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Copyright of Materiały Budowlane is the property of Wydawnictwo SIGMA-NOT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aims: Climate warming at high altitudes occurs at an above‐average rate. Due to short geographical distances, warm‐adapted species might establish rapidly in mountain communities, while cold‐adapted specialists are likely to locally disappear, sometimes after a lag phase. Here, we investigate changes not only of the community composition of species‐rich mountain meadows, but also resulting alterations of their functional identity and diversity. Thereby, we hypothesize that transplantation to a warmer lowland environment leads to a shift towards a more acquisitive resource‐use strategy, caused by the immigration of lowland species. Temporarily this leads to an increase in functional diversity through the lagged extinction of high‐altitude species with conservative resource‐use strategies. Location: European Alps, Germany. Methods: Using a space‐for‐time substitution, we conducted a community transplant experiment at a high‐ and low‐elevation common garden site, where we compared the development of highland communities transplanted to the warmer low‐elevation site and control plant communities locally replanted at both sites over a period of 4 years after transplantation. In situ, we collected functional leaf morphological and biochemical traits based on which we calculated community weighted mean traits as well as community functional richness and functional divergence. Results: Species richness of the communities transplanted to the low‐elevation site increased over time, resulting from more species invasions than disappearances. This led to increasing similarity between transplanted highland communities and local lowland communities, and to greater functional richness and divergence 4 years after transplantation, although mean community traits did not diverge yet. Conclusions: Although the exposure to warmer temperatures did not immediately lead to the extinction of typical mountain meadow species, substantial community changes are expected through immigration of warm‐adapted species. Resulting changes in the functional characteristics of mountain communities are likely to modify competition regimes within these communities, which might accelerate the local extinction of mountain specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophils are important effector cells of innate immunity and undergo several phenotypic changes after release from the bone marrow. Neutrophils with a late life cycle phenotype are often referred to as ''aged'' neutrophils. These neutrophils undergo functional changes that accompany stimuli of inflammation, tissue senescence and injury, inducing their maturation and senescence in the circulation and locally in damaged tissues, forming a unique late-life neutrophil phenotype. ''Aged'' neutrophils, although attenuated in antibacterial capacity, are more active in aging and age-related diseases, exhibit high levels of mitochondrial ROS and mitochondrial DNA leakage, promote senescence of neighboring cells, and exacerbate cardiac and vascular tissue damage, including vascular inflammation, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and SARS-CoV-2 myocarditis. In this review, we outline the phenotypic changes of “aged” neutrophils characterized by CXCR4high/CD62Llow, investigate the mechanisms driving neutrophil aging and functional transformation, and analyze the damage caused by “aged” neutrophils to various types of heart and blood vessels. Tissue injury and senescence promote neutrophil infiltration and induce neutrophil aging both in the circulation and locally in damaged tissues, resulting in an “aged” neutrophil phenotype characterized by CXCR4high/CD62Llow. We also discuss the effects of certain agents, such as neutralizing mitochondrial ROS, scavenging IsoLGs, blocking VDAC oligomers and mPTP channel activity, activating Nrf2 activity, and inhibiting neutrophil PAD4 activity, to inhibit neutrophil NET formation and ameliorate age-associated cardiovascular disease, providing a new perspective for anti-aging therapy in cardiovascular disease.

Allochthonous and autochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nutrient availability (nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P]) are expected to increase in lakes as a consequence of climate change. These increases can alter the planktonic food web, especially in oligotrophic systems.This study addresses the consequences of DOM and nutrient increase on heterotrophic bacterioplankton (Hbact) and phytoplankton in high‐altitude lakes. A planktonic community from a high‐altitude lake was incubated for 10 days and laboratory microcosms were subjected to a full factorial design 4 × 2 × 2 of three factors: carbon (C‐control, glucose, algal lysate, soil extract), inorganic nutrients (no added nutrients, addition of N and P) and light (light:dark cycle, dark).Hbact was co‐limited by organic C and inorganic nutrients, resulting in lower biomass and production with glucose or inorganic nutrients added alone than with the two sources added in combination. Algal‐derived DOM was more labile, more consumed, and resulted in higher bacterial production, while soil‐derived DOM was less labile and less consumed. Phytoplankton was strongly limited by inorganic nutrients. DOM additions, via the interactions with Hbact, increased phytoplankton biomass and modified the community composition. Mixotrophs increased with C under light or nutrient limitation, pointing them as major factors in controlling mixotrophy in high‐altitude lakes. Soil‐derived DOM led to higher algal biomass, higher proportion of mixotrophs, and more taxa adapted to nutrient‐enriched conditions.This study reveals a shift in planktonic interactions with changes in DOM quality and quantity. Under the projected climate change, we expect an increase in heterotrophy and a modification of trophic interactions with important repercussions on the C cycle in high‐altitude lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This prospective cohort study aims to investigate the morphological and functional changes in abdominal muscles following pregnancy and evaluate the efficacy of abdominoplasty in restoring muscle integrity. Methods: A total of 100 women were recruited, including 50 postpartum women who underwent abdominoplasty within 12 months postpartum and 50 age-matched nulliparous women as controls. Ultrasound imaging was used to assess abdominal muscle morphology, including diastasis recti width and muscle thickness, preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months post-abdominoplasty. Functional assessments, including muscle strength and endurance, were conducted using standardized tests. Statistical analysis was performed to compare preoperative and postoperative measurements within the abdominoplasty group and between the abdominoplasty group and controls. Results: Significant improvements in abdominal muscle morphology and function were observed following abdominoplasty. Reductions in diastasis recti width and increases in muscle thickness were evident at 6 and 12 months post-abdominoplasty compared to preoperative measures. Functional assessments demonstrated enhanced muscle strength and endurance post-abdominoplasty. No significant changes were observed in the control group over the study period. Conclusion: Abdominoplasty emerges as an effective intervention for addressing post-pregnancy abdominal changes, offering improvements in both aesthetics and functionality. By restoring abdominal muscle integrity and function, abdominoplasty contributes to enhanced abdominal contour and patient satisfaction. However, further research is warranted to optimize surgical techniques and patient selection criteria, as well as to evaluate long-term outcomes and complications associated with abdominoplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia has been a long-standing concern. As a severe neuropsychological illness, schizophrenia is always a challenging disorder to unravel its pathophysiology. Since it exhibits both positive and negative symptoms, such as hallucination and delusion, as well as social isolation and cognitive impairment, following the symptomatic changes is a crucial task for clinicians. Although various pharmacological treatments are available in the form of antipsychotics, however, their actual consequences need to be examined with the observable changes in symptoms as well as the unobservable changes in brain functioning. This study is a first of its kind to critically investigate both clinical and neuroimaging studies to find out the changes being observed in schizophrenia patients after clinical intervention with various antipsychotics. We observed several symptomatic changes being reported in clinical studies incorporating clinical trials of various first-generation and second-generation antipsychotic drugs. Alongside, we encapsulated several neuroimaging studies showing functional and structural changes in the brain of schizophrenia patients triggered by a variety of drugs. The basal ganglia, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, cuneus, and middle occipital gyrus are some of the notable brain regions that were observed to show subtle functional and structural changes. This critical review paper may pave the way for future research into the study of the pathological and morphological changes in the brains of schizophrenia patients as they progress through the course of medicinal therapy.

Background: To describe longitudinal changes in patients with non-paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (npAIR) by utilizing different diagnostic modalities/tests. Methods: The index study is a retrospective longitudinal review of sixteen eyes of eight patients from a tertiary care eye hospital diagnosed with npAIR. Multiple diagnostic modalities such as wide-angle fundus photography (WAFP), WA fundus autofluorescence (WAFAF), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), Goldmann visual field (GVF) perimetry, microperimetry (MP), electrophysiologic testing, and adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) were reviewed and analyzed. Results: At the baseline visits, anomalies were detected by multimodal diagnostic tests on all patients. Subjects were followed up for a median duration of 11.5 [3.0–18.7] months. Structural changes at the baseline were detected in 14 of 16 (87.5%) eyes on WAFP and WAFAF and 13 of 16 (81.2%) eyes on SD-OCT. Eight of the ten (80%) eyes that underwent AOSLO imaging depicted structural changes. Functional changes were detected in 14 of 16 (87.5%) eyes on GVF, 15 of 16 (93.7%) eyes on MP, and 11 of 16 (68.7%) eyes on full-field electroretinogram (ff-ERG). Multifocal electroretinogram (mf-ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) tests were performed in 14 eyes, of which 12 (85.7%) and 14 (100%) of the eyes demonstrated functional abnormalities, respectively, at baseline. Compared to all the other structural diagnostic tools, AOSLO had a better ability to demonstrate deterioration in retinal microstructures occurring at follow-ups. Functional deterioration at follow-up was detected on GVF in 8 of 10 (80%) eyes, mf-ERG in 4 of 8 (50%) eyes, and MP in 7 of 16 (43.7%) eyes. The ff-ERG and VEP were stable in the majority of cases at follow-up. Conclusions: The utilization of multimodal imaging/tests in the diagnosing and monitoring of npAIR patients can aid in identifying anomalous changes over time. Analysis of both the anatomical and functional aspects by these devices can be supportive of detecting the changes early in such patients. AOSLO shows promise as it enables the capture of high-resolution images demonstrating quantifiable changes to retinal microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smartphone have revolutionized, and become an integral part of a child’s life. The child’s interaction with these modern devices needs to be assessed because it could have an enormous effect on their behavior, sleep habits, and psychological addiction. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the pattern of exposure to smartphone, and the association between the exposure and behavioral, functional changes among under-five children in rural Puducherry Methodology: This community based cross-sectional study was done in the field practice area of a private medical college in Puducherry. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 340 eligible participants. A semi- structured questionnaire was used to assess the pattern of exposure, physical, social, and behavioral changes among study participants. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, and p-value of Results: Among 340 children, more than half of participants 180(52.9%) were female. Interestingly, around half of the study participants parents 181(53.2%) accepted that, their children were exposed to smartphone for entertainment purposes, and around one-tenth 35 (10.3%) of the participants viewed screen for more than the recommended screen time for age. Increased smartphone exposure was statistically associated with behavioral, and functional changes. Conclusion: Measures must be undertaken to prevent the deleterious behavioral and functional changes in under-five children due to excessive smartphone usage. Health education sessions and social behavioral change communication should be planned for the parents to protect the budding generation from the negative effects of smartphone usage.

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), as a novel food supplement, has generated significant interests for its potential impact on health and nutrition. Pepsin serves as the primary enzyme involved in the digestive mechanism. This research investigated the conformational and functional alterations of pepsin induced by THC using multispectral techniques and computer simulations. The results showed that THC enters the cavity of pepsin, in which hydrophobic forces play a major role. The binding constant is 1.044 × 104 M−1 at 310 K. The upregulation or downregulation effect of THC on pepsin activity depends on its concentration. Molecular docking outcomes indicated that THC was encapsulated by various amino acids and established H-bonds with Tyr189 and Ser294, revealing that hydrogen bonds also contribute to maintaining the stability of THC-pepsin complex. In addition, the altered activity of pepsin may be related to the interaction between THC and the amino acids at the active site (Asp32) according to energy contribution results. 3D fluorescence spectroscopy, CD spectra and molecular dynamic simulations show that THC causes conformational changes in pepsin. The existence of THC makes pepsin structure to be less dense, leading to the decrease of energy traps. This suggests that pepsin becomes conformationally more suitable to bind to THC. [Display omitted] • THC can bind to pepsin through hydrophobic forces to form a binary complex. • THC has opposite effects on pepsin's activity at different concentrations. • THC induced conformational changes in pepsin. • The change of pepsin activity linked to the interaction between THC and Asp32. • MD simulations were used to assess dynamic properties of THC-pepsin complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophils are important effector cells of innate immunity and undergo several phenotypic changes after release from the bone marrow. Neutrophils with a late life cycle phenotype are often referred to as "aged" neutrophils. These neutrophils undergo functional changes that accompany stimuli of inflammation, tissue senescence and injury, inducing their maturation and senescence in the circulation and locally in damaged tissues, forming a unique late-life neutrophil phenotype. "Aged" neutrophils, although attenuated in antibacterial capacity, are more active in aging and age-related diseases, exhibit high levels of mitochondrial ROS and mitochondrial DNA leakage, promote senescence of neighboring cells, and exacerbate cardiac and vascular tissue damage, including vascular inflammation, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and SARS-CoV-2 myocarditis. In this review, we outline the phenotypic changes of "aged" neutrophils characterized by CXCR4high/CD62Llow, investigate the mechanisms driving neutrophil aging and functional transformation, and analyze the damage caused by "aged" neutrophils to various types of heart and blood vessels. Tissue injury and senescence promote neutrophil infiltration and induce neutrophil aging both in the circulation and locally in damaged tissues, resulting in an "aged" neutrophil phenotype characterized by CXCR4high/CD62Llow. We also discuss the effects of certain agents, such as neutralizing mitochondrial ROS, scavenging IsoLGs, blocking VDAC oligomers and mPTP channel activity, activating Nrf2 activity, and inhibiting neutrophil PAD4 activity, to inhibit neutrophil NET formation and ameliorate age-associated cardiovascular disease, providing a new perspective for anti-aging therapy in cardiovascular disease. [Display omitted] • In the circulation and tissues, a subset of late-stage neutrophils is referred to as "aged" neutrophils. • Mitochondrial oxidative stress and DNA leakage, release of isolevuglandins and regulation of KLF2 expression may be included in the activity of aged neutrophils. • Aged neutrophils induce aging of neighboring cells through paracrine secretion of reactive oxygen species and unique substances. • The high cellular activity of aged neutrophils is involved in chronic inflammation in many cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To describe longitudinal changes in patients with non-paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (npAIR) by utilizing different diagnostic modalities/tests. Methods: The index study is a retrospective longitudinal review of sixteen eyes of eight patients from a tertiary care eye hospital diagnosed with npAIR. Multiple diagnostic modalities such as wide-angle fundus photography (WAFP), WA fundus autofluorescence (WAFAF), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), Goldmann visual field (GVF) perimetry, microperimetry (MP), electrophysiologic testing, and adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) were reviewed and analyzed. Results: At the baseline visits, anomalies were detected by multimodal diagnostic tests on all patients. Subjects were followed up for a median duration of 11.5 [3.0–18.7] months. Structural changes at the baseline were detected in 14 of 16 (87.5%) eyes on WAFP and WAFAF and 13 of 16 (81.2%) eyes on SD-OCT. Eight of the ten (80%) eyes that underwent AOSLO imaging depicted structural changes. Functional changes were detected in 14 of 16 (87.5%) eyes on GVF, 15 of 16 (93.7%) eyes on MP, and 11 of 16 (68.7%) eyes on full-field electroretinogram (ff-ERG). Multifocal electroretinogram (mf-ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) tests were performed in 14 eyes, of which 12 (85.7%) and 14 (100%) of the eyes demonstrated functional abnormalities, respectively, at baseline. Compared to all the other structural diagnostic tools, AOSLO had a better ability to demonstrate deterioration in retinal microstructures occurring at follow-ups. Functional deterioration at follow-up was detected on GVF in 8 of 10 (80%) eyes, mf-ERG in 4 of 8 (50%) eyes, and MP in 7 of 16 (43.7%) eyes. The ff-ERG and VEP were stable in the majority of cases at follow-up. Conclusions: The utilization of multimodal imaging/tests in the diagnosing and monitoring of npAIR patients can aid in identifying anomalous changes over time. Analysis of both the anatomical and functional aspects by these devices can be supportive of detecting the changes early in such patients. AOSLO shows promise as it enables the capture of high-resolution images demonstrating quantifiable changes to retinal microstructure.

The present research work is vital given the importance of studying risk factors that can cause mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system, especially among population of employable age. Our research aim was to establish what factors might induce developing hypertension based on examining psycho-vegetative status, biochemical and functional parameters of the cardiovascular system in underground workers depending on their age. We examined 109 men who were employed at a chromium mining enterprise and were exposed to occupational and psy-chosocial factors. The patients were divided into two groups; the test group was made up of 60 men who worked under ground under working conditions ranked as “hazardous” and belonging to hazard category 3.3–3.4; the reference group consisted of 49 men who dealt with surface works under working conditions belonging to hazard category 3.2. The test group was further divided into two sub-groups depending on workers’ age: people younger than 45 (n = 20, average age was 38.45 ± 2.95) and people older than (n = 40, average age was 50.90 ± 1.46). The reference group was also divided accordingly. The patients had their psycho-vegetative status examined profoundly with assessing neuropsychic stress, personal and situational anxiety, attention function, and subjective reflection of psycho-vegetative distress. The state of the cardiovascular system (CVS) was examined using results of functional and clinical-laboratory diagnostics. Decreased attention, greater personal anxiety and a greater number of psycho-vegetative complaints were detected authenti-cally more frequently among patients with hypertension (OR 7.50, 95 % CI 2.39–23.58; OR 11.06, 95 % CI 4.35–28.10; OR 22.50; 95 % CI 7.09–71.41). We detected differences in adaptation psycho-vegetative phenotypes between two sub-groups. A correlation between age and working experience and indicators of psycho-vegetative status was established for patients younger than 45 but there was no correlation with homeostasis indicators. There was a negative correlation between age and working experience and some indicators of psycho-vegetative status revealed for patients older than 45; there was a direct correlation between these parameters and certain homeostasis indicators given hypertension diagnosed in 95 % patients in this sub-group. As age and working experience grew, adaptation psycho-vegetative phenotype transformed and the process involved inversion of correlations with psycho-vegetative indicators together with aggravating functional disorders of the CVS. When transformation of this phenotype is diagnosed, it allows assessing risks of developing hypertension and makes for primary hypertension prevention through determining risk groups among workers.

Summary: The working conditions of medical staff in the offices of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are associated with high levels of stationary magnetic fields (SMF) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) of various frequencies and increased work intensity. It can affect cognitive, psychological and hemodynamic changes of the body with health disorders. It requires not only high professional training, but also compliance with safety measures, as well as monitoring of working conditions, health status and carrying out of medical and preventive measures.

Cognitive neuropsychology seeks a potential alignment between structural and functional brain features to explain physiological or pathological processes, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Several structural and functional brain changes occurring during the disease, including cognitive impairment, are found at the end of the patient’s life, but we need to know more about what happens before its onset. In order to do that, we need earlier biomarkers at preclinical stages, defined by those biomarkers, to prevent the cognitive impairment. In this minireview, we have tried to describe the structural and functional changes found at different stages during AD, focusing on those features taking place before clinical diagnosis.

There has been increased interest in the use of transoral surgery (TOS) for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). This systematic review summarizes the available evidence for validated functional outcomes following TOS for OPC, within the early postoperative period. Key databases were searched. Primary TOS resections of human subjects were included. Validated functional outcomes extracted included instrumental assessment, clinician rated, and patient reported measures. Database searches yielded 7186 titles between 1990 and December 2020. Full‐text articles were obtained for 296 eligible studies, which were screened and a resulting 14 studies, comprising 665 participants were included in the review. Oropharyngeal dysfunction following TOS was observed across all three categories of outcome measures (OMs) reported and was dependent on pretreatment function, T‐classification, and tumor volume. Future investigations should include optimal OMs to be used in the postoperative setting to allow for conclusive comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studies of the Industrial Geography Commission of the Polish Geographical Society / Prace Komisji Geografii Przemyslu Polskiego Towarzystwa Geograficznego is the property of Press of Pedagogical University of Cracow and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Cerebral palsy (CP) causes motor, cognitive and sensory impairment at different extents. Many recent rehabilitation developments (therapies) have focused solely on the upper extremities (UE), although the lower extremities (LE) are commonly affected. Hand-arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE) applies the concepts of motor skill learning and intensive training to both the UE and LE. It involves constant stimulation of the UE and LE, for several hours each day over a 2-week period. The effects of HABIT-ILE have never been evaluated in a large sample of young children. Furthermore, understanding of functional, neuroplastic and biomechanical changes in infants with CP is lacking. The aim of this study is to carry out a multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effects of HABIT-ILE in pre-school children with unilateral CP on functional, neuroplastic and biomechanical parameters. Methods This multi-center, 3-country study will include 50 pre-school children with CP aged 1–4 years. The RCT will compare the effect of 50 h (two weeks) of HABIT-ILE versus usual motor activity, including regular rehabilitation. HABIT-ILE will be delivered in a day-camp setting, with structured activities and functional tasks that will be continuously progressed in terms of difficulty. Assessments will be performed at 3 intervals: baseline (T0), two weeks later and 3 months later. Primary outcomes will be the Assisting Hand Assessment; secondary outcomes include the Melbourne Assessment-2, executive function assessments, questionnaires ACTIVLIM-CP, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, Young Children’s Participation and Environment Measure, Measure of the Process of Care, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, as well as neuroimaging and kinematics measures. Discussion We expect that HABIT-ILE will induce functional, neuroplastic and biomechanical changes as a result of the intense, activity-based rehabilitation process and these changes will impact the whole developmental curve of each child, improving functional ability, activity and participation in the short-, mid- and long-term. Name of the registry: Changes Induced by Early HABIT-ILE in Pre-school Children With Uni- and Bilateral Cerebral Palsy (EarlyHABIT-ILE). Trial registration Trial registration number: NCT04020354 -Registration date on the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP): November 20th, 2018; Registration date on NIH Clinical Trials Registry: July 16th, 2019.

Introduction A review of the historical documents and references related to Tehran reveals that this city has been always intrigued by water shortage. In the not-too-distant past, water used to be provided by rivers and uncovered streams that were polluted and contained urban waste. During the recent decades and following the economic development of the country and technological development of water-related industries, several urban plans were executed in different regions of the country, particularly in Tehran as the capital of Iran. These plans led to wide structural changes in the spatial structure of the city. Gradually, these spatial changes led to the cultural development of the residents and immigrants to this city, who became its main residents, such that residents of Tehran have recorded the highest water consumption rate in Iran. The present study shows that taking a bath, which is an essential need and an integral part of the urban and civilized lifestyle today, is a developmental process and its historical course is indicative of the cultural construction of this phenomenon. This construction was reconstructed in a period of contemporary history leading to a critical level of water consumption. Therefore, the authors of this study seek to find an answer to these questions: What changes have the bathroom and taking a bath undergone in their historical course? What are the conditions leading to fundamental changes in washing customs of people? In other words, the present study is an attempt to compare the main structural and cultural features of taking a bath in the past and today, on the one hand, and to examine the structural conditions of mental and cultural changes, on the other hand, to gain a better understanding of the habits and cultural features of the people of Tehran. Material & Methods The present study was carried out taking a theoretical qualitative approach and drawing on an ethnographic approach. Field studies and participatory observations from 2015 to 2019 were the main sources of data. The study was particularly focused on water consumption and household water use from 2015 to 2018. The data related to the past was also obtained by the historical method. For this purpose, historical texts, travelogues, and images from the past were used. Tourists’ and western politicians’ travelogues such as those of Chardin, Drewville, and Tavernier in the Safavid period were rich sources of data for knowing about the Iranian community and its internal elements such as bathrooms and bathing customs. Written documents and valuable images shared on the cyberspace and the internet as an important part of historical documents related to the spatial structure, architecture of bathrooms and bathing customs and culture in the past were used as the basis of our analysis of the past. The research field included Tehran. To obtain a large volume of information based on the purpose and the questions addressed in the study, two purposeful samplings were made and maximum diversity was used in the group and individual dialogues with two families and 30 citizens of Tehran. This article was written using the authors’ experience of participating in the living environment of the people of Tehran along with in-depth semi-structured interviews with the participants. Brown and Clark’s thematic analysis (2006) was used for analyzing the data obtained via individual and group interviews and field observations. Discussion of Results & Conclusions With the execution of renovation programs in Iran during the last century and the country becoming richer as the result of selling oil, major changes were gradually made possible in the cultural system, on the one hand, and in the psychological drives at the individual level, on the other hand, and people became more civilized. After the reformations made by Reza Shah for centralizing the power, the community became increasingly complicated making public relationships more intertwined and making different social classes growingly interdependent. During these years, consumerism and, consequently, increased water consumption as one of the signs of civilization grew. One of the important functions of bathrooms is to deny and hide one’s primary nature. In other words, the bathroom and bathing in the modern period were accompanied by individualism and the community becoming more civilized. The transformation of the spatial structure of bathrooms and the bathing culture as a consequence of the changes in the water supply system was the predictable result of the renovation process. A review of the history of bathing and bathrooms in Iran reveals that considerable changes have been made from the period of popularity of public bathrooms to the in-house or private bathrooms. In the past, the distance between bathrooms and homes, informal supervision and control, lack of public belief in the need to observe health protocols, financial problems, and technical problems related to water supply made bathing an occasional action with a large time interval in between. The social functions of bathrooms in the form of helping one another in getting washed, massaging, cutting one’s hair, its health and hygiene dimensions, performing religious rites, visiting others, informing others, etc. turned bathrooms into a place very much different from what it is now. In the new era, however, with the development of water supply technologies and improved economic conditions, bathrooms gradually changed into an indoor place with features different from what it used to be. The development of washing facilities and belief in increased access to bathrooms led people to add bathing to their list of daily activities. Bathroom privatization brought about proper hygiene standards. With indoor shower heads being replaced, bathrooms were no longer a place for accumulation of dirt in public bathing pools (referred to as ‘Khazineh’). The growing aesthetic standards by using bathroom tiles of different happy colors on the floor and walls of the bathroom, installing a mirror in the bathroom, designing different functional and luxurious shower heads, bathtubs, lighting, playing music in the bathroom were indicative of the change of the meaning of bathroom and its expected functions in the modern era. Easier access to bathrooms was one of the reasons for the reduced interval between the times of bathing. As the duration of bathing was shortened considering the changes in its traditional functions such as elimination of its social, religious and aesthetic aspects, the spatial structure of bathrooms was modified in a way that it was no longer possible to stay in the bathroom for a long time due to its limited space. Accordingly, the term ‘taking a shower’, which refers to fast bathing in the small space of the bathroom while standing, entered the bathing literature in the contemporary era. Under the conditions, bathing acquired numerous functions. It was a place for getting personal privacy, expression of feelings, crying, laughing, unburdening oneself with water, thinking, singing, refreshment, getting a feeling of peace, cleaning the body and soul. It was also an appropriate space for the appearance of a spiritual sense, focus on one’s body and looking into the mirror, touching one’s body when under the shower and getting the feeling of softness and warmth of the water as an external thing and the appearance of a sexual feeling, development of a better feeling of oneself, improving the sense of unity with oneself, increased self-confidence in interpersonal relationships and civil behavior for avoiding visual and olfactory contamination. All these acquired high significances in becoming civilized.

Background: Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) have unique healthcare needs and risks, including high risk of functional decline. Understanding functional decline is an area of priority for CP research., Objective: Describe factors associated with patient-reported changes in function among adults with CP living in the community., Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of adult patient-reported outcomes collected by the CP Research Network (CPRN) Community Registry., Results: Participants included 263 respondents (76% female (n = 200); mean age 42 years (SD 14); 95% White (n = 249); 92% non-Hispanic (n = 241)). Many reported functional changes, most commonly a decline in gross motor function since childhood (n = 158, 60%). Prevalence of gross motor decline varied significantly by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level (p < 0.001), but neither hand function decline (p = 0.196) nor communication decline (p = 0.994) differed by GMFCS. All types of decline increased with increasing age, with statistically significant differences between age groups (p < 0.001 gross motor; p = 0.003 hand function; p = 0.004 communication). Those with spastic CP (n = 178) most commonly reported gross motor functional decline (n = 108/178, 60.7%). However, the prevalence of gross motor decline did not significantly differ between those with spastic CP and those without spastic CP (p = 0.789)., Conclusions: Many adults in the CPRN Community Registry reported functional decline, most commonly in gross motor function. Functional decline across domains increased with age. Further research into risk stratification and preventive and rehabilitative measures is needed to address functional decline across the lifespan., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Copyright of Studies of the Industrial Geography Commission of the Polish Geographical Society / Prace Komisji Geografii Przemyslu Polskiego Towarzystwa Geograficznego is the property of Press of Pedagogical University of Cracow and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urea is an inexpensive non-protein nitrogen source commonly supplemented to the diets of ruminants. It is cleaved to ammonia by bacterial ureases, which require Ni as a catalyst for ureolysis. The key event in the changes of the ruminal microbiome after urea supplementation remains unknown. We have therefore investigated changes in the ruminal microbiome and its community with Ni-dependent enzyme genes following urea supplementation and analyzed the associations of rumen environmental factors, including fermentation variables and Ni concentrations, with the compositional and functional changes of these communities. We found that urea supplementation increased urease activity and the concentrations of ammonia and Ni, and tended to increase concentrations of short chain fatty acids and acetate, whereas it decreased rumen pH and the L-/D-lactate ratio. With standards for genome completeness >60% and strain heterogeneity

In the modern world, acute respiratory viral infections are a widespread and socially significant disease. Having the similarity of structure, epidemiology and strong tropism to the respiratory tract, each causative agent of acute respiratory viral infection has its own characteristics. The most severe course with complications is characteristic of influenza. More than 200 viruses are known to cause acute respiratory viral infections. Their diversity is very great. This creates a situation when a person, having been ill with a disease caused by one virus, can immediately become infected with other viruses of this group and get sick again. For a year in the world, for an adult, 3-4 cases of the disease of acute respiratory viral infection occur. A child suffers from this infection 6-9 times during the year. 3.9 million deaths worldwide are associated with acute respiratory viral infections each year. Due to the enormous social significance of acute respiratory viral infection, the World Health Organization has launched the Battle against Respiratory Viruses initiative to combat it. Her prerequisites were problems with the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory viral infection. It is aimed at improving diagnostic methods to differentiate viral and bacterial infections at the earliest stages of the disease, developing effective antiviral drugs for the most common viruses and safe and effective stimulants of defense mechanisms in the body. It becomes clear that acute respiratory viral infections are a diverse group of infectious diseases of the respiratory tract that have similar developmental mechanisms, epidemiological and clinical characteristics. Given that these diseases have a high contagiousness, rapid spread, a significant number of complications, especially among people at risk, they require serious and lengthy research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea is an inexpensive non-protein nitrogen source commonly supplemented to the diets of ruminants. It is cleaved to ammonia by bacterial ureases, which require Ni as a catalyst for ureolysis. The key event in the changes of the ruminal microbiome after urea supplementation remains unknown. We have therefore investigated changes in the ruminal microbiome and its community with Ni-dependent enzyme genes following urea supplementation and analyzed the associations of rumen environmental factors, including fermentation variables and Ni concentrations, with the compositional and functional changes of these communities. We found that urea supplementation increased urease activity and the concentrations of ammonia and Ni, and tended to increase concentrations of short chain fatty acids and acetate, whereas it decreased rumen pH and the L-/D-lactate ratio. With standards for genome completeness >60% and strain heterogeneity <10%, 20 bacterial species containing five Ni-dependent enzyme genes were detected in the metagenome sequences. For the five Ni-dependent enzyme genes, urea supplementation increased the relative abundances of genes of urease and acetyl-CoA synthase, whereas it decreased the relative abundances of genes of glyoxalase I, [NiFe]-hydrogenase, and lactate racemase. For the 20 microbes with Ni-dependent enzyme genes, urea supplementation increased the relative abundances of five bacteria exhibiting high capacities for the utilization of hemicellulose and pectin for butyrate and fatty acid biosynthesis. For the ruminal microbiome, urea supplementation increased the metagenomic capacities for hemicellulose and pectin degradation, butyrate generation, fatty acid biosynthesis, and carbon fixation, whereas it decreased the metagenomic capacities for starch degradation, propionate generation, and sulfur and nitrogen metabolism. Constrained correspondence analysis identified rumen ammonia and Ni concentrations as likely driving factors in the reshaping of the ruminal microbiome and, together with pH, of the community of microbes with Ni-dependent enzyme genes. Thus, the functional change of the latter community is probably an important event in the adaptation of the ruminal microbiome to urea-supplemented diets. This result provides a new perspective for the understanding of the effects of urea supplementation on rumen fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypnosis has proven a powerful method in indications such as pain control and anxiety reduction. As recently discussed, it has been yielding increased attention from medical/dental perspectives. This systematic review (PROSPERO-registration-ID-CRD42021259187) aimed to critically evaluate and discuss functional changes in brain activity using hypnosis by means of different imaging techniques. Randomized controlled trials, cohort, comparative, cross-sectional, evaluation and validation studies from three databases—Cochrane, Embase and Medline via PubMed from January 1979 to August 2021—were reviewed using an ad hoc prepared search string and following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 10,404 articles were identified, 1194 duplicates were removed and 9190 papers were discarded after consulting article titles/abstracts. Ultimately, 20 papers were assessed for eligibility, and 20 papers were included after a hand search (ntotal = 40). Despite a broad heterogenicity of included studies, evidence of functional changes in brain activity using hypnosis was identified. Electromyography (EMG) startle amplitudes result in greater activity in the frontal brain area; amplitudes using Somatosensory Event-Related Potentials (SERPs) showed similar results. Electroencephalography (EEG) oscillations of θ activity are positively associated with response to hypnosis. EEG results showed greater amplitudes for highly hypnotizable subjects over the left hemisphere. Less activity during hypnosis was observed in the insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).

To evaluate the influence of experimentally induced progressive condylar resorption (PCR) on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) mechanoreception. Twenty 13-week-old male albino Wistar rats were divided equally into control and PCR groups. A compressive force was loaded on the left TMJ of PCR group rats to induce condylar resorption. Single-unit activities of TMJ mechanoreceptors were also induced through passive jaw movement. Recording was performed for the left Gasserian ganglion at 3 days and 1 week after the establishment of PCR group. The effects of PCR on TMJ units were assessed by measuring the firing threshold, maximum instantaneous firing frequency, and average firing frequency. Compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in the firing threshold of the PCR group after 3 days. The thresholds were significantly higher 1 week after compressive force loading on the condyle. The maximum instantaneous firing frequencies and the average firing frequencies showed no significant differences after 3 days. However, these were significantly lower 1 week after compressive force loading. The findings suggest that compressive force loading on the condyle may influence the function of TMJ mechanoreceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive functions and activities of daily living (ADL) become increasingly impaired with progressing Alzheimer's disease. However, the temporal dynamics of this decline are inconsistent.Objective: To gain insight into the classical temporal cascade of specific cognitive and ADL changes, which may aid in improving detection of an impending clinical deterioration in patients, and to select ADL items and tests most sensitive to change in a specific disease stage.Methods: Patients with mild Alzheimer's dementia (AD; MMSE = 23.9±2.88) were followed at 12 and 24 months. Lead-lag analysis of changes in cognitive and functional outcome measures (CDR-SOB, 12 neuropsychological subtest scores from the CERAD + test battery, 25 Bayer-ADL items) was applied to rank the temporal sequence of changes on an ordinal scale.Results: Of 164 patients with mild AD, moderate disease progression was identified in 84 patients over 24 months (ΔMMSE 5.8±8.64; ΔCDR-SOB 4.32±4.03). Ten Bayer-ADL item measures were altered early in moderate progressors and included in a new ADL composite score. Accordingly, the new ADL score surpassed all neuropsychological measures in repeated lead-lag analysis. The Bayer-ADL total score, TMT-A, and MMSE were lagging variables in all lead-lag analyses.Conclusion: Short-term clinical deterioration in mild AD is initially preceded by changes (i.e., decline) in a well-defined set of ADL and not in classical cognitive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sacredness, an ancient concept in mankind's culture, has created a network of extraordinarily complex semantic webs. The various disciplines monitor and describe different aspects of sacred space's "dimensions" matching the professional competences and toolkits of the various disciplines. In geography the demand to describe and research sacred space structures of religions is becoming increasingly observable along with the classical social geographic themes. Researches are motivated by several global phenomena. These are partly migrational impacts as well as events such as the attack against the World Trade Center which religious fanatism clearly accounts for. The monitoring of sacred space as a category of space in Eastern Central Europe too. Significant changes of function have ensued in the postsocialist urban space since the political transitions. Local and global influences have shaped urban space and contributed to the sacred space of the present Budapest. At local level urban space can also be examined in point-like dimensions, although the true characteristics of sacred space are provided by the qualitative research of the space 's nature. I was striving to get to know the examined communities at short range by using authentic interviewees when recording the interviews. Going to locations made it possible to tour those activity spaces where the practices of the various communities take place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) causes motor, cognitive and sensory impairment at different extents. Many recent rehabilitation developments (therapies) have focused solely on the upper extremities (UE), although the lower extremities (LE) are commonly affected. Hand-arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE) applies the concepts of motor skill learning and intensive training to both the UE and LE. It involves constant stimulation of the UE and LE, for several hours each day over a 2-week period. The effects of HABIT-ILE have never been evaluated in a large sample of young children. Furthermore, understanding of functional, neuroplastic and biomechanical changes in infants with CP is lacking. The aim of this study is to carry out a multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effects of HABIT-ILE in pre-school children with unilateral CP on functional, neuroplastic and biomechanical parameters.Methods: This multi-center, 3-country study will include 50 pre-school children with CP aged 1-4 years. The RCT will compare the effect of 50 h (two weeks) of HABIT-ILE versus usual motor activity, including regular rehabilitation. HABIT-ILE will be delivered in a day-camp setting, with structured activities and functional tasks that will be continuously progressed in terms of difficulty. Assessments will be performed at 3 intervals: baseline (T0), two weeks later and 3 months later. Primary outcomes will be the Assisting Hand Assessment; secondary outcomes include the Melbourne Assessment-2, executive function assessments, questionnaires ACTIVLIM-CP, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, Young Children's Participation and Environment Measure, Measure of the Process of Care, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, as well as neuroimaging and kinematics measures.Discussion: We expect that HABIT-ILE will induce functional, neuroplastic and biomechanical changes as a result of the intense, activity-based rehabilitation process and these changes will impact the whole developmental curve of each child, improving functional ability, activity and participation in the short-, mid- and long-term. Name of the registry: Changes Induced by Early HABIT-ILE in Pre-school Children With Uni- and Bilateral Cerebral Palsy (EarlyHABIT-ILE).Trial Registration: Trial registration number: NCT04020354-Registration date on the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP): November 20th, 2018; Registration date on NIH Clinical Trials Registry: July 16th, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoidan, a macromolecule, a type of polysaccharide and contains high percentage of fucose and sulfate ester groups and other compounds in low percentage. In the last decades, a number of interesting biological activities have been studied so fucoidan has been major focus of interest for exploring new drugs against the leading human diseases. It is known in relation to biological pathways and function that it activates the pathways which mediate apoptosis. Using LC–MS and interdisciplincary approach, we developed our goal to elucidate the potential difference between the crude and pure fucoidan and the interaction of fucoidan with potential signaling molecules STAT4 and IL12RB2. Based on our analysis, we conclude that there is major difference between crude and pure fucoidan in terms of identified metabolites and their functional relevance. It leads to the conclusion that there are 18 functions which are common between crude and pure fucoidans, 47 functions pure fucoidan specific, and 84 functions crude fucoidan specific which leads to the conclusion that even the fucoidans obtained from the same organism behave functionally completely different between the processing states (with/without processing) while docking study with STAT4 and IL12RB2 display very strong binding between fucoidan and both these signaling molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article gives an overview of calendrical rituals in Virumaa region, Estonia, mainly on the basis of customs descriptions preserved in the folklore archives of the Estonian Literary Museum since the last decades of the 19th century. Calendrical themes are complemented by proverbs, narratives about working prohibitions, etc. The influence of ancient Scandinavian agriculture that has persisted in northern Estonia for centuries, shows signs of weakening in the eastern part of Virumaa; in general, emphasis is laid on nature observations, as well as weather and crop-related omens in connection to calendrical holidays. The most important ritual foods are pork and mutton, barley and rye, as well as dairy products. The northern coast rituals reveal common features with Finnish calendrical traditions; there are also some common holidays unknown in the inland. Indoor jobs were prohibited in the period from All Saints’ Day (November 1) to Martinmas (November 10); in this period preferable activities were riddle-guessing and story-telling, not to inflict harm on cattle. St Stephen’s Day (December 26) was a public holiday related to horses; on this day men rode on horseback to other households to drink beer. In the south-eastern part of Virumaa County there is the historic indigenous Votic area, with additional Russian population. This area is influenced by Orthodox calendrical traditions. The celebration of St George’s Day (April 23) – the day when cattle were first let into the open – adopted features of an Eastern Slavic women’s feast. The souls of the deceased were treated at homes according to the Orthodox calendar – on Parents’ Saturday; in other regions of Estonia food was left for ancestors’ souls in the autumn, during a longer period.

There have been studied clinical and functional characteristics of dilated cardiomyopathy in 42 children at the age of 2 months to 18 years, hospitalized into the cardiorheumatologic department of the Republican specialized scientific-practical medical center of pediatrics. With regard to predominant localization of the lesion in the myocardium according to echocardiographic criteria in children there were defined six variants of dilated cardiomyopathy with prevalence of variants with damage of the left atrium and left ventricle (33.3%) and with isolated damage of the left ventricle (23.8%). For favorable outcome of these diseases there is required early diagnosis and timely onset of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate quantification of the contribution of environmental variability and functional changes to the interannual variability of net ecosystem production (NEP) and evapotranspiration (ET) in coniferous forests is needed to understand global carbon and water cycling. This study quantified these contributions to the interannual variability of NEP and ET for a subtropical coniferous plantation in southeastern China, and the effect of drought stress on these contributions was also investigated. NEP and ET were derived from eddy covariance measurements carried out over the period 2003-2012. A homogeneity-of-slopes model was adopted to quantify the contribution to the interannual variability of these fluxes. Environmental variability accounted for 71% and 85.7% of the interannual variability of NEP and ET, respectively; however, functional changes accounted for only 11.3% and 5.9%, respectively. Furthermore, functional changes explained more of the interannual variability of NEP in dry years (16.3%) than in wet years (3.8%), but there was no obvious change in the contribution of functional changes to the interannual variability of ET in dry (4.7%) or wet (5.5%) years. Thus, environmental variability rather than ecosystem functional changes dominated the interannual variability of both ET and NEP. However, different environmental variables controlled the interannual variability of NEP and ET. The results also indicated that, compared with NEP, ET was more resistant to drought stress through the self-regulating mechanisms of this plantation.

Background: Video gaming is an increasingly popular activity in contemporary society, especially among young people, and video games are increasing in popularity not only as a research tool but also as a field of study. Many studies have focused on the neural and behavioral effects of video games, providing a great deal of video game derived brain correlates in recent decades. There is a great amount of information, obtained through a myriad of methods, providing neural correlates of video games.Objectives: We aim to understand the relationship between the use of video games and their neural correlates, taking into account the whole variety of cognitive factors that they encompass.Methods: A systematic review was conducted using standardized search operators that included the presence of video games and neuro-imaging techniques or references to structural or functional brain changes. Separate categories were made for studies featuring Internet Gaming Disorder and studies focused on the violent content of video games.Results: A total of 116 articles were considered for the final selection. One hundred provided functional data and 22 measured structural brain changes. One-third of the studies covered video game addiction, and 14% focused on video game related violence.Conclusions: Despite the innate heterogeneity of the field of study, it has been possible to establish a series of links between the neural and cognitive aspects, particularly regarding attention, cognitive control, visuospatial skills, cognitive workload, and reward processing. However, many aspects could be improved. The lack of standardization in the different aspects of video game related research, such as the participants' characteristics, the features of each video game genre and the diverse study goals could contribute to discrepancies in many related studies.

Spatial interactions and functional relationships between cities and surrounding areas such as rural areas located in their influence zones gradually lead to a variety of changes in their different aspects. Demographical changes (migration of rural-urban, population evacuation etc.) and changes in economic and functional structure (weakening of the base and foundation of agricultural activities and expansion of non-productive activities etc.) are not exceptions. In this regard, among the important changes of this kind which are influenced by the cities and mainly observed in the rural areas of Iran in recent years are the functional changes in the rural areas of the metropolitan zones of Tabriz including Lyghvan Valley with its villages which are of great importance due to their ecological features in complementing Tabriz Metropolitan. Therefore, such villages being influenced by the metropolitan, experience changes in their functional structure. Most probably, the existence of various problems and setbacks in Tabriz metropolitan such as higher price of land and housing, acute air pollution and other factors have been unappealing cases as opposed to the lower price of land and housing, cleanness of air and tourist attraction and so on in the rural settlements which are very attractive. In the present paper, four villages have been selected among the rural settlement zone of Tabriz metropolitan to clarify how functional changes and the factors influencing them work. The main goal of the study is to obtain a thorough and scientific understanding of the affecting factors on the functional changes of these villages. The present study, not only gives important data about the way the changes occur, but also helps the planners strive for the organization and functional planning of such villages using the given data. The method of study is based on field study (direct observation, filling out various questionnaires). To study and express the relationships between the different variables of the study, a descriptive-analytical method and to review the previous works and changes and developments, documentary methods have been used. Meanwhile, in order to analyze the data, SPSS Software and chi-square and F-statistics have been used. Finally, strategies and recommendations have been presented for better functional organization of the villages under study in specific, and of all such villages in general. The findings show that there is a logical relationship between being host for immigration of the villages under study, the kind of their economic activities, the place of the occupation of the breadwinners of the households, and their functional changes. The proximity of the studied villages to the largest demographic, industrial and service center of the north-west (Tabriz) and also Basmenj and the fast and easy access of these villages to these cities, the immigration of people to these villages because of the lower price of land and housing, work and occupation, changes in the kind of economic activities and the place of occupation of the heads of the households under study, all have led to a functional change of villages from an agricultural one to service, industrial, housing-dormitory ones. Keywords:

The soy protein isolates (SPI) extracted from different extruded full-fat soybean flakes (FFSF), and their conformational and functional properties were characterized. Overall, the free thiol (SH) content of SPI increased when the extrusion temperature was below 80 °C and decreased at higher temperatures. Soy glycinin (11S) showed higher stability than β-conglycinin (7S) during extrusion. Results also indicated that the increase in some hydrophobic groups was due to the movement of hydrophobic groups from the interior to the surface of the SPI molecules at extrusion temperatures from 60 to 80 °C. However, the aggregation of SPI molecules occurred at extrusion temperatures of 90 and 100 °C, with decreasing levels of hydrophobic groups. The extrusion temperature negatively affected the emulsifying activity index (EAI); on the other side, it positively affected the emulsifying stability index (ESI), compared to unextruded SPI.

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Background: Video gaming is an increasingly popular activity in contemporary society, especially among young people, and video games are increasing in popularity not only as a research tool but also as a field of study. Many studies have focused on the neural and behavioral effects of video games, providing a great deal of video game derived brain correlates in recent decades. There is a great amount of information, obtained through a myriad of methods, providing neural correlates of video games. Objectives: We aim to understand the relationship between the use of video games and their neural correlates, taking into account the whole variety of cognitive factors that they encompass. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using standardized search operators that included the presence of video games and neuro-imaging techniques or references to structural or functional brain changes. Separate categories were made for studies featuring Internet Gaming Disorder and studies focused on the violent content of video games. Results: A total of 116 articles were considered for the final selection. One hundred provided functional data and 22 measured structural brain changes. One-third of the studies covered video game addiction, and 14%focused on video game related violence. Conclusions: Despite the innate heterogeneity of the field of study, it has been possible to establish a series of links between the neural and cognitive aspects, particularly regarding attention, cognitive control, visuospatial skills, cognitive workload, and reward processing. However, many aspects could be improved. The lack of standardization in the different aspects of video game related research, such as the participants' characteristics, the features of each video game genre and the diverse study goals could contribute to discrepancies in many related studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of the controlling factors determining interannual variability (IAV) of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) exchange between different ecosystems is crucial when assessing present and future responses to climate variability and climate change. Six years of eddy covariance (EC) data from three neighboring sites (agriculture, forest, and meadow) subjected to management in variable degree were evaluated to determine typical CO 2 budgets and controlling factors of IAV. In terms of average annual net ecosystem exchange (NEE) the agricultural and wet meadow site showed identical rates of −156 (±110 and ±116, respectively) g C m −2 y −1 , with large IAV and individual years even showing near zero net uptake. In contrast, the forest was a substantial and persistent sink of CO 2 (avg. ± s.d. −691 ± 143 g C m −2 y −1 ), but had a higher absolute IAV. A homogeneity-of-slopes (HOS) model was utilized to partition sources of IAV of CO 2 fluxes between direct climatic effects and indirect effects (functional changes). This analysis showed that NEE at the forest (through both GPP and RE) was most prone to interannual functional changes. The wet meadow showed moderate functional changes with respect to RE and thus NEE, whereas the cropland did not show any statistically significant functional changes. We argue that the delicate interplay between climate forcing, land use specific traits, management practices and intensities, and functional changes has to be taken into account when predicting the atmospheric CO 2 sink/source strengths of land ecosystems for longer timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amblyopia is the decreased best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in one or both eyes caused by the abnormal processing of visual input during development. One common cause of amblyopia is anisometropia, which has attracted widespread attention. Many structural changes occur in the primary and extrastriate visual areas of the cerebral cortex, as well as in the eyes, in patients with anisometropic amblyopia. Understanding these mechanisms has provided a favorable theoretical basis for treating anisometropic amblyopia. This article reviews the functional and anatomical changes and progress toward the treatment of anisometropic amblyopia.

Pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia has been a long-standing concern. As a severe neuropsychological illness, schizophrenia is always a challenging disorder to unravel its pathophysiology. Since it exhibits both positive and negative symptoms, such as hallucination and delusion, as well as social isolation and cognitive impairment, following the symptomatic changes is a crucial task for clinicians. Although various pharmacological treatments are available in the form of antipsychotics, however, their actual consequences need to be examined with the observable changes in symptoms as well as the unobservable changes in brain functioning. This study is a first of its kind to critically investigate both clinical and neuroimaging studies to find out the changes being observed in schizophrenia patients after clinical intervention with various antipsychotics. We observed several symptomatic changes being reported in clinical studies incorporating clinical trials of various first-generation and second-generation antipsychotic drugs. Alongside, we encapsulated several neuroimaging studies showing functional and structural changes in the brain of schizophrenia patients triggered by a variety of drugs. The basal ganglia, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, cuneus, and middle occipital gyrus are some of the notable brain regions that were observed to show subtle functional and structural changes. This critical review paper may pave the way for future research into the study of the pathological and morphological changes in the brains of schizophrenia patients as they progress through the course of medicinal therapy., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The International Conference on Harmonisation's (ICH) Tripartite Guideline on Safety Pharmacology Studies for Human Pharmaceuticals has adopted the requirement that each new test substance must be tested for effects on the central nervous system prior to “first dose in man”. This assessment is required to measure, at a minimum, the effects of the substance on general motor activity, behavioral changes, coordination, sensory/motor reflex responses, and body temperatures. To achieve this goal, ICH S7A recommends a neurobehavioral assessment (usually a functional observational battery (FOB) or modified Irwin test), which is generally undertaken in the rat. There seems to be a growing lack of consensus on the value of the FOB to determine CNS safety. This review highlights the importance of the time, effort and cost of training technicians to familiarize with their instrument of measure, so that each observer is better able to identify and document very subtle changes in behavior that will serve to increase the reliability and validity of these assays with respect to CNS safety assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consideration of urban space transformation processes and changes in the area functions are becoming increasingly urgent. The city is looked upon as a settlement with developed infrastructure and communications and is classified by a law status as a city. As a rule, has numerous (compared with rural settlements) population mainly employed in non-agricultural areas. Cities are usually characterized by population density, compactness and typical constructions, often multistoried. Towns play an important role in the regional system of relations because they determine the level of social production, productive forces, and innovative features. The town of Shpola is just such a town. In order to consider transformational changes of urban space, social and geographical methods of investigation were used. Information gathering was done by the means of survey within the test area for 4 reference points. The average sample of respondents was divided by gender, age, education, occupation, employment, monthly income and the vehicle ownership. The respondent's perception of functional change was estimated according to: responses to the questions about changing the functions and their quality in the area of their residence in recent years; functions strengthening; level of satisfaction by the changes; which changes cause rejection of the urban environment and encourage the opposition, and the actions that could be taken in case of rights violation due to urban space transformation. During the study it was found out that the respondents consider the vast majority of the district functions to be of little change; a half of the respondents are optimistic and believe in positive changes, and respondents are people with an active lifestyle and will not keep silence in case of their rights violation during the urban space transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]