A novel method is introduced in this study for producing ceramisite coarse aggregates that are both lightweight and possess high strength. The process involves utilizing fly ash as the primary material, along with coal ash floating beads (CAFBs) that have high softening temperature and a spherical hollow structure serving as the template for forming pores. This study examined the impact of varying particle size and quantity of floating beads on the composition and characteristics of ceramisite aggregates. Results showed that the high softening temperature of floating beads provided stability to the spherical cavity structure throughout the sintering process. Furthermore, the pore structure could be effectively tailored by manipulating the size and quantity of the floating beads in the manufacturing procedure. The obtained ceramisite aggregates feature a compact outer shell and a cellular inner core with uniformly distributed pores that are isolated from each other and mostly spherical in form. They achieve a low density ranging from 723 to 855 kg/m³, a high cylinder compressive strength between 8.7 and 13.5 MPa, and minimal water absorption rates of 3.00 to 4.09%. The performance metrics of these coarse aggregates significantly exceeded the parameters specified in GB/T 17431.1-2010 standards. Full article

As shown by sociological studies, the Catholic Church in Italy is very active in conducting advocacy and providing political representation to immigrants. It is also highly effective in carrying out services for immigrants, as well as fairly receptive to sharing places of worship with them. However, these sociological observations have been mainly conducted at the national level rather than by exploring the life of parishes through an empirical lens. This article aims, by applying the congregations study methodology, to fill this gap by detecting faith communities as the basic social units of religious life at the city/country level. In doing that, we discuss quantitative data collected in 377 Catholic parishes in the cities of Bologna, Milan, and Brescia. The findings suggest that Catholic parishes: (i) illustrate a low proportion of immigrants in their communities; (ii) show high activity in providing services for immigrants; (iii) are not politically engaged in advocacy for foreign persons at the local level; and (iv) similarly position themselves as politically conservative and liberal while expressing commitments to immigrants. This study confirms the sociological argument regarding the solidarity approach of the Catholic Church in Italy toward immigrants, while highlighting some ambivalent aspects related to cultural diversity and grass-roots political engagement within parishes’ life. Full article

“Rejoice, Texandria, for Oda!” Thus begins the series of chants and readings commemorating the virgin St Oda, patron of the village that took her name—Sint-Oedenrode—in the late medieval liturgy of the town of ’s-Hertogenbosch. Overt praise for the surrounding region, Texandria, extending across the northern limits of the duchy of Brabant and diocese of Liège, is a recurring theme in the liturgy inspired by the saint’s legend. Yet how did Oda, of Scottish origin, become so closely associated with this remote region? And what was the significance of her liturgical veneration in ’s-Hertogenbosch, to which Sint-Oedenrode was enfranchised? Exemplifying interactions between central and secondary places within a specific region, this study argues for the relevance of the historical approach to urban–rural dynamics in medieval hagiography and its related liturgy. Recognition that smaller towns and villages played important roles in regional networks prompts more focused attention to regional priorities in the legends and liturgies of local saints. That Oda’s cult is attested by a diversity of extant documentary evidence—historical, hagiographic, and liturgical, including newly discovered liturgical readings—facilitates interpretation of her veneration in ’s-Hertogenbosch and of the intertextual connections between her legend and those of other saints, notably Lambert, associated with the duchy and diocese. As suggested by this example, regionalism merits greater scrutiny as an integral component of civic religion. Full article

The synthesis, antioxidant capacity, and anti-inflammatory activity of four novel N-benzyl-2-[4-(aryl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]ethan-1-imine oxides 10a–d are reported herein. The nitrones 10a–d were tested for their antioxidant properties and their ability to inhibit soybean lipoxygenase (LOX). Four diverse antioxidant tests were used for in vitro antioxidant assays, namely, interaction with the stable free radical DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) as well as with the water-soluble azo compound AAPH (2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride), competition with DMSO for hydroxyl radicals, and the scavenging of cationic radical ABTS^•+ (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical cation). Nitrones 10b, 10c, and 10d, having the 4-fluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, and 4-fluoro-3-methylphenyl motif, respectively, exhibited high interaction with DPPH (64.5–81% after 20 min; 79–96% after 60 min), whereas nitrone 10a with unfunctionalized phenyl group showed the lowest inhibitory potency (57% after 20 min, 78% after 60 min). Nitrones 10a and 10d, decorated with phenyl and 4-fluoro-3-methylphenyl motif, respectively, appeared the most potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. The results obtained from radical cation ABTS^•+ were not significant, since all tested compounds 10a–d showed negligible activity (8–46%), much lower than Trolox (91%). Nitrone 10c, bearing the 2,4-difluorophenyl motif, was found to be the most potent LOX inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 10 μM). Full article

Loopholes involve misalignments between rules about what should be done and what is actually done in practice. The focus of this paper is loopholes in interactions between human organizations’ implementations of task-specific artificial intelligence and individual people. The importance of identifying and addressing loopholes is recognized in safety science and in applications of AI. Here, an examination is provided of loophole sources in interactions between human organizations and individual people. Then, it is explained how the introduction of task-specific AI applications can introduce new sources of loopholes. Next, an analytical framework, which is well-established in safety science, is applied to analyses of loopholes in interactions between human organizations, artificial intelligence, and individual people. The example used in the analysis is human–artificial intelligence systems in gig economy delivery driving work. Full article

In previous work, we found that PC was differentially expressed in cows at different lactation stages. Thus, we deemed that PC may be a candidate gene affecting milk production traits in dairy cattle. In this study, we found the polymorphisms of PC by resequencing and verified their genetic associations with milk production traits by using an animal model in a cattle population. In total, we detected six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PC. The single marker association analysis showed that all SNPs were significantly associated with the five milk production traits (p < 0.05). Additionally, we predicted that allele G of 29:g.44965658 in the 5′ regulatory region created binding sites for TF GATA1 and verified that this allele inhibited the transcriptional activity of PC by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. In conclusion, we proved that PC had a prominent genetic effect on milk production traits, and six SNPs with prominent genetic effects could be used as markers for genomic selection (GS) in dairy cattle, which is beneficial for accelerating the improvement in milk yield and quality in Chinese Holstein cows. Full article

It was demonstrated by ab initio calculations that energy optimization in the reconstruction of semiconductor surfaces is controlled by the global charge balance. The charge control was discovered during simulations of the influence of heavy doping in the GaN bulk, which changes sp³ to sp² ratio in the reconstruction of stoichiometric GaN(0001), i.e., a Ga-polar surface. Thus, the reconstruction is not limited to the charge in the surface only; it can be affected by the charge in the bulk. The discovered new reconstruction of the GaN(0001) surface is (4 × 4), which is different from the previously reported (2 × 1) pattern. The undoped GaN reconstruction is surface charge controlled; accordingly, (3/8) top-layer Ga atoms remain in a standard position with sp³ hybridized bonding, while the remaining (5/8) top-layer Ga atoms are shifted into the plane of N atoms with sp² hybridized bonding. The change in the charge balance caused by doping in the bulk leads to a change or disappearance of the reconstruction pattern. Full article

(1) Background: FABMs (fertility awareness-based methods) are methods that rely on the observation of clinical signs related to fertility found in women, the so-called fertility bioindicators. They can be a valuable tool for diagnosing monthly cycle disorders and infertility, for example, among patients with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). Until now, it has been difficult for women with PCOS to use FABM, due to the difficulty of describing fertility bioindicators and their disorders due to the biology of the syndrome. The new InVivo sympto-thermal method with standardized cervical mucus assessment may provide a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool for observing the monthly cycle in this group of women. (2) Methods: The monthly cycle was evaluated in a group of 32 women of reproductive age. A total of 108 monthly cycle observation cards were analyzed: 35 monthly cycle cards were collected from 18 women with PCOS, and 73 monthly cycle cards collected from 14 healthy women. In addition, 32 pairs of macroscopic and microscopic images were evaluated: 17 pairs from the study group (four subjects) and 15 pairs from women in the control group (six subjects). (3) Results: We showed that in the group of patients with PCOS, menstruation was longer (p = 0.000814), the number of mucus peaks was statistically higher (p = 0.040747), and the interquartile range (IQR) of the duration of the follicular phase (calculated according to the BBT) was significantly higher (8 days) compared to women in the control group. We also observed that among all the women studied, the microscopic image of cervical mucus correlated with the cycle phase described in the observation card, as determined by reference to the BBT chart, provided that it showed the correct features. (4) Conclusions: Systematic maintenance of monthly cycle observation charts using the InVivo method can be an important supplement to the medical history, as it allows for a thorough assessment of, among others, the timing of monthly bleeding, cervical mucus symptoms, BBT changes, and the duration of the follicular and luteal phases among both healthy and PCOS women. Full article

The central dogma treats the ribosome as a molecular machine that reads one mRNA codon at a time as it adds each amino acid to its growing peptide chain. However, this and previous studies suggest that ribosomes actually perceive pairs of adjacent codons as they take three-nucleotide steps along the mRNA. We examined GNN codons, which we find are surprisingly overrepresented in eukaryote protein-coding open reading frames (ORFs), especially immediately after NNU codons. Ribosome profiling experiments in yeast revealed that ribosomes with NNU at their aminoacyl (A) site have particularly elevated densities when NNU is immediately followed (3′) by a GNN codon, indicating slower mRNA threading of the NNU codon from the ribosome’s A to peptidyl (P) sites. Moreover, if the assessment was limited to ribosomes that have only recently arrived at the next codon, by examining 21-nucleotide ribosome footprints (21-nt RFPs), elevated densities were observed for multiple codon classes when followed by GNN. This striking translation slowdown at adjacent 5′-NNN GNN codon pairs is likely mediated, in part, by the ribosome’s CAR surface, which acts as an extension of the A-site tRNA anticodon during ribosome translocation and interacts through hydrogen bonding and pi stacking with the GNN codon. The functional consequences of 5′-NNN GNN codon adjacency are expected to influence the evolution of protein coding sequences. Full article

The choice of a refeeding strategy is essential in the inpatient treatment of Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Oral nutrition is usually the first choice, but enteral nutrition through the use of a Nasogastric Tube (NGT) often becomes necessary in hospitalized patients. The literature provides mixed results on the efficacy of this method in weight gain, and there is a scarcity of studies researching its psychological correlates. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of oral versus enteral refeeding strategies in inpatients with AN, focusing on Body Mass Index (BMI) increase and treatment satisfaction, alongside assessing personality traits. We analyzed data from 241 inpatients, comparing a group of treated vs. non-treated individuals, balancing confounding factors using propensity score matching, and applied regression analysis to matched groups. The findings indicate that enteral therapy significantly enhances BMI without impacting treatment satisfaction, accounting for the therapeutic alliance. Personality traits showed no significant differences between patients undergoing oral or enteral refeeding. The study highlights the clinical efficacy of enteral feeding in weight gain, supporting its use in severe AN cases when oral refeeding is inadequate without adversely affecting patient satisfaction or being influenced by personality traits. Full article

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) and other members of the complex microbiotas, whose activity is essential for vinegar production, display biodiversity and richness that is difficult to study in depth due to their highly selective culture conditions. In recent years, liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) has emerged as a powerful tool for rapidly identifying thousands of proteins present in microbial communities, offering broader precision and coverage. In this work, a novel method based on LC–MS/MS was established and developed from previous studies. This methodology was tested in three studies, enabling the characterization of three submerged acetification profiles using innovative raw materials (synthetic alcohol medium, fine wine, and craft beer) while working in a semicontinuous mode. The biodiversity of existing microorganisms was clarified, and both the predominant taxa (Komagataeibacter, Acetobacter, Gluconacetobacter, and Gluconobacter) and others never detected in these media (Asaia and Bombella, among others) were identified. The key functions and adaptive metabolic strategies were determined using comparative studies, mainly those related to cellular material biosynthesis, energy-associated pathways, and cellular detoxification processes. This study provides the groundwork for a highly reliable and reproducible method for the characterization of microbial profiles in the vinegar industry. Full article

In this retrospective case series, we investigate the synergistic effect and the immunomodulatory potential of combination radiotherapy and immunotherapy on 11 patients affected by locally advanced or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), treated at our institution between 2020 and 2023. The primary endpoints of this study are objective tumor response, assessed by Immunotherapy Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (iRECIST), and time to treatment failure (disease progression). In all patients, surgery was deemed not amenable, due to its potential functional and aesthetic impact. Therefore, upon multidisciplinary agreement, radiotherapy and immunotherapy with cemiplimab were alternatively administered. After 6 months, an early objective tumor response was observed in 9/11 patients, with 17/20 cutaneous lesions (85%) presenting either a complete or partial response. Only 2/11 patients, with a total of 3/20 cutaneous lesions (15%), had stable disease. These benefits persisted at a longer follow-up (21.4 ± 9.7 months), with no patients presenting disease progression. Despite the retrospective nature of this study and small sample size, our experience highlights the ability of concomitant radiotherapy and cemiplimab to promote an early objective response in patients with advanced CSCC. Moreover, in our population, the clinical benefits were also related to a longer progression-free survival, without any safety alert reported. Full article

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) are an important component of total cereal proteins in wheat. It is closely related to the processing quality of flour. Here, we analyzed allelic variations at the Glu-1 locus in 163 wheat accessions from Hubei Province, China with SDS-PAGE. Among the 15 alleles detected, alleles 1, 7+8, and 2+12 were the major alleles, and 7, 6+8, and 2+10 were rare alleles. The breeding lines had higher genetic diversity than the commercial varieties. Alleles 7 and 6+8 significantly reduced the grain protein content and wet gluten content of wheat. The “1, 7+9, 5+10” and “1, 14+15, and 2+12” allelic combinations significantly increased the grain protein content, hardness index, test weight, and wet gluten content of wheat. Alleles 7+9, 14+15, and 5+10 were identified as alleles related to high wheat quality. The “1, 7, 5+10”, “1, 6+8, 5+10”, “null, 7+9, 2+12”, “1, 14+15, 2+12”, and “1, 7+9, 5+10” allelic combinations had greater effects on wheat grain quality traits. These results demonstrate the effects of HMW-GS on wheat grain quality traits and provide a reference for the genetic improvement of wheat quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is an important cause that is thought main potential factor in Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Extended Holter ECG is an expensive and time-consuming examination. It needs another tools for predicting PAF in ESUS patients. In this study, serum galectin-3 levels, ECG parameters (PR interval, P wave time and P wave peak time) LA volume index, LA global peak strain and atrial electromechanical conduction time values were investigated for predicting PAF. Methods: 150 patients with ESUS and 30 volunteers for the control group were recruited to study. 48–72 h Holter ECG monitoring was used for detecting PAF. Patients were divided into two groups (ESUS + PAF and ESUS-PAF) according to the development of PAF in Holter ECG monitoring. Results: 30 patients with ESUS whose Holter ECG monitoring showed PAF, were recruited to the ESUS + PAF group. Other 120 patients with ESUS were recruited to the ESUS-PAF group. PA lateral, PA septum, and PA tricuspid were higher in the ESUS + PAF group (p < 0.001 for all). Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in ESUS + PAF than in ESUS-PAF and control groups (479.0 pg/mL ± 435.8 pg/mL, 297.8 pg/mL ± 280.3 pg/mL, and 125.4 ± 87.0 pg/mL, p < 0.001, respectively). Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly correlated with LAVI, PA lateral, and global peak LA strain (r = 0.246, p = 0.001, p = 0.158, p = 0.035, r = −0.176, p = 0.018, respectively). Conclusion: Serum galectin-3 levels is found higher in ESUS patients which developed PAF and Serum galectin-3 levels are associated LA adverse remodeling in patients with ESUS. Full article

Background: Premature birth remains a public health problem worldwide, involving a broader context and a multidisciplinary team aimed at combating this phenomenon as much as possible. The consumption of addictive substances by women who are pregnant can occur in different social contexts and at different stages of their lives, which modulate its extent. Obstetricians and anesthetists should consider the anesthetic maternal risks that may arise due to these addictive behaviors. The maternal anesthetic risk is higher in women who are pregnant with a medium-level of education, imbalanced nutrition, stress associated with physical or mental activity, affected sleep hygiene, and failed marriages. Objectives: The objectives of the study refer to analyzing the impact of exogenous factors and the anesthetic risk on premature birth for women who were pregnant during the pandemic period and in women who were pregnant without COVID-19 infection. The authors studied a significant sample of 3588 women who were pregnant without COVID-19 infection, among whom 3291 gave birth at term and 297 gave birth prematurely. Methods: The methods analyzed consist of studying the specialized literature regarding the impact of exogenous factors and parturient’s anesthetic risk on premature birth and identifying the regional risk profile of women who are pregnant in the southeast region of Romania compared to that identified in the specialized literature. In the analytical methods, we used a linear regression to study the incidence of exogenous risk factors on anesthetic risk in women who were pregnant with premature births compared to those with full-term births. Results: The results confirm the significant impact of exogenous factors on anesthetic risk and the significant impact of anesthetic risk on premature births. The novelty of the study lies in highlighting the modification of the regional exogenous risk profile during the pandemic period in southeast Romania due to unfavorable socio-economic causes and the translation of grade I and II prematurity events to higher frequencies with an increased level of maternal anesthetic risk. Conclusions: The study findings show that the anesthetic risk is maximized in parturients with a middle school education. Additionally, the anesthetic risk of patients who are pregnant increases with the intensification of smoking adherence and its maintenance throughout the pregnancy at the same intensity. Our study aims to provide a basis for the diversification and development of community intervention programs in the post-COVID-19 era, considering the reshaping of social models and the repositioning of social principles and values. Obstetricians and anesthetists must know and promote family values to harmonize the lives of family members and provide a better life for the mother and child. Full article

To analyze in vivo scleral changes induced by MicroPulse transscleral laser therapy (MP-TLT) in refractory glaucoma using anterior segment–optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Forty-two candidate patients for MP-TLT were consecutively enrolled and underwent AS-OCT at baseline and after six months. MP-TLT success was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction by one-third. The main outcome measures were the mean superior (S-), inferior (I-), and total (T-) intra-scleral hypo-reflective space area (MISHA: mm²) and scleral reflectivity (S-SR, I-SR, T-SR; arbitrary scale) as in vivo biomarkers of uveoscleral aqueous humor (AH) outflow. The IOP was the secondary outcome. The relations between the baseline-to-six months differences (D) of DS-MISHA, DI-MISHA, and DT-MISHA and DS-SR, DI-SR, DT-SR, and DIOP, were investigated. At 6 months, the median IOP reduction was 21% in the failures and 38% in the successes. The baseline S-MISHA, I-MISHA, and T-MISHA did not differ between the groups, while S-SR and T-SR were higher in the successes (p < 0.05). At six months, successful and failed MP-TLTs showed a 50% increase in S-MISHA (p < 0.001; p = 0.037), whereas I-SR and T-SR reduced only in the successes (p = 0.002; p = 0.001). When comparing DS-MISHA, DI-MISHA, and DT-MISHA and DS-SR, DI-SR, and DT-SR, there were no significant differences between the groups. In the successful procedures, DIOP was positively correlated with DT-MISHA and DI-MISHA (ρ = 0.438 and ρ = 0.490; p < 0.05). MP-TLT produced potentially advantageous modifications of the sclera in refractory glaucoma. Given the partial correlation between these modifications and post-treatment IOP reduction, our study confirmed that the activation of the uveoscleral AH outflow route could significantly contribute to the IOP lowering after MP-TLT. Full article

Probiotic biofilms have been beneficial in the fight against infections, restoring the equilibrium of the host’s gut microbiota, and enhancing host health. They are considered a novel strategy for probiotic gut colonization. In this case, we evaluated the effects of various active substances from traditional Chinese medicine on Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) to determine if they promote biofilm formation. It was shown that 8–64 μg/mL of oleanolic acid increased the development of EcN biofilm. Additionally, we observed that oleanolic acid can effectively suppress biofilm formation in pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus. Next, we assessed the amount of EcN extracellular polysaccharides, the number of live bacteria, their metabolic activity, the hydrophobicity of their surface, and the shape of their biofilms using laser confocal microscopy. Through transcriptome analysis, a total of 349 differentially expressed genes were identified, comprising 134 upregulated and 215 downregulated genes. GO functional enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that oleanolic acid functions are through the regulation of bacterial motility, the iron absorption system, the two-component system, and adhesion pathways. These findings suggest that the main effects of oleanolic acid are to prevent bacterial motility, increase initial adhesion, and encourage the development of EcN biofilms. In addition, oleanolic acid interacts with iron absorption to cooperatively control the production of EcN biofilms within an optimal concentration range. Taking these results together, this study suggests that oleanolic acid may enhance probiotic biofilm formation in the intestines, presenting new avenues for probiotic product development. Full article

Cognitive reserve (CR) seems to be an ability to adapt cognitive processes in response to brain disease and may influence rehabilitation outcomes. This is a secondary analysis of the “Robot-Assisted Gait Training versus conventional therapy on mobility in severely disabled progressive MultiplE sclerosis patients” (RAGTIME) trial to investigate the influence of CR on the outcomes after gait rehabilitation in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). We included 53 PwMS and severe gait disability (EDSS 6–7). The participants were randomized into two groups to receive either robot-assisted gait training or overground walking (three times/week over four weeks). CR was evaluated by the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq), which encompasses three sections (CRI Education, CRI Working Activity, and CRI Leisure Time). We stratified the patients using the 115 cut-off CRIq total score of at least a medium-high CR. The outcome measures were Timed 25-Foot Walk, 6 min walking test, Berg Balance Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale—29, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale—12, Patient Health Questionnaire—9, and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). After gait rehabilitation, the FSS was significantly improved in those patients with higher CR compared with the others (F = 4.757, p = 0.015). In our study, CR did not affect the gait, balance, disability perception, and depression. Conversely, it positively influenced the fatigue after gait rehabilitation. Full article

This study addressed the need for a more accessible and efficient method of analyzing phenolic content in vegetable oils. The research aimed to develop a method that could be widely adopted by both researchers and industry professionals, ultimately revolutionizing the way phenolic content in vegetable oils is analyzed. This study developed a method of determining the total phenolic content (TPC) in vegetable oils using smartphone image analysis in the RGB color model. The method employed a gallic acid calibration solution and demonstrated exceptional determination coefficients for the RGB colors. The R—red color was selected as the basis for the analyses, and the method was statistically equivalent to standard UV/Vis spectrophotometry. The highest TPC was determined in hemp and olive oils, while the lowest was found in rice bran, grapeseed, and macadamia nut oils. This study concluded that smartphone image analysis, mainly using the R component of the RGB color model, was a superior alternative to traditional spectrophotometric methods for determining the TPC in vegetable oils. This innovative approach could revolutionize phenolic content analysis by providing researchers and industry professionals with a cost-effective, safe, and efficient tool. The estimated limit of detection (LOD) of 1.254 mg L⁻¹ and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 3.801 mg L⁻¹ further confirmed the reliability and comparability of the method. With these findings, it was expected that the method would be widely adopted in the future. Full article

The increasing requirements concerning the consideration of the environmental impact of building materials, along with the simultaneous preservation and enhancement of building thermal parameters, have led to a surge in interest in insulations based on organic or recycled materials. Despite the growing interest in these materials, there remains a scarcity of scientific studies regarding their hygrothermal properties. Within the scope of the research described in the text, the insulation properties of loose-fill materials (hemp shives, cellulose fibers, loose wood wool, and mineral wool as a reference) in wooden frame walls were analyzed. The authors simulated walls with the same U value filled with these materials using Delphin 6.1 software. The simulation time was 3 years, considering the appropriate climatic conditions of Olsztyn and different microclimatic conditions inside the rooms. Insulations made of natural organic can absorb and reveal moisture to the internal environment, while mineral wool transports the moisture to the outside, which may cause condensation problems. Insulations made of hemp shives or wood wool do not increase the level of accumulated moisture over time, which results in thermal stability. In contrast, cellulose and mineral wool store more moisture, which in wet conditions increases the heat flux by 6.9% and 5.2%, respectively. Full article

NMDP recognizes that despite advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and other cell therapies, not all patients have equitable access to treatment, and disparities in outcomes remain. This paper explores the recent work of NMDP to accelerate progress and expand access to more patients through transformative clinical research, particularly in the use of mismatched unrelated donors for HSCT. Full article

Cancer, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and metastasis, represents a significant challenge to public health. The IGF1/IGF1R axis plays a pivotal role in tumor proliferation and survival, presenting an attractive target for intervention. NT157, a small molecule tyrphostin, has emerged as a promising inhibitor of this axis, displaying potent antineoplastic effects across various cancer types. This review synthesizes the literature on NT157’s mechanism of action and its impact on cellular processes in experimental cancer models. Initially identified for inducing the serine phosphorylation of IRS1 and IRS2, leading to their degradation and inhibiting the IGF1R signaling cascade, subsequent studies revealed additional targets of NT157, including STAT3, STAT5, and AXL, suggesting a multifaceted mechanism. Experimental evidence demonstrates that NT157 effectively suppresses tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis in diverse cancer models. Additionally, NT157 enhances chemotherapy efficacy in combination therapy. Moreover, NT157 impacts not only tumor cells but also the tumor microenvironment, modulating inflammation and immune responses by targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts, myeloid cells, and immune cells, creating a suppressive milieu hindering tumor progression and metastasis. In conclusion, NT157 exhibits remarkable versatility in targeting multiple oncogenic pathways and hallmarks of cancer, underscoring its potential as a promising therapeutic agent. Full article