To treat cardiovascular diseases (i.e., a major cause of mortality after cancers), endovascular-technique-based guidewire has been employed for intra-arterial navigation. To date, most commercially available guidewires (e.g., Terumo, Abbott, Cordis, etc.) are non-steerable, which is poorly suited to the human arterial system with numerous bifurcations and angulations. To reach a target artery, surgeons frequently opt for several tools (guidewires with different size integrated into angulated catheters) that might provoke arterial complications such as perforation or dissection. Steerable guidewires would, therefore, be of high interest to reduce surgical morbidity and mortality for patients as well as to simplify procedure for surgeons, thereby saving time and health costs. Regarding these reasons, our research involves the development of a smart steerable guidewire using electroactive polymer (EAP) capable of bending when subjected to an input voltage. The actuation performance of the developed device is assessed through the curvature behavior (i.e., the displacement and the angle of the bending) of a cantilever beam structure, consisting of single- or multi-stack EAP printed on a substrate. Compared to the single-stack architecture, the multi-stack gives rise to a significant increase in curvature, even when subjected to a moderate control voltage. As suggested by the design framework, the intrinsic physical properties (dielectric, electrical, and mechanical) of the EAP layer, together with the nature and thickness of all materials (EAP and substrate), do have strong effect on the bending response of the device. The analyses propose a comprehensive guideline to optimize the actuator performance based on an adequate selection of the relevant materials and geometric parameters. An analytical model together with a finite element model (FEM) are investigated to validate the experimental tests. Finally, the design guideline leads to an innovative structure (composed of a 10-stack active layer screen-printed on a thin substrate) capable of generating a large range of bending angle (up to 190°) under an acceptable input level of 550 V, which perfectly matches the standard of medical tools used for cardiovascular surgery. Full article

Elevated levels of peripheral blood and tumor tissue neutrophils are associated with poorer clinical response and therapy resistance in melanoma. The underlying mechanism and the role of neutrophils in targeted therapy is still not fully understood. Serum samples of patients with advanced melanoma were collected and neutrophil-associated serum markers were measured and correlated with response to targeted therapy. Blood neutrophils from healthy donors and patients with advanced melanoma were isolated, and their phenotypes, as well as their in vitro functions, were compared. In vitro functional tests were conducted through nonadherent cocultures with melanoma cells. Protection of melanoma cell lines by neutrophils was assessed under MAPK inhibition. Blood neutrophils from advanced melanoma patients exhibited lower CD16 expression compared to healthy donors. In vitro, both healthy-donor- and patient-derived neutrophils prevented melanoma cell apoptosis upon dual MAPK inhibition. The effect depended on cell–cell contact and melanoma cell susceptibility to treatment. Interference with protease activity of neutrophils prevented melanoma cell protection during treatment in cocultures. The negative correlation between neutrophils and melanoma outcomes seems to be linked to a protumoral function of neutrophils. In vitro, neutrophils exert a direct protective effect on melanoma cells during dual MAPK inhibition. This study further hints at a crucial role of neutrophil-related protease activity in protection. Full article

Ataxia is a common neurological feature of Niemann–Pick disease type C (NPC). In this disease, unesterified cholesterol accumulates in lysosomes of the central nervous system and hepatic cells. Oxidation by reactive oxygen species produces oxysterols that can be metabolised to specific bile acids. These bile acids have been suggested as useful biomarkers to detect NPC. Concentrations of 3β,5α,6β-trihydroxycholanyl glycine (3β,5α,6β-triOH-Gly) and 3β,7β-dihydroxy-5-cholenyl glycine (3β,7β-diOH-Δ5-Gly) were measured in plasma of 184 adults with idiopathic ataxia. All patients were tested with whole genome sequencing containing hereditary ataxia panels, which include NPC1 and NPC2 mutations and other genetic causes of ataxia. Plasma 3β,5α,6β-triOH-Gly above normal (>90 nM) was found in 8 out of 184 patients. One patient was homozygous for the p.(Val1165Met) mutation in the NPC1 gene. The remaining seven included one patient with Friedreich’s ataxia and three patients with autoimmune diseases. Oxidative stress is known to be increased in Friedreich’s ataxia and in autoimmune diseases. Therefore, this subset of patients possibly shares a common mechanism that determines the increase of this bile acid. In a large cohort of adults with ataxia, plasma 3β,5α,6β-triOH-Gly was able to detect the one patient in the cohort with NPC1 disease, but also detected oxidation of cholesterol by ROS in other disorders. Plasma 3β,7β-diOH-Δ5-Gly is not a potential biomarker for NPC1. Full article

The cytoskeleton plays a pivotal role in maintaining the epithelial phenotype and is vital to several hallmark processes of cancer. Over the past decades, researchers have identified the epithelial protein lost in neoplasm (EPLIN, also known as LIMA1) as a key regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics, cytoskeletal organization, motility, as well as cell growth and metabolism. Dysregulation of EPLIN is implicated in various aspects of cancer progression, such as tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Its altered expression levels or activity can disrupt cytoskeletal dynamics, leading to aberrant cell motility and invasiveness characteristic of malignant cells. Moreover, the involvement of EPLIN in cell growth and metabolism underscores its significance in orchestrating key processes essential for cancer cell survival and proliferation. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of the intricate roles of EPLIN across diverse cellular processes in both normal physiology and cancer pathogenesis. Additionally, this review discusses the possibility of EPLIN as a potential target for anticancer therapy in future studies. Full article

Today, allergies have become a serious problem. PR-10 proteins are clinically relevant allergens that have the ability to bind hydrophobic ligands, which can significantly increase their allergenicity potential. It has been recently shown that not only the birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 but also the alder pollen allergen Aln g 1, might act as a true sensitizer of the immune system. The current investigation is aimed at the further study of the allergenic and structural features of Aln g 1. By using qPCR, we showed that Aln g 1 was able to upregulate alarmins in epithelial cells, playing an important role in sensitization. With the use of CD-spectroscopy and ELISA assays with the sera of allergic patients, we demonstrated that Aln g 1 did not completely restore its structure after thermal denaturation, which led to a decrease in its IgE-binding capacity. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we revealed that the replacement of two residues (Asp27 and Leu30) in the structure of Aln g 1 led to a decrease in its ability to bind to both IgE from sera of allergic patients and lipid ligands. The obtained data open a prospect for the development of hypoallergenic variants of the major alder allergen Aln g 1 for allergen-specific immunotherapy. Full article

Within the context of a smart home, detecting the operating status of appliances in the environment plays a pivotal role, estimating power consumption, issuing overuse reminders, and identifying faults. The traditional contact-based approaches require equipment updates such as incorporating smart sockets or high-precision electric meters. Non-constant approaches involve the use of technologies like laser and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radar. The former can only monitor one appliance at a time, and the latter is unable to detect appliances with extremely tiny vibrations and tends to be susceptible to interference from human activities. To address these challenges, we introduce HomeOSD, an advanced appliance status-detection system that uses mmWave radar. This innovative solution simultaneously tracks multiple appliances without human activity interference by measuring their extremely tiny vibrations. To reduce interference from other moving objects, like people, we introduce a Vibration-Intensity Metric based on periodic signal characteristics. We present the Adaptive Weighted Minimum Distance Classifier (AWMDC) to counteract appliance vibration fluctuations. Finally, we develop a system using a common mmWave radar and carry out real-world experiments to evaluate HomeOSD’s performance. The detection accuracy is 95.58%, and the promising results demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of our proposed system. Full article

In this paper, the electronic structures of rare earth (Nd, Er)-doped MgO were investigated using density functional theory (DFT), with Hubbard on-site corrections (U_eff) applied to rare earth elements. Li was considered a co-dopant. Defect complexes were involved, instead of a single dopant atom, in the supercell. The splitting and distribution of the 4f ground states of Nd and Er dopants in the band gap changed by co-doping Li. The calculation results provide insights into the influences of Li on the optical properties of rare-earth-doped MgO. Full article

Large-scale symmetric and asymmetric matrices have emerged in predicting the relationship between genes and diseases. The emergence of large-scale matrices increases the computational complexity of the problem. Therefore, using low-rank matrices instead of original symmetric and asymmetric matrices can greatly reduce computational complexity. In this paper, we propose an approximation conjugate gradient method for solving the low-rank matrix recovery problem, i.e., the low-rank matrix is obtained to replace the original symmetric and asymmetric matrices such that the approximation error is the smallest. The conjugate gradient search direction is given through matrix addition and matrix multiplication. The new conjugate gradient update parameter is given by the F-norm of matrix and the trace inner product of matrices. The conjugate gradient generated by the algorithm avoids SVD decomposition. The backtracking linear search is used so that the approximation conjugate gradient direction is computed only once, which ensures that the objective function decreases monotonically. The global convergence and local superlinear convergence of the algorithm are given. The numerical results are reported and show the effectiveness of the algorithm. Full article

(1) Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a common malignant intraocular tumor that presents with significant genetic differences to cutaneous melanoma and has a high genetic burden in terms of prognosis. (2) Methods: A systematic literature search of several repositories on uveal melanoma diagnosis, prognosis, molecular analysis, and treatment was conducted. (3) Results: Recent genetic understanding of oncogene-initiation mutations in GNAQ, GNA11, PLCB4, and CYSLTR2 and secondary progression drivers of BAP1 inactivation and SF3B1 and EIF1AX mutations offers an appealing explanation to the high prognostic impact of adding genetic profiling to clinical UM classification. Genetic information could help better explain peculiarities in uveal melanoma, such as the low long-term survival despite effective primary tumor treatment, the overwhelming propensity to metastasize to the liver, and possibly therapeutic behaviors. (4) Conclusions: Understanding of uveal melanoma has improved step-by-step from histopathology to clinical classification to more recent genetic understanding of oncogenic initiation and progression. Full article

Alterations in cellular metabolism, such as dysregulation in glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and glutaminolysis in response to hypoxic and low-nutrient conditions within the tumor microenvironment, are well-recognized hallmarks of cancer. Therefore, understanding the interplay between aerobic glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and glutaminolysis is crucial for developing effective metabolism-based therapies for cancer, particularly in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this regard, the present review explores the complex field of metabolic reprogramming in tumorigenesis and progression, providing insights into the current landscape of small molecule inhibitors targeting tumorigenic metabolic pathways and their implications for CRC treatment. Full article

Fly ash has been utilized as a reinforcing material in the production of aluminum matrix composites, and in this investigation, Al-Si (LM6) fly ash composites were fabricated using the compocasting method. Various compositions of fly ash were incorporated into the samples (4, 5 and 6 wt%), and the preparation temperature ranged from 560 to 800°C. This study investigated the thermal (CTE and DTA) and chemical properties (XRD) of fly ash reinforcement and the aluminum melt in the composites. The results revealed that composites with 5 wt% of fly ash exhibited the lowest CTE value compared to those with 4 and 6 wt%. This observation was corroborated by XRD analysis, indicating a reaction between the fly ash particles and the aluminum melt. However, the DTA analysis did not find a significant impact of the addition of fly ash on the melting temperature of the prepared composites. In contrast, this study identified and investigated the existence of reaction effects between the fly ash particles and the aluminum melt. Full article

Esophageal varices (EV) and variceal hemorrhages are major causes of mortality in liver cirrhosis patients. Detecting EVs early is crucial for effective management. Computed tomography (CT) scans, commonly performed for various liver-related indications, provide an opportunity for non-invasive EV assessment. However, previous CT studies focused on variceal diameter, neglecting the three-dimensional (3D) nature of varices and shunt vessels. This study aims to evaluate the potential of 3D volumetric shunt-vessel measurements from routine CT scans for detecting high-risk esophageal varices in portal hypertension. Methods: 3D volumetric measurements of esophageal varices were conducted using routine CT scans and compared to endoscopic variceal grading. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to determine the optimal cutoff value for identifying high-risk varices based on shunt volume. The study included 142 patients who underwent both esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and contrast-enhanced CT within six months. Results: The study established a cutoff value for identifying high-risk varices. The CT measurements exhibited a significant correlation with endoscopic EV grading (correlation coefficient r = 0.417, p < 0.001). A CT cutoff value of 2060 mm³ for variceal volume showed a sensitivity of 72.1% and a specificity of 65.5% for detecting high-risk varices during endoscopy. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of opportunistically measuring variceal volumes from routine CT scans. CT volumetry for assessing EVs may have prognostic value, especially in cirrhosis patients who are not suitable candidates for endoscopy. Full article

The ancient Chinese medical book “Compendium of Materia Medica” records that pears can relieve symptoms of respiratory-related diseases. Previous research has shown that pear Pyrus Pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-photoaging protective effects of Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai seed components have not been studied. Ultraviolet light (UV) causes skin inflammation, damages the skin barrier, and is an important cause of skin photoaging. Therefore, UV light with a wavelength of 365 nm was used to irradiate HaCaT and mice. Western blot, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and fluorescence imaging system were used to explore its anti-UVA mechanism. Dialysis membrane and nuclear magnetic resonance were used for the chemical constituent analysis of pear seed water extract (PSWE). We found that PSWE can significantly reduce UVA-induced skin cell death and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and can inhibit the mRNA expression of UVA-induced cytokines (including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). In addition, PSWE can also reduce the generation of oxidative stress within skin cells. In vivo experimental studies found that PSWE pretreatment effectively reduced transepidermal water loss, inflammation, redness, and dryness in hairless mice. The molecular weight of the active part of pear water extract is approximately 384. Based on the above results, we first found that pear seeds can effectively inhibit oxidative stress and damage caused by UVA. It is a natural extract with antioxidant properties and anti-aging activity that protects skin cells and strengthens the skin barrier. Full article

Cloacal exstrophy is the most severe congenital anomaly of the exstrophy–epispadias complex and is characterized by gastrointestinal, genitourinary, neurospinal, and musculoskeletal malformations. Individualized surgical reconstruction by a multidisciplinary team is required for these complex patients. Not infrequently, patients need staged surgical procedures throughout childhood and adolescence. Following significant improvements in medical care and surgical reconstructive techniques, nearly all patients with cloacal exstrophy now survive, leading to an increased emphasis on quality of life. Increased attention is given to gender identity and the implications of reconstructive decisions. Long-term sequelae of cloacal exstrophy, including functional continence and sexual dysfunction, are recognized, and many patients require ongoing complex care into adulthood. Full article

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in video surveillance systems has significantly transformed security practices, allowing for autonomous monitoring and real-time detection of threats. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of AI-powered surveillance rely heavily on the hardware infrastructure, specifically high-performance computing (HPC) architectures. This article examines the impact of different platforms for HPC edge servers, including x86 and ARM CPU-based systems and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), on the speed and accuracy of video processing tasks. By using advanced deep learning frameworks, a video surveillance system based on YOLO object detection and DeepSort tracking algorithms is developed and evaluated. This study thoroughly assesses the strengths, limitations, and suitability of different hardware architectures for various AI-based surveillance scenarios. Full article

Thanks to the development of geodetic methods and equipment, there has been a transition from conventional methods to modern technologies, which can efficiently and accurately acquire a large amount of data in a short time without the need for direct contact with the measured object. Combined technologies such as Structure from Motion (SfM), Multi-View Stereo (MVS) photogrammetry using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) are often used for monitoring geohazards and documenting objects in quarries to obtain detailed and accurate information about their condition and changes. This article deals with the analysis of point clouds obtained with different settings in terms of average absolute point distance, average point density, and time range for surveying and office work. The numerical and graphical results of the research lead to conclusions for scientific and practical applications for activities in the mining industry. Full article

The article is aimed at identifying the influence of laser texturing and subsequent coating with a hard, wear-resistant coating AlCrSiN (nACRo^®) on selected tribological properties of the analyzed tool steels for cold work, produced by conventional and powder metallurgy. The substrate from each steel was heat treated to achieve optimal properties regarding the chemical composition and the method of production of the material. Böhler K100 and K390 Microclean^® steels were used. These are highly alloyed tool steels used for various types of tools intended for cold work. The obtained results show that the coefficient of friction is increased by coating, but the wear rate is lower compared to the samples which were only textured. Full article

This study investigates the integration of quantum circuits with classical neural networks for enhancing credit scoring for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We introduce a hybrid quantum–classical model, focusing on the synergy between quantum and classical rather than comparing the performance of separate quantum and classical models. Our model incorporates a quantum layer into a traditional neural network, achieving notable reductions in training time. We apply this innovative framework to a binary classification task with a proprietary real-world classical credit default dataset for SMEs in Singapore. The results indicate that our hybrid model achieves efficient training, requiring significantly fewer epochs (350) compared to its classical counterpart (3500) for a similar predictive accuracy. However, we observed a decrease in performance when expanding the model beyond 12 qubits or when adding additional quantum classifier blocks. This paper also considers practical challenges faced when deploying such models on quantum simulators and actual quantum computers. Overall, our quantum–classical hybrid model for credit scoring reveals its potential in industry, despite encountering certain scalability limitations and practical challenges. Full article

Muscle growth stands as a pivotal economic trait within pig production, governed by a complex interplay of multiple genes, each playing a role in its quantitative manifestation. Understanding the intricate regulatory mechanisms of porcine muscle development is crucial for enhancing both pork yield and quality. This study used the GSE99749 dataset downloaded from the GEO database, conducting a detailed analysis of the RNA-seq results from the longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) of Tibetan pigs (TP), Wujin pigs (WJ) and large white pigs (LW) at 60 days of gestation, representing diverse body sizes and growth rates. Comparative analyses between TPvsWJ and TPvsLW, along with differential gene expression (DEG) analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, revealed 1048 and 1157 significantly differentially expressed genes (p < 0.001) in TPvsWJ and TPvsLW, respectively. With stricter screening criteria, 37 DEGs were found to overlap between the 2 groups. PPI analysis identified MYL5, MYL4, and ACTC1 as the three core genes. This article focuses on exploring the MYL4 gene. Molecular-level experimental validation, through overexpression and interference of the MYL4 gene combined with EDU staining experiments, demonstrated that overexpression of MYL4 significantly promoted the proliferation of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells (PSMSC), while interference with MYL4 inhibited their proliferation. Furthermore, by examining the effects of overexpressing and interfering with the MYL4 gene on the muscle hypertrophy marker Fst gene and the muscle degradation marker FOXO3 gene, the pivotal role of the MYL4 gene in promoting muscle growth and preventing muscle degradation was further confirmed. These findings offer a new perspective on the molecular mechanisms behind porcine muscle growth and development, furnishing valuable data and insights for muscle biology research. Full article

Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace is rich in insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). This study aimed to investigate the influence of three modification methods on Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace insoluble dietary fiber (RIDF). The three modified RIDFs, named U-RIDF, C-RIDF, and UC-RIDF, were prepared using ultrasound, cellulase, and a combination of ultrasound and cellulase methods, respectively. The structure, physicochemical characteristics, and functional properties of the raw RIDF and modified RIDF were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that all three modification methods, especially the ultrasound–cellulase combination treatment, increased the soluble dietary fiber (SDF) content of RIDF, while also causing a transition in surface morphology from smooth and dense to wrinkled and loose structures. Compared with the raw RIDF, the modified RIDF, particularly UC-RIDF, displayed significantly improved water-holding capacity (WHC), oil-binding capacity (OHC), and swelling capacity (SC), with increases of 12.0%, 84.7%, and 91.3%, respectively. Additionally, UC-RIDF demonstrated the highest nitrite ion adsorption capacity (NIAC), cholesterol adsorption capacity (CAC), and bile salt adsorption capacity (BSAC). In summary, the combination of ultrasound and cellulase treatment proved to be an efficient approach for modifying IDF from RRTP, with the potential for developing a functional food ingredient. Full article

The rapid decline in water availability for irrigation on the Texas High Plains (THP) is a significant problem affecting crop production and the viability of a large regional economy worth approximately USD 7 billion annually. This region is the largest continuous cotton-producing area in the United States, and the timely delivery and efficient use of irrigation water are critical to the sustainability and profitability of cotton production in this region. Current irrigation scheduling must be improved to reduce water consumption without compromising crop production. Presently, irrigation scheduling based on reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is limited due to the lack of reliable and readily available in-field weather data and updated crop coefficients. Additionally, in-field variability in crop water demand is often overlooked, leading to lower irrigation efficiency. To address these challenges, we explored the potential use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based crop monitoring system to support irrigation management decisions. This study was conducted in Lubbock, Texas, in 2022, where high temporal and spatial resolution images were acquired using a UAV from a cotton field experiment with four irrigation levels. Soil moisture and canopy temperature sensors were deployed to monitor crop response to irrigation and rainfall. The results indicated a significant effect of water stress on crop growth (revealed by UAV-based canopy cover (CC) measurements), yield, and fiber quality. Strong correlations between multi-temporal CC and lint yield (R² = 0.68 to 0.88) emphasized a clear trend: rainfed treatments with lower yields exhibited reduced CC, while irrigated plots with higher CC displayed increased yields. Furthermore, irrigated plots produced more mature and uniform fibers. This study also explored various evapotranspiration calculation approaches indicating that site-specific CC measurements obtained from a UAV could significantly reduce irrigation application. A regression model linking evapotranspiration to canopy cover demonstrated promising potential for estimating water demand in crops with an R² as high as 0.68. The findings highlight the efficacy of UAV-based canopy features in assessing drought effects and managing irrigation water in water-limited production regions like the THP. Full article

Sustainable energy systems (SESs) occupy a prominent position in the modern global energy landscape. The purpose of this study is to explore the application of fuzzy control and neural network control in photovoltaic systems to improve the power generation efficiency and stability of the system. By establishing the mathematical model of a photovoltaic system, the nonlinear and uncertain characteristics of photovoltaic system are considered. Fuzzy control and neural network control are used to control the system, and their performance is verified by experiments. The experimental results show that under the conditions of low light and moderate temperature, the fuzzy neural network control achieves a 3.33% improvement in power generation efficiency compared with the single control strategy. Meanwhile, the system can still maintain relatively stable operation under different environmental conditions under this comprehensive control. This shows that fuzzy neural network control has significant advantages in improving power generation efficiency and provides beneficial technical support and guidance for the commercial development of SESs. Full article