Natural resource managers may utilize remotely sensed data to monitor vegetation within their decision-making frameworks for improving habitats. Under binational agreements between the United States and Mexico, seven reaches were targeted for riparian habitat enhancement. Monitoring was carried out using Landsat 8 16-day intervals of the two-band enhanced vegetation index 2 (EVI2) for greenness and actual evapotranspiration (ETa). In-channel water was delivered in 2021 and 2022 at four places in Reach 4. Three reaches (Reaches 4, 5 and 7) showed no discernable difference in EVI2 from reaches that did not receive in-channel water (Reaches 1, 2, 3 and 6). EVI2 in 2021 was higher than 2020 in all reaches except Reach 3, and EVI2 in 2022 was lower than 2021 in all reaches except Reach 7. ET(EVI2) was higher in 2020 than in 2021 and 2022 in all seven reaches; it was highest in Reach 4 (containing restoration sites) in all years. Excluding restoration sites, compared with 2020, unrestored reaches showed that EVI2 minimally increased in 2021 and 2022, while ET(EVI2) minimally decreased despite added water in 2021–2022. Difference maps comparing 2020 (no-flow year) to 2021 and 2022 (in-channel flows) reveal areas in Reaches 5 and 7 where the in-channel flows increased greenness and ET(EVI2). Full article

Uncovering the function of understudied G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) provides a wealth of untapped therapeutic potential. The poorly understood adhesion GPCR Gpr126 (Adgrg6) is widely expressed in developing kidneys. In adulthood, Gpr126 expression is enriched in parietal epithelial cells (PECs) and epithelial cells of the collecting duct and urothelium. Whether Gpr126 plays a role in kidney disease remains unclear. Here, we characterized Gpr126 expression in diseased kidneys in mice, rats, and humans. RT-PCR data show that Gpr126 expression is altered in kidney disease. A quantitative RNAscope^® analysis utilizing cell type-specific markers revealed that Gpr126 expression upon tubular damage is mainly increased in cell types expressing Gpr126 under healthy conditions as well as in cells of the distal and proximal tubules. Upon glomerular damage, an increase was mainly detected in PECs. Notably, Gpr126 expression was upregulated in an ischemia/reperfusion model within hours, while upregulation in a glomerular damage model was only detected after weeks. An analysis of kidney microarray data from patients with lupus nephritis, IgA nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), hypertension, and diabetes as well as single-cell RNA-seq data from kidneys of patients with acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease indicates that GPR126 expression is also altered in human kidney disease. In patients with FSGS, an RNAscope^® analysis showed that GPR126 mRNA is upregulated in PECs belonging to FSGS lesions and proximal tubules. Collectively, we provide detailed insights into Gpr126 expression in kidney disease, indicating that GPR126 is a potential therapeutic target. Full article

Excessive column pile heave may result in engineering disasters such as instability of retaining structures and cracking of existing engineering piles in deep excavations. However, factors such as support weight, changeable support restraint resistance, and soil disturbance at the bottom of the excavation are often ignored or simplified in existing calculation methods but have a significant impact on the calculation results. Based on field soil parameters obtained by the rebound–recompression method, a semi-analytical method is proposed for estimating column pile heaves in a deep excavation. This method considers the influence of soil disturbance, the weight of the retaining structure, and the changeable horizontal support restraint, making the calculation result more consistent with the realistic situation. This method can also be used to analyze load transfer between the pile and the surrounding soil. The rationality of this proposed calculation method is verified by measured data, where the variation in pile stress state during deep excavation is analyzed. Finally, a parametric study is conducted, and the results show that the excavation size and the excavation depth have a great influence. However, the heave is hardly affected by the value of the limit relative displacement. The use of long piles with small diameter and the method of small block excavation are effective means to control the column pile heave. When the excavation area is large or the effective pile length is short, the factor of the position of the column pile cannot be ignored. Full article

A technical issue with fluid flow heating is the relatively small temperature increase as the fluid passes through the heating surface. The fluid does not spend enough time inside the heating source to significantly raise its temperature, despite the heating source itself experiencing a substantial increase. To address this challenge, the concept of the multiple circular heating of air was developed, forming the basis of this work. Two PTC heaters with longitudinal fins are located within a closed channel inside housing composed of a thermal insulation material. Air flows circularly from one finned surface to another. Analytical modeling and experimental testing were used in the analysis, with established restrictions and boundary conditions. An important outcome of the analysis was the methodology established for the optimization of the geometric and process parameters based on minimizing the transient thermal entropy. In conducting the analytical modeling, the temperature of the PTC heater was assumed to be constant at 150 °C and 200 °C. By removing the restrictions and adjusting the boundary conditions, the established methodology for the analysis and optimization of various thermally transient industrial processes can be applied more widely. The experimental determination of the transient thermal entropy was performed at a much higher air flow rate of 0.005 m³s⁻¹ inside the closed channel. The minimum transient entropy also indicates the optimal time for the opening of the channel, allowing the heated air to exit. The novelty of this work lies in the controlled circular heating of the fluid and the establishment of the minimum transient thermal entropy as an optimization criterion. Full article

Introduction: Optimizing treatment with biological agents is an ideal goal for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Recent data suggest that mucosal inflammation patterns and serum cytokine profiles differ between patients who respond and those who do not. Ustekinumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the p40 subunit of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, has shown promise, but predicting treatment response remains a challenge. We aimed to identify prognostic markers of response to ustekinumab in patients with active UC, utilizing information from their mucosal transcriptome. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study of 36 UC patients initiating treatment with ustekinumab. Colonic mucosal biopsies were obtained before treatment initiation for a gene expression analysis using a microarray panel of 84 inflammatory genes. A differential gene expression analysis (DGEA), correlation analysis, and network centrality analysis on co-expression networks were performed to identify potential biomarkers. Additionally, machine learning (ML) models were employed to predict treatment response based on gene expression data. Results: Seven genes, including BCL6, CXCL5, and FASLG, were significantly upregulated, while IL23A and IL23R were downregulated in non-responders compared to responders. The co-expression analysis revealed distinct patterns between responders and non-responders, with key genes like BCL6 and CRP highlighted in responders and CCL11 and CCL22 in non-responders. The ML algorithms demonstrated a high predictive power, emphasizing the significance of the IL23R, IL23A, and BCL6 genes. Conclusions: Our study identifies potential biomarkers associated with ustekinumab response in UC patients, shedding light on its underlying mechanisms and variability in treatment outcomes. Integrating transcriptomic approaches, including gene expression analyses and ML, offers valuable insights for personalized treatment strategies and highlights avenues for further research to enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients with UC. Full article

The concept of complex fuzzy sets, where the unit disk of the complex plane acts as the codomain of the membership function, as an extension of fuzzy sets. The objective of this article is to use complex fuzzy sets in BCK/BCI-algebras. We present the concept of a complex fuzzy subalgebra in a BCK/BCI-algebra and explore their properties. Furthermore, we discuss the modal and level operators of these complex fuzzy subalgebras, highlighting their importance in BCK/BCI-algebras. We study various operations, and the laws of a complex fuzzy system, including union, intersection, complement, simple differences, and bounded differences of complex fuzzy ideals within BCK/BCI-algebras. Finally, we generate a computer programming algorithm that implements our complex fuzzy subalgebras/ideals in BCK/BCI-algebras procedure for ease of lengthy calculations. Full article

In recent years, tubular nanostructures have been related to immense advances in various fields of science and technology. Considerable research efforts have been centred on the theoretical prediction and manufacturing of non-carbon nanotubes (NTs), which meet modern requirements for the development of novel devices and systems. In this context, diatomic inorganic nanotubes formed by atoms of elements from the 13th group of the periodic table (B, Al, Ga, In, Tl) and nitrogen (N) have received much research attention. In this study, the elastic properties of single-walled boron nitride, aluminium nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride, and thallium nitride nanotubes were assessed numerically using the nanoscale continuum modelling approach (also called molecular structural mechanics). The elastic properties (rigidities, surface Young’s and shear moduli, and Poisson’s ratio) of nitride nanotubes are discussed with respect to the bond length of the corresponding diatomic hexagonal lattice. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the mechanical response of nitride compound-based nanotubes, covering a broad range, from the well-studied boron nitride NTs to the hypothetical thallium nitride NTs. Full article

Background: Adolescents who identify as sexual minorities often face social stigmatisation, which can lead to increased adversity and a higher risk of suicidal behaviours. However, there are also protective factors that may promote resilience to these risk behaviours. This study aims to identify factors that predict resilience in sexual minority adolescents with high suicidal vulnerability. Methods: The study sample comprised 78 self-reported LGBTIQ+ adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years old (M = 16.11, SD = 1.56) who had previously attempted suicide. They completed several psychosocial instruments to measure risk and protective variables related to suicidal vulnerability. Results: Entrapment was found to be the most predictive risk variable for suicide attempts. However, protective variables promoting resilience were also found, such as adequate parental communication, life satisfaction, and cognitive reframing. Discussion: The findings related to prevention of suicide attempts are discussed and we highlight the urgent need to enhance certain internal and contextual protective factors to promote resilience in the face of suicidal vulnerability in certain clinical subpopulations exposed to highly adverse situations. Full article

Chromium slag is a solid waste of chromium salt production, which contains highly toxic Cr(VI) and significant amounts of valuable metals, such as Fe and Cr. Recycling chromium slag as a raw sintering material in sintering–ironmaking processes can simultaneously reduce toxic Cr(VI) and recover valuable metals. A micro-sintering experiment, compressive strength test, microhardness test, and first-principles calculation are performed to investigate the influence of Cr₂O₃ on the sintering microstructure and mechanical properties of the silico-ferrite of calcium and aluminum (SFCA) in order to understand the basis of the sintering process with chromium slag addition. The results show that the microstructure of SFCA changes from blocky to interwoven, with further increasing Cr₂O₃ content from 0 wt% to 3 wt%, and transforms to blocky with Cr₂O₃ content increasing to 5 wt%. Cr₂O₃ reacts with Fe₂O₃ to form (Fe_1−xCr_x)₂O₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), which participates in forming SFCA. With the increase in Cr doping concentrations, the hardness of SFCA first decreases and then increases, and the toughness increases. When Cr₂O₃ content increases from 0 wt% to 3 wt%, the SFCA microhardness decreases and the compressive strength of the sintered sample increases. Further increasing Cr₂O₃ contents to 5 wt%, the SFCA microhardness increases, and the compressive strength of sintered sample decreases. Full article

E-liquids contain combinations of chemicals, with many enhancing the sensory attractiveness of the product. Studies are needed to understand and characterize e-liquid ingredients, particularly flavorings, to inform future research and regulations of these products. We identified common flavor ingredients in a convenience sample of commercial e-liquids using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. E-liquid flavors were categorized by flavor descriptors provided on the product packaging. A Flavor Ingredient Wheel was developed to link e-liquid flavor ingredients with flavor categories. An analysis of 109 samples identified 48 flavor ingredients. Consistency between the labeled flavor and ingredients used to produce such flavor was found. Our novel Flavor Ingredient Wheel organizes e-liquids by flavor and ingredients, enabling efficient analysis of the link between ingredients and their flavor profiles and allowing for quick assessment of an e-liquid ingredient’s flavor profile. Investigating ingredient profiles and identifying and classifying commonly used chemicals in e-liquids may assist with future studies and improve the ability to regulate these products. Full article

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is one of deadliest metastatic patterns of gastric cancer, being associated with a median overall survival (OS) of 4 months. Up to now, palliative systemic chemotherapy (pSC) has been the only recommended treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate a potential survival benefit after CRS + HIPEC compared to pSC. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines in March 2024. Manuscripts reporting patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer treated with CRS + HIPEC were included. A meta-analysis was performed, comparing the survival results between the CRS + HIPEC and pSC groups, and the primary outcome was the comparison in terms of OS. We performed random-effects meta-analysis of odds ratios (ORs). We assessed heterogeneity using the Q2 statistic. Results: Out of the 24 papers included, 1369 patients underwent CRS + HIPEC, with a median OS range of 9.8–28.2 months; and 103 patients underwent pSC, with a median OS range of 4.9–8 months. CRS + HIPEC was associated with significantly increased survival compared to palliative systemic chemotherapy (−1.8954 (95% CI: −2.5761 to −1.2146; p < 0.001). Conclusions: CRS + HIPEC could provide survival advantages in gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis compared to pSC. Full article

The dust originating from the extinct lake of the Aral Sea poses a considerable threat to the surrounding communities and ecosystems. The accurate location of these wind erosion areas is an essential prerequisite for controlling sand and dust activity. However, few relevant indicators reported in this current study can accurately describe and measure wind erosion intensity. A novel wind erosion intensity (WEI) of a pixel resolution unit was defined in this paper based on deformation due to the wind erosion in this pixel resolution unit. We also derived the relationship between WEI and soil InSAR temporal decorrelation (ITD). ITD is usually caused by the surface change over time, which is very suitable for describing wind erosion. However, within a pixel resolution unit, the ITD signal usually includes soil and vegetation contributions, and extant studies concerning this issue are considerably limited. Therefore, we proposed an ITD decomposition model (ITDDM) to decompose the ITD signal of a pixel resolution unit. The least-square method (LSM) based on singular value decomposition (SVD) is used to estimate the ITD of soil (SITD) within a pixel resolution unit. We verified the results qualitatively by the landscape photos, which can reflect the actual conditions of the soil. At last, the WEI of the Aral Sea from 23 June 2020, to 5 July 2020 was mapped. The results confirmed that (1) based on the ITDDM model, the SITD can be accurately estimated by the LSM; (2) the Aral Sea is experiencing severe wind erosion; and (3) the middle, northeast, and southeast bare areas of the South Aral Sea are where salt dust storms may occur. Full article

Sediment erosion around submarine pipelines is a popular topic, widely investigated in both ocean and submarine-pipeline engineering. In this paper, the incompressible smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method is modified for simulation of local scouring process around the submarine pipeline under the action of unidirectional flow. The erosion model is based on the Clear Water Particle–Turbid Water Particle–Critical Shear Stress (CWP-TWP-CSS) concept, and a sand–water two-phase model is proposed to deal with the sediment-entrained flow. The results of the numerical simulation are compared with the experimental data to verify the accuracy and applicability of the numerical model. The scouring process around the pipeline is investigated under different conditions, i.e., pipeline diameters, gap ratios, and flow velocities. The ISPH model is further used to study the flow characteristics of the scour pits around the submarine pipeline and the influence of the vortices on the maximum scour depth, to provide a theoretical basis for the stability design of submarine pipelines. Full article

The application of Neurospora sp., a fungus that commonly thrives on complex agricultural and plant wastes, has proven successful in utilizing citrus peel waste as a source of naringin. A UV-Vis spectrophotometric method proved the biotransformation of naringin, with an absorption maximum (λ_max) observed at 310 nm for the biotransformed product, naringenin (NAR). Further verification of the conversion of naringin was provided through thin layer chromatography (TLC). The Neurospora crassa mediated biotransformation of naringin to NAR was utilized for the rapid (within 5 min) synthesis of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoconjugates using sunlight to accelerate the reaction. The synthesized NAR-nano Ag and NAR-nano Au conjugates exhibited monodispersed spherical and spherical as well as polygonal shaped particles, respectively. Both of the nanoconjugates showed average particle sizes of less than 90 nm from TEM analysis. The NAR-Ag and NAR-Au nanoconjugates displayed potential enhancement of the antimicrobial activities, including antibacterial and nematicidal properties over either standalone NAR or Ag or Au NPs. This study reveals the potential of naringinase-producing Neurospora sp. for transforming naringin into NAR. Additionally, the resulting NAR-Ag and NAR-Au nanoconjugates showed promise as sustainable antibiotics and biochemical nematicides. Full article

A novel, in situ, low-cost and facile method has been developed to fabricate flexible NO₂ sensors capable of operating at ambient temperature, addressing the urgent need for monitoring this toxic gas. This technique involves the synthesis of highly porous structures, as well as the specific development of laser-induced graphene (LIG) and its heterostructures with SnO₂, all through laser scribing. The morphology, phases, and compositions of the sensors were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The effects of SnO₂ addition on structural and sensor properties were investigated. Gas-sensing measurements were conducted at room temperature with NO₂ concentrations ranging from 50 to 10 ppm. LIG and LIG/SnO₂ sensors exhibited distinct trends in response to NO₂, and the gas-sensing mechanism was elucidated. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing LIG and LIG/SnO₂ heterostructures in gas-sensing applications at ambient temperatures, underscoring their broad potential across diverse fields. Full article

Skin and soft tissue reconstruction has long been based on the reconstructive ladder. However, a skin substitute has become popular due to its predictable outcomes, without donor-site morbidity. The biodegradable temporizing matrix (BTM; NovoSorb, PolyNovo Ltd., Port Melbourne, Australia) is a synthetic skin substitute that has recently gained its clinical application. Compared with those of other dermal templates, the clinical efficacy and performance of the BTM are not well established, especially among the Asian population. This study aims to share our experience and strategy of using BTM in various wound conditions. The data of patients who underwent skin and soft tissue reconstruction with BTM at a single institution between January 2022 and December 2023 were reviewed. The patient demographics, wound characteristics, surgical details, secondary procedures, and complications were recorded and analyzed. Postoperative 6-month photographs were collected and independently evaluated by two plastic surgeons and two wound care center nurses using the Manchester Scar Scale (MSS). This study included 37 patients, consisting of 22 males and 15 females with a mean age of 51.8 years (range, 18–86 years old). The wound etiologies included trauma (67.6%), necrotizing soft tissue infection (16.2%), burns (10.8%), toe gangrene (2.7%), and scar excision (2.7%). The average wound area covered by BTM was 50.6 ± 47.6 cm². Among the patients, eight received concomitant flap surgery and BTM implantation, 20 (54.1%) underwent subsequent split-thickness skin grafts (STSG), and 17 had small wounds (mean: 21.6 cm²) healed by secondary intention. Infection was the most common complication, affecting six patients (n = 6 [16.2%]), five of whom were treated conservatively, and only one required debridement. Thirty-three patients (89.2%) had good BTM take, and only four had BTM failure, requiring further reconstruction. At the last follow-up, 35 out of the 37 patients (94.6%) achieved successful wound closure, and the total MSS score was 10.44 ± 2.94, indicating a satisfactory scar condition. The patients who underwent BTM grafting without STSG had better scar scores than those who received STSG (8.71 ± 2.60 vs. 11.18 ± 2.84, p = 0.039). In conclusion, the BTM is effective and feasible in treating various wounds, with relatively low complication rates, and it can thus be considered as an alternative for skin and soft tissue reconstruction. When combined with adipofasical flap reconstruction, it achieves a more comprehensive anatomical restoration. Full article

The composition and continuous succession of natural microbial communities during grape growth play important roles in grape health and flavor quality as well as in characterizing the regional wine terroir. This study explored the diversity and dynamics of fruit epidermal microbes at each growth and developmental stage of Ecolly grapes under an extremely simplified eco-cultivation model, analyzed microbial interactions and associations of weather parameters to specific communities, and emphasized metabolic functional characteristics of microecology. The results indicated that the natural microbial community changed significantly during the grape growth phase. The dominant fungal genera mainly included Gibberella, Alternaria, Filobasidium, Naganishia, Ascochyta, Apiotrichum, Comoclathris, and Aureobasidium, and the dominant bacterial genera mainly contained Sediminibacterium, Ralstonia, Pantoea, Bradyrhizobium, Brevundimonas, Mesorhizobium, Planococcus, and Planomicrobium. In summary, filamentous fungi gradually shifted to basidiomycetous yeasts along with fruit ripening, with a decline in the number of Gram-negative bacteria and a relative increase in Gram-positive bacteria. The community assembly process reflects the fact that microbial ecology may be influenced by a variety of factors, but the fungal community was more stable, and the bacterial community fluctuated more from year to year, which may reflect their response to weather conditions over the years. Overall, our study helps to comprehensively profile the ecological characteristics of the grape microbial system, highlights the natural ecological viticulture concept, and promotes the sustainable development of the grape and wine industry. Full article

This study aims to generate visually useful imagery by preventing cropping while maintaining resolution and minimizing the degradation of stability and distortion to enhance the stability of a video for Augmented Reality applications. The focus is placed on conducting research that balances maintaining execution speed with performance improvements. By processing Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor data using the Versatile Quaternion-based Filter algorithm and optical flow, our research first applies motion compensation to frames of input video. To address cropping, PCA-flow-based video stabilization is then performed. Furthermore, to mitigate distortion occurring during the full-frame video creation process, neural rendering is applied, resulting in the output of stabilized frames. The anticipated effect of using an IMU sensor is the production of full-frame videos that maintain visual quality while increasing the stability of a video. Our technique contributes to correcting video shakes and has the advantage of generating visually useful imagery at low cost. Thus, we propose a novel hybrid full-frame video stabilization algorithm that produces full-frame videos after motion compensation with an IMU sensor. Evaluating our method against three metrics, the Stability score, Distortion value, and Cropping ratio, results indicated that stabilization was more effectively achieved with robustness to flow inaccuracy when effectively using an IMU sensor. In particular, among the evaluation outcomes, within the “Turn” category, our method exhibited an 18% enhancement in the Stability score and a 3% improvement in the Distortion value compared to the average results of previously proposed full-frame video stabilization-based methods, including PCA flow, neural rendering, and DIFRINT. Full article

Over the past few decades, many universities have turned to using microgrid systems because of their dependability, security, flexibility, and less reliance on the primary grid. Microgrids on campuses face challenges in the instability of power production due to meteorological conditions, as the output of renewable sources such as solar and wind power relies entirely on the weather and determining the optimal size of microgrids. Therefore, this paper comprehensively reviews the university campuses’ microgrids. Some renewable energy sources, such as geothermal (GE), wind turbine (WT), and photovoltaic (PV), are compared in terms of installation costs, availability, weather conditions, efficiency, environmental impact, and maintenance. Furthermore, a description of microgrid systems and their components, including distributed generation (DG), energy storage system (ESS), and microgrid load, is presented. As a result, the most common optimization models for analyzing the performance of campus microgrids are discussed. Hybrid microgrid system configurations are introduced and compared to find the optimal configuration in terms of energy production and flexibility. Therefore, configuration A (Hybrid PV- grid-connected) is the most common configuration compared to the others due to its simplicity and free-charge operation. Full article

The overproduction and mismanagement of plastics has led to the accumulation of these materials in the environment, particularly in the marine ecosystem. Once in the environment, plastics break down and can acquire microscopic or even nanoscopic sizes. Given their sizes, microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are hard to detect and remove from the aquatic environment, eventually interacting with marine organisms. This research mainly aimed to achieve the aggregation of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) to ease their removal from the marine environment. To this end, the size and stability of polystyrene (PS) MNPs were measured in synthetic seawater with the different components of the technology (ionic liquid and chitosan). The MPs were purchased in their plain form, while the NPs displayed amines on their surface (PS NP-NH₂). The results showed that this technology promoted a significant aggregation of the PS NP-NH₂, whereas, for the PS MPs, no conclusive results were found, indicating that the surface charge plays an essential role in the MNP aggregation process. Moreover, to investigate the toxicological potential of MNPs, a mussel species (M. galloprovincialis) was exposed to different concentrations of MPs and NPs, separately, with and without the technology. In this context, mussels were sampled after 7, 14, and 21 days of exposure, and the gills and digestive glands were collected for analysis of oxidative stress biomarkers and histological observations. In general, the results indicate that MNPs trigger the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mussels and induce oxidative stress, making gills the most affected organ. Yet, when the technology was applied in moderate concentrations, NPs showed adverse effects in mussels. The histological analysis showed no evidence of MNPs in the gill’s tissues. Full article

Early detection of neurological conditions is critical for timely diagnosis and treatment. Identifying cellular-level changes is essential for implementing therapeutic interventions prior to symptomatic disease onset. However, monitoring brain tissue directly through biopsies is invasive and poses a high risk. Bodily fluids such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid contain information in many forms, including proteins and nucleic acids. In particular, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has potential as a versatile neurological biomarker. Yet, our knowledge of cfDNA released by brain tissue and how cfDNA changes in response to deleterious events within the brain is incomplete. Mapping changes in cfDNA to specific cellular events is difficult in vivo, wherein many tissues contribute to circulating cfDNA. Organoids are tractable systems for examining specific changes consistently in a human background. However, few studies have investigated cfDNA released from organoids. Here, we examined cfDNA isolated from cerebral organoids. We found that cerebral organoids release quantities of cfDNA sufficient for downstream analysis with droplet-digital PCR and whole-genome sequencing. Further, gene ontology analysis of genes aligning with sequenced cfDNA fragments revealed associations with terms related to neurodevelopment and autism spectrum disorder. We conclude that cerebral organoids hold promise as tools for the discovery of cfDNA biomarkers related to neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders. Full article

Companies have shown interest in advanced human resource management as a means to secure distinctive competitive advantages for organizational survival and growth through sustainable management systems. Hence, in the current context, where sustainability in business is a growing concern, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between high-performance work systems and a company’s social performance, taking into account the organizational climate as a situational variable. Specifically, this study aimed to analyze the impact of perceptions of a high-performance work system on the perception of a company’s social responsibility (CSR) among employees of Jordanian companies with an organizational size of 300 or more. This study used 175 valid questionnaires, and SPSS and AMOS 24 were used to test the hypotheses. The results showed that there was a positive relationship between the perception of a high-performance work system and the perception of a company’s CSR. Furthermore, this study found that a positive diversity climate could enhance the positive relationship between the two. These findings suggest that high-performance work systems can contribute to the development of sustainable human resource management systems and that a positive diversity climate is essential in shaping these systems. Based on these results, it is recommended that companies implement HPWSs and encourage workforce diversity to maximize the value of CSR activities and ensure their sustainability. Full article