2022 The Authors. Macromolecular Rapid Communications published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Supply chains are complex, stochastic systems. Nowadays, logistics managers face two main problems: increasingly diverse and variable customer demand that is difficult to predict. Classical forecasting methods implemented in many business units have limitations with the fluctuating demand and the complexity of fully connected supply chains. Machine Learning methods have been proposed to improve prediction. In this paper, a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) is proposed for demand forecasting in a physical internet supply chain network. A hybrid genetic algorithm and scatter search are proposed to automate tuning of the LSTM hyperparameters. To assess the performance of the proposed method, a real-case study on agricultural products in a supply chain in Thailand was considered. Accuracy and coefficient of determination were the key performance indicators used to compare the performance of the proposed method with other supervised learnings: ARIMAX, Support Vector Regression, and Multiple Linear Regression. The results prove the better forecasting efficiency of the LSTM method with continuous fluctuating demand, whereas the others offer greater performance with less varied demand. The performance of hybrid metaheuristics is higher than with trial-and-error. Finally, the results of forecasting model are effective in transportation and holding costs in the distribution process of the Physical Internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]