Over the last decade, a large number of studies have been conducted on heavy metals and magnetic susceptibility () measurement in soils. Yet, a global understanding of soil contamination and magnetic responses remains elusive due to the limited scope or sampling sites of these studies. Hence, we attempted to explore a pollution proxy on a global scale. Through a meta-analysis of data from 102 published studies, our research aimed to provide a worldwide overview of heavy metal pollution and magnetic responses in agriculture soils. We mapped the geographic distribution of nine heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, As, Cd, Mn, and Fe) in agricultural soils and explored their pollution sources and contributions. Since 2011, The accumulation of heavy metals has escalated, with industrial activities (31.5%) being the largest contributor, followed by agricultural inputs (27.1%), atmospheric deposition (22.66%), and natural sources (18.74%). The study reports ranging from 6.45 × 10⁻⁸ m³/kg to 319.23 × 10⁻⁸ m³/kg and from 0.59% and 12.85%, with the majority of the samples being below 6%, indicating heavy metal influence mainly from human activities. Pearson’s correlation and redundancy analysis show significant positive correlations of Pb, Zn, and Cu with (r = 0.51–0.53) and Mn and Fe with (r = 0.50–0.53), while Pb, Zn, Cu, and As metals were shown to be key factors of variation in magnetic response. The average heavy metal pollution load index of 2.03 suggests moderate global agricultural soil pollution, with higher heavy metal contamination in areas of high . Regression analysis confirms soil is considered to be non-polluted below of and polluted above this threshold, with all contamination factors of metals showing a linear correlation with (R = 0.72), indicating that a significant relationship between and the geochemical properties of soils continues to exist on a global scale. This study provides new insights for large-scale agricultural soil quality assessment and magnetic response. Full article

The research investigates the influence of different lighting conditions and soil treatments, in particular the application of food polymers separately and in combination with spores of Trichoderma consortium, on the growth and development of herbs—Thymus vulgaris and Thymus serpyllum. The metabolic analysis focuses on detecting changes in the levels of biologically active compounds such as chlorophyll a and b, anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenolic compounds (including flavonoids), terpenoids, and volatile organic compounds with potential health-promoting properties. By investigating these factors, the study aims to provide insights into how environmental conditions affect the growth and chemical composition of selected plants and to shed light on potential strategies for optimising the cultivation of these herbs for the improved quality and production of bioactive compounds. Under the influence of additional lighting, the growth of T. vulgaris and T. serpyllum seedlings was greatly accelerated, resulting in an increase in shoot biomass and length, and in the case of T. vulgaris, an increase in carotenoid and anthocyanin contents. Regarding secondary metabolites, the most pronounced changes were observed in total antioxidant capacity and flavonoid content, which increased significantly under the influence of additional lighting. The simultaneous or separate application of Trichoderma and food polymers resulted in an increase in flavonoid content in the leaves of both Thymus species. The increase in terpenoid content under supplemental light appears to be related to the presence of Trichoderma spores as well as food polymers added to the soil. However, the nature of these changes depends on the thyme species. Volatile compounds were analysed using an electronic nose (E-nose). Eight volatile compounds (VOCs) were tentatively identified in the vapours of T. vulgaris and T. serpyllum: α-pinene, myrcene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene; 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol. Tendencies to increase the percentage of thymol and γ-terpinene under supplemental lighting were observed. The results also demonstrate a positive effect of food polymers and, to a lesser extent, Trichoderma fungi on the synthesis of VOCs with health-promoting properties. The effect of Trichoderma and food polymers on individual VOCs was positive in some cases for thymol and γ-terpinene. Full article

In this paper, we consider the time-fractional Black–Scholes model with deterministic, time-varying coefficients. These time parametric constituents produce a model with greater flexibility that may capture empirical results from financial markets and their time-series datasets. We make use of transformations to reduce the underlying model to the classical heat transfer equation. We show that this transformation procedure is possible for a specific risk-free interest rate and volatility of stock function. Furthermore, we reverse these transformations and apply one-dimensional optimal subalgebras of the infinitesimal symmetry generators to establish invariant solutions. Full article

Fractional integro-differential equations (FIDEs) of both Volterra and Fredholm types present considerable challenges in numerical analysis and scientific computing due to their complex structures. This paper introduces a novel approach to address such equations by employing a Cubic B-spline collocation method. This method offers a robust and systematic framework for approximating solutions to the FIDEs, facilitating precise representations of complex phenomena. Within this research, we establish the mathematical foundations of the proposed scheme, elucidate its advantages over existing methods, and demonstrate its practical utility through numerical examples. We adopt the Caputo definition for fractional derivatives and conduct a stability analysis to validate the accuracy of the method. The findings showcase the precision and efficiency of the scheme in solving FIDEs, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for addressing a wide array of practical problems. Full article

Rotary kiln has been widely used in hazardous waste treatment because of its strong adaptability to raw materials, high productivity, and simple processing technology. However, the formation of deposits reduces its performance period and profitability. This study characterized the deposit mineralogy and thermodynamically and experimentally investigated its formation mechanism. The results show that the main phases of the deposit are magnetite, monolithic iron, olivine, and yellow feldspar. They indicate that the deposit formation process was accompanied by the participation of alkaline and iron oxides. The intermediate product Ca₂SiO₄ can promote the generation of low melting point phases, such as CaFeSiO₄ and Ca₂Al₂SiO₇, which are the main phases of deposit materials. Additionally, the reduction intermediate product FeO facilitated the generation of a liquid ferrous mixture (Fe₃O₄-FeO and Fe₃O₄-FeO-Fe mixture), which in turn further promoted the growth of the initial deposit phase. The solid deposit formed and attached to the kiln inner wall, along with a decrease in temperature. These results are expected to provide an idea or approach for fundamentally solving the problem of deposits in the rotary kiln. Full article

The Dung beetle optimization (DBO) algorithm, devised by Jiankai Xue in 2022, is known for its strong optimization capabilities and fast convergence. However, it does have certain limitations, including insufficiently random population initialization, slow search speed, and inadequate global search capabilities. Drawing inspiration from the mathematical properties of the Sinh and Cosh functions, we proposed a new metaheuristic algorithm, Sinh–Cosh Dung Beetle Optimization (SCDBO). By leveraging the Sinh and Cosh functions to disrupt the initial distribution of DBO and balance the development of rollerball dung beetles, SCDBO enhances the search efficiency and global exploration capabilities of DBO through nonlinear enhancements. These improvements collectively enhance the performance of the dung beetle optimization algorithm, making it more adept at solving complex real-world problems. To evaluate the performance of the SCDBO algorithm, we compared it with seven typical algorithms using the CEC2017 test functions. Additionally, by successfully applying it to three engineering problems, robot arm design, pressure vessel problem, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) path planning, we further demonstrate the superiority of the SCDBO algorithm. Full article

To inhibit the deep conversion of partial oxidation products (POX-products) in C-H bonds’ functionalization utilizing O₂, 5-(4-(chloromethyl)phenyl)-10,15,20-tris(perfluorophenyl)porphyrin cobalt(II) and 5-(4-(chloromethyl)phenyl)-10,15,20-tris(perfluorophenyl)porphyrin copper(II) were immobilized on the surface of hybrid silica to conduct relay catalysis on the surface. Fluorocarbons with low polarity and heterogeneous catalysis were devised to decrease the convenient accessibility of polar POX-products to catalytic centers on the lower polar surface. Relay catalysis between Co and Cu was designed to utilize the oxidation intermediates alkyl hydroperoxides to transform more C-H bonds. Systematic characterizations were conducted to investigate the structure of catalytic materials and confirm their successful syntheses. Applied to C-H bond oxidation, not only deep conversion of POX-products was inhibited but also substrate conversion and POX-product selectivity were improved simultaneously. For cyclohexane oxidation, conversion was improved from 3.87% to 5.27% with selectivity from 84.8% to 92.3%, which was mainly attributed to the relay catalysis on the surface excluding products. The effects of the catalytic materials, product exclusion, relay catalysis, kinetic study, substrate scope, and reaction mechanism were also investigated. To our knowledge, a practical and novel strategy was presented to inhibit the deep conversion of POX-products and to achieve efficient and accurate oxidative functionalization of hydrocarbons. Also, a valuable protocol was provided to avoid over-reaction in other chemical transformations requiring high selectivity. Full article

Proteins are an abundant biopolymer in organic waste feedstocks for biorefining. When degraded, amino acids are released, but their fate in non-methanogenic microbiomes is not well understood. The ability of a microbiome obtained from an anaerobic digester to produce volatile fatty acids from the twenty proteinogenic amino acids was tested using batch experiments. Batch tests were conducted using an initial concentration of each amino acid of 9000 mg COD L⁻¹ along with 9000 mg COD L⁻¹ acetate. Butyrate production was observed from lysine, glutamate, and serine fermentation. Lesser amounts of propionate, iso-butyrate, and iso-valerate were also observed from individual amino acids. Based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, Anaerostignum, Intestimonas, Aminipila, and Oscillibacter all likely play a role in the conversion of amino acids to butyrate. The specific roles of other abundant taxa, including Coprothermobacter, Fervidobacterium, Desulfovibrio, and Wolinella, remain unknown, but these genera should be studied for their role in fermentation of amino acids and proteins to VFAs. Full article

The dried Mume fructus (MF) is a special food and herbal medicine with a long history of processing and application. The browning index (BI) of Prunus mume (PM) is pivotal in determining the medicinal value and edible quality of MF. Exploring the BI of PM holds significant importance for both the selection of PM varieties and understanding the formation mechanism of high-quality MF. This study systematically analyzed the physicochemical properties, BI, and quality indicators of four PM varieties (Qingzhu Mei, Yesheng Mei, Nangao Mei, and Zhaoshui Mei) after processing into MF. The results showed significant differences in eight physicochemical indicators among the four PM varieties (p < 0.05). Notably, Qingzhu Mei exhibited the highest titratable acid content, Nangao Mei had the most prominent soluble solid and soluble sugar content, and Zhaoshui Mei showed outstanding performance in reducing sugar, soluble protein, and free amino acids. Regarding drying characteristics, Yesheng Mei and Nangao Mei required a shorter drying time. In terms of BI, Nangao Mei exhibited the greatest degree of browning and its color appearance was darker. When considering quality evaluation, Nangao Mei excelled in rehydration ability and extract content, while Zhaoshui Mei demonstrated outstanding levels of total phenols, total flavonoids, and total antioxidant capacity. Overall, the evaluation suggested that the Nangao Mei variety was more suitable for MF processing. These research results provide a valuable theoretical foundation for understanding the BI of PM varieties and serve as a reference for the selection of PM varieties as raw materials for processing MF. Full article

This study explores cryptocurrency investment strategies by adapting the robust framework of factor investing, traditionally applied in equity markets, to the distinctive landscape of cryptocurrency assets. It conducts an in-depth examination of 31 prominent cryptocurrencies from December 2017 to December 2023, employing the Fama–MacBeth regression method and portfolio regressions to assess the predictive capabilities of market, size, value, and momentum factors, adjusted for the unique characteristics of the cryptocurrency market. These characteristics include high volatility and continuous trading, which differ markedly from those of traditional financial markets. To address the challenges posed by the perpetual operation of cryptocurrency trading, this study introduces an innovative rebalancing strategy that involves weekly adjustments to accommodate the market’s constant fluctuations. Additionally, to mitigate issues like autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity in financial time series data, this research applies the Newey–West standard error approach, enhancing the robustness of regression analyses. The empirical results highlight the significant predictive power of momentum and value factors in forecasting cryptocurrency returns, underscoring the importance of tailoring conventional investment frameworks to the cryptocurrency context. This study not only investigates the applicability of factor investing in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency market, but also enriches the financial literature by demonstrating the effectiveness of combining Fama–MacBeth cross-sectional analysis with portfolio regressions, supported by Newey–West standard errors, in mastering the complexities of digital asset investments. Full article

The energy revolution in Saudi Arabia has accelerated significantly since 2016, driven by the National Vision 2030. Significant changes to energy subsidies took place, and the renewable energy sector has seen rapid growth. The paper presents an empirical analysis of the Saudi energy transition by emphasizing the drivers of fuel consumption in KSA. It primarily attempts to explore the long-run (LR) connection between oil consumption and several economic variables such as economic growth, crude oil prices, investment, and the labor force in Saudi Arabia (KSA) from 1991 up to 2021. The paper implemented the vector error correction model (VECM) and performed different diagnostic tests to provide more evidence about the validity and robustness of the tests. The empirical findings highlighted how important the labor force, savings, GDP, and crude oil price are in determining oil consumption for KSA. The law of demand is significantly present, which negatively affects oil consumption for KSA as an oil exporting country. The results also supported the existence of a long-term direct correlation between the variables and oil consumption. Furthermore, the short-term estimation highlighted that only saving has a negative impact on oil consumption for a single lagged period. Our findings provide governments and regulators with further incentive to slow the expansion in oil consumption, as a larger labor force is demanding more oil to attain the target, faster economic growth, and increased savings are all contributing factors. Our findings are significant because they can assist policymakers, investors, and regulators in generating more efficient oil substitutes and making them affordable for the economy. Full article

Doubly coupled designs (DCDs) have better space-filling properties between the qualitative and quantitative factors than marginally coupled designs (MCDs) which are suitable for computer experiments with both qualitative and quantitative factors. In this paper, we propose a new class of DCDs, called group doubly coupled designs (GDCDs), and provide methods for constructing two forms of GDCDs, within-group doubly coupled designs and between-group doubly coupled designs. The proposed GDCDs can accommodate more qualitative factors than DCDs, when the subdesigns for the qualitative factors are symmetric. The subdesigns of qualitative factors are not asymmetric in the existing results on DCDs, and in this paper, we construct GDCDs with symmetric and asymmetric designs for the qualitative factors, respectively. Moreover, detailed comparisons with existing MCDs show that GDCDs have better space-filling properties between qualitative and quantitative factors. Finally, the methods are particularly easy to implement. Full article

Monotonic circuits are a class of input–output mode (IOM) asynchronous circuits that are relaxed compared to quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) IOM asynchronous circuits in terms of signaling the completion of internal processing. Some recent works have demonstrated the superiority of monotonic logic over QDI logic for arithmetic circuits such as adders and multipliers. This paper presents a new monotonic asynchronous two-bit full adder (TFA) that can be duplicated and cascaded to form a ripple-carry adder (RCA). While an RCA is a slow adder with respect to synchronous design, with respect to IOM asynchronous design an RCA is a noteworthy adder since it has perhaps the least reverse latency that is not attainable through other IOM asynchronous adders. Conventionally, an RCA is constructed via a cascade of one-bit full adders (OFAs). An OFA adds two input bits along with any carry input and produces a sum bit and any carry output. On the other hand, a TFA simultaneously adds two pairs of input bits along with any carry input and produces two sum bits and any carry output. Using our proposed monotonic TFA, we realized an RCA to compare its performance with RCAs constructed using different asynchronous OFAs, and RCAs constructed using existing TFAs. We considered the popular delay-insensitive dual-rail scheme for encoding the adder inputs and outputs, and two 4-phase handshake protocols, namely return-to-zero handshaking (R0H) and return-to-one handshaking (R1H) for communication separately. We used a 28 nm CMOS process for implementation and considered a 32-bit addition as an example. Based on the design metrics estimated, the following inferences were derived: (i) compared to the RCA using the state-of-the-art monotonic OFA, the RCA incorporating the proposed TFA achieved a 26% reduction in cycle time for R0H and a 28.5% reduction in cycle time for R1H while dissipating almost the same power; the cycle time governs the data application rate in an IOM asynchronous circuit, and (ii) compared to the RCA comprising an early output QDI TFA, the RCA incorporating the proposed TFA achieved a 22.3% reduction in cycle time for R0H and a 25.4% reduction in cycle time for R1H while dissipating moderately less power. Also, compared to the existing early output QDI TFA, the proposed TFA occupies 40.9% less area for R0H and 42% less area for R1H. Full article

An in-band low radar cross section (RCS) microstrip patch antenna based on a phase control metasurface is proposed. As the size of the phase control metasurface changes, it will have different phase adjustments to the incident electromagnetic wave. Two kinds of phase control metasurfaces with a 90° reflection phase difference are arranged in a checkerboard configuration and loaded above a microstrip array antenna. The metal of the microstrip array antenna can fully reflect the electromagnetic wave, so the incident wave passes through the metasurface again and forms a reflected wave with a phase difference of 180° ± 37° when passing through the phase control metasurfaces of different sizes. Thus, the microstrip array antenna can achieve in-band RCS reduction. The metamaterial forms a transmission window in the microstrip patch array antenna band to maintain the radiation performance. Finally, a reasonable agreement is obtained between the measured and simulated results. Full article

The burgeoning significance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics in realms such as investment decision making, corporate reporting, and risk management underscores the imperative for a robust, comprehensive solution capable of effectively capturing, representing, and analysing the multifaceted and intricate ESG data landscape. Facing the challenge of aligning with diverse standards and utilising complex datasets, organisations require robust systems for the integration of ESG metrics with traditional financial reporting. Amidst this, the evolving regulatory landscape and the demand for transparency and stakeholder engagement present significant challenges, given the lack of standardized ESG metrics in certain areas. Recently, the use of ontology-driven architectures has gained attention for their ability to encapsulate domain knowledge and facilitate integration with decision-support systems. This paper proposes a knowledge graph in the ESG metric domain to assist corporations in cataloguing and navigating ESG reporting requirements, standards, and associated data. Employing a design science methodology, we developed an ontology that serves as both a conceptual foundation and a semantic layer, fostering the creation of an interoperable ESG Metrics Knowledge Graph (ESGMKG) and its integration within operational layers. This ontology-driven approach promises seamless integration with diverse ESG data sources and reporting frameworks, while addressing the critical challenges of metric selection, alignment, and data verification, supporting the dynamic nature of ESG metrics. The utility and effectiveness of the proposed ontology were demonstrated through a case study centred on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) framework that is widely used within the banking industry. Full article

Category level 6D object pose estimation aims to predict the rotation, translation and size of object instances in any scene. In current research methods, global average pooling (first-order) is usually used to explore geometric features, which can only capture the first-order statistical information of the features and do not fully utilize the potential of the network. In this work, we propose a new high-order pose estimation network (HoPENet), which enhances feature representation by collecting high-order statistics to model high-order geometric features at each stage of the network. HoPENet introduces a global high-order enhancement module and utilizes global high-order pooling operations to capture the correlation between features and fuse global information. In addition, this module can capture long-term statistical correlations and make full use of contextual information. The entire network finally obtains a more discriminative feature representation. Experiments on two benchmarks, the virtual dataset CAMERA25 and the real dataset REAL275, demonstrate the effectiveness of HoPENet, achieving state-of-the-art (SOTA) pose estimation performance. Full article

The planar cell polarity (PCP) system is essential for positioning cells in 3D networks to establish the proper morphogenesis, structure, and function of organs during embryonic development. The PCP system uses inter- and intracellular feedback interactions between components of the core PCP, characterized by coordinated planar polarization and asymmetric distribution of cell populations inside the cells. PCP signaling connects the anterior–posterior to left–right embryonic plane polarity through the polarization of cilia in the Kupffer’s vesicle/node in vertebrates. Experimental investigations on various genetic ablation-based models demonstrated the functions of PCP in planar polarization and associated genetic disorders. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of PCP signaling history, core components of the PCP signaling pathway, molecular mechanisms underlying PCP signaling, interactions with other signaling pathways, and the role of PCP in organ and embryonic development. Moreover, we will delve into the negative feedback regulation of PCP to maintain polarity, human genetic disorders associated with PCP defects, as well as challenges associated with PCP. Full article

During the 2008 financial crisis, central banks (such as the Fed) adopted a quantitative easing (QE) policy to stimulate their countries’ economies and overcome severe economic and financial recessions. However, apart from stimulating the economy by issuing a substantial amount of currency to purchase long-term bonds and suppress interest rates, QE policy also contributed to a boom in the real estate and construction sectors. Therefore, this study employs data envelopment analysis to measure the business performance (BP) of construction companies, and explore the impact of QE policy on the BP of construction companies, between 2004 and 2015, using hierarchical regression. We also examine the moderating role of the debt ratio on the relationship. Focused on publicly listed construction companies in Taiwan, this research reveals three encouraging findings. Firstly, QE policy indeed enhanced the BP of Taiwanese construction companies. Secondly, performance improvements in construction companies due to QE policy show a time-diminishing trend, suggesting the importance of seizing the initial policy benefits of QE implementation. Lastly, construction companies with appropriate financial leverage may exhibit better BP. These findings can provide valuable insights for relevant government entities and decision-makers in the industry for policy and investment decisions. Full article

The fruit of Phyllanthus emblica L. (FEPE) has a long history of use in Asian folk medicine. The main bioactive compounds in FEPE are polyphenols, known for their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic activities. The present study aimed to investigate the intervention effect of FEPE (100 and 200 mg/kg) on hyperlipidemia for 8 weeks and preliminarily explored the potential mechanism by microbiome-metabolome analysis. The results showed that a high-dose FEPE (200 mg/kg) effectively alleviated dyslipidaemic symptoms and body weight gain in hyperlipidemic mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Microbiome analysis showed that FEPE altered the structure of the intestinal microbiota, which included an increase in specific probiotics (such as Akkermansia, Anaerovorax, and Bacteroides) and a decrease in harmful bacteria (including A2, Acetitomaculum, Candidatus_Arthromitus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Lachnospiraceae_NK4B4_group, Rikenella, and Streptococcus), as well as a reduction in the level of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In addition, significant changes in the hepatic metabolome were observed, and eight key metabolites associated with betaine metabolism, lysine degradation, methionine metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism pathways were primarily filtered. The correlated analysis identified several key “microbiota-metabolite” axes in the treatment of hyperlipidemia by FEPE extract. In conclusion, the present study is expected to provide a basis for treating hyperlipidemia with FEPE from the perspective of the microbiome-liver metabolome axis. Full article

Circulating food metabolites could improve dietary assessments by complementing traditional methods. Here, biomarker candidates of food intake were identified in plasma samples from pregnancy (gestational week 29, N = 579), delivery (mothers, N = 532; infants, N = 348), and four months postpartum (mothers, N = 477; breastfed infants, N = 193) and associated to food intake assessed with semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Families from the Swedish birth cohort Nutritional impact on Immunological maturation during Childhood in relation to the Environment (NICE) were included. Samples were analyzed using untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics. Both exposure and outcome were standardized, and relationships were investigated using a linear regression analysis. The intake of fruits and berries and fruit juice were both positively related to proline betaine levels during pregnancy (fruits and berries, β = 0.23, FDR < 0.001; fruit juice, β = 0.27, FDR < 0.001), at delivery (fruit juice, infants: β = 0.19, FDR = 0.028), and postpartum (fruits and berries, mothers: β = 0.27, FDR < 0.001, infants: β = 0.29, FDR < 0.001; fruit juice, mothers: β = 0.37, FDR < 0.001). Lutein levels were positively related to vegetable intake during pregnancy (β = 0.23, FDR < 0.001) and delivery (mothers: β = 0.24, FDR < 0.001; newborns: β = 0.18, FDR = 0.014) and CMPF with fatty fish intake postpartum (mothers: β = 0.20, FDR < 0.001). No clear relationships were observed with the expected food sources of the remaining metabolites (acetylcarnitine, choline, indole-3-lactic acid, pipecolic acid). Our study suggests that plasma lutein could be useful as a more general food group intake biomarker for vegetables and fruits during pregnancy and delivery. Also, our results suggest the application of proline betaine as an intake biomarker of citrus fruit during gestation and lactation. Full article

Objective: Dental hypersensitivity remains widespread, underscoring the need for materials that can effectively seal dental tubules. This study evaluated the potential of bioactive-glass-infused hydroxyethyl cellulose gels in this context. Methods: Five gels were synthesized, each containing 20% bioactive glass (specifically, 45S5, S53P4, Biomin F, and Biomin C), with an additional blank gel serving as a control. Subjected to two months of accelerated aging at 37 ± 2 °C, these gels were assessed for key properties: viscosity, water disintegration time, pH level, consistency, adhesion to glass, and element release capability. Results: Across the board, the gels facilitated the release of calcium, phosphate, and silicon ions, raising the pH from 9.00 ± 0.10 to 9.7 ± 0.0—a range conducive to remineralization. Dissolution in water occurred within 30–50 min post-application. Viscosity readings showed variability, with 45S5 reaching 6337 ± 24 mPa/s and Biomin F at 3269 ± 18 mPa/s after two months. Initial adhesion for the blank gel was measured at 0.27 ± 0.04 Pa, increasing to 0.73 ± 0.06 Pa for the others over time. Gels can release elements upon contact with water (Ca⁻ Biomin C 104.8 ± 15.7 mg/L; Na⁻ Biomin F 76.30 ± 11.44 mg/L; P⁻ Biomin C 2.623 ± 0.393 mg/L; Si⁻ 45S5-45.15 ± 6.77mg/L, F⁻ Biomin F⁻ 3.256 ± 0.651mg/L; Cl⁻ Biomin C 135.5 ± 20.3 mg/L after 45 min). Conclusions: These findings highlight the gels’ capacity to kickstart the remineralization process by delivering critical ions needed for enamel layer reconstruction. Further exploration in more dynamic, real-world conditions is recommended to fully ascertain their practical utility. Full article

Drusen are one of the most characteristic pathologies of precursor lesion of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Drusen comprise a yellowish white substance that accumulates typically under the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and their constituents are lipids, complement, amyloid, crystallin, and others. In the past, many researchers have focused on drusen and tried to elucidate the pathophysiology of AMD because they believed that disease progression from early AMD to advanced AMD might be based on drusen or drusen might cause AMD. In fact, it is well established that drusen are the hallmark of precursor lesion of AMD and a major risk factor for AMD progression mainly based on their size and number. However, the existence of advanced AMD without drusen has long been recognized. For example, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), which comprises the majority of AMD cases in Asians, often lacks drusen. Thus, there is the possibility that drusen might be no more than a biomarker of AMD and not a cause of AMD. Now is the time to reconsider the relationship between AMD and drusen. In this review, we focus on early AMD pathogenesis based on basic research from the perspective of cholesterol metabolism and hypoxic response in the retina, and we discuss the role of drusen. Full article