EXCLI Journal最新文献

In this study, protective clothing for firefighters is analyzed using 4D body scanning and 3D hand scanning, with a focus on the experimental analysis of ergonomic comfort. In particular, German firefighting clothing is examined to discuss the possibilities and limitations of current scanning technologies for capturing firefighting clothing. For this purpose, various movements are recorded in the 4D scanner. In addition, a method for determining position changes of protective clothing at identified limits is presented. The initial results illustrated that the analysis of protective clothing for firefighters using 4D scanning is problematic due to specific materials, reflections, and surface properties. Improvements in the scanning process and optimization of algorithms are required to achieve more detailed and precise results. Concerning the ergonomic comfort related to the mobility under firefighting clothing use conditions, this methodical case study highlights the limits of current approaches, with a focus on the limitations of 4D scanning and potential improvements.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial complex I disorder and causes inexorable painless vision loss. Recent studies from India reported that a significant proportion of LHON patients lack primary mitochondrial DNA mutations, suggesting that alternative genetic factors contribute to disease development. Therefore, this study investigated the genetic profile of LHON-affected individuals in order to understand the role of mito-nuclear genetic factors in LHON. A total of thirty probands displaying symptoms consistent with LHON have undergone whole mitochondrial and whole exome sequencing. Interestingly, whole mtDNA sequencing revealed primary mtDNA mutations in 30 % of the probands (n=9), secondary mtDNA mutations in 40 % of the probands (n=12) and no mitochondrial changes in 30 % of individuals (n=9). Further, WES analysis determined pathogenic mutations in 11 different nuclear genes, especially in cases with secondary mtDNA mutations (n=6) or no mtDNA mutations (n=6). These findings provide valuable insight into LHON genetic predisposition, particularly in cases lacking primary mtDNA mutations. See also Figure 1(Fig. 1).

Human cerebral organoids (COs) are self-organizing three-dimensional (3D) neural structures that provide a human-specific platform to study the cellular and molecular processes that underlie different neurological events. The first step of CO generation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is neural induction, which is an in vitro simulation of neural ectoderm development. Several signaling pathways cooperate during neural ectoderm development and in vitro differentiation of hPSCs toward neural cell lineages is also affected by them. In this study, we considered some of the known sources of these variable signaling cues arising from cell culture media components and sought to modulate their effects by applying a comprehensive combination of small molecules and growth factors for CO generation. Histological analysis demonstrated that these COs recapitulate the neural progenitor zone and early cortical layer organization, containing different types of neuronal and glial cells which was in accordance with single-nucleus transcriptome profiling results. Moreover, patch clamp and intracellular Ca²⁺ dynamic studies demonstrated that the COs behave as a functional neural network. Thus, this method serves as a facile protocol for generating hPSC-derived COs that faithfully mimic the features of their in vivo counterparts in the developing human brain. See also Figure 1(Fig. 1).

We examined the effect of amount of muscle mass involved in moderate-intensity continuous physical exercise on executive function. To this end, fifty-five participants completed two acute physical exercise sessions on an airbike ergometer using the upper and lower limbs simultaneously and only the upper limbs, and a resting control session in a randomized order. The physical exercise session lasted 30 min and was performed at moderate intensity (between 64 %-76 % of maximal heart rate evaluated in graded maximal exercise testing). Participants took the Stroop test (congruent and incongruent trials) before and after the sessions to assess executive performance. For the congruent trial, both physical exercise interventions improved executive function performance (pre vs. post, p-value = 0.002 and 0.003 for physical exercise with upper limbs and physical exercise with upper and lower limbs, respectively). Furthermore, executive function performance was higher after the physical exercise interventions than after the control session (p-value = 0.002 and 0.004 for physical exercise with upper limbs and physical exercise with upper and lower limbs, respectively). For the incongruent trial, both physical exercise interventions also improved executive function performance (pre vs. post, p-value < 0.001 for physical exercise with upper limbs and physical exercise with upper and lower limbs, respectively). However, there were no significant differences after both physical exercise interventions and resting control session (p-value = 0.175). Executive function (congruent trial) was positively impacted by acute aerobic physical exercise regardless of the amount of muscle mass involved (upper limbs or upper plus lower limbs). Therefore, we recommend aerobic physical exercise with less or more muscle mass involved to improve cognitive function.

The epidemic of obesity that parallels diabetes mellitus and its complications are diseases of major concern to modern societies. Community-based screening is an effective strategy to identify people at high risk of developing overweight, obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, and related health problems. Here, we present the results of screening the population of four locations in the Ivano-Frankivsk region (Western Ukraine). The study group consisted of 400 adults and 252 children. The measured parameters were: (1) main vital signs - body temperature, resting heart rate, blood pressure; (2) anthropometric indicators - body mass and height, body mass index, waist circumference; and (3) metabolic parameters - fasting capillary blood glucose, total body fat, visceral fat, physical activity level and 10-year risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study found that 23 % of the adults were overweight and 14.8 % obese. Among children, 9.9 % were overweight and 8.7 % obese. Adult body mass index correlated with visceral fat percentage, systolic/diastolic blood pressure and levels of fasting capillary blood glucose. Adults over 18 years of age had fasting capillary blood glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L (14.3 %), including those with undiagnosed pre-diabetes (13.3 %) and suspected diabetes mellitus (1.0 %). The percentage of visceral body fat in adults was positively associated with the 10-year risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Classic decision theory requires that rational agents show description invariance: which description is chosen should not matter for judgments, preferences, or choices given the descriptions are co-extensive. Framing research has amply demonstrated a failure of description invariance by showing that the choice of the description has a systematic effect on judgments, preferences, and choices. Specifically, framing research has shown that linguistically different descriptions of seemingly equivalent options frequently lead to preference reversals. I summarize the research on framing in situations entailing risk. This includes the characterization of different research designs used, the size and robustness of the framing effects reported for those designs, and the theoretical accounts put forward to explain framing effects. The theoretical accounts are evaluated with respect to their merits, empirically and theoretically. I end by providing the implications of framing research. My central point is that the existence of framing effects points to the adaptiveness of the processes underlying human judgment and choice rather than simply showing human irrationality.

We report on an aggressive, infiltrating, metastatic, and ultimately lethal basaloid type of carcinoma arising shortly after an mRNA vaccination for COVID-19. The wife of the patient, since deceased, gave the consent for publishing the case. The malignancy was of cutaneous origin and the case showed symptoms consistent with Bell's palsy and trigeminal neuralgia beginning four days post-vaccination (right side head temporal pain). The temporal pain was suggestive for inflammation and impairment of T cell immune activation. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed a vascular loop on the left lateral aspect of the 5^th cranial root exit of cerebellopontine angle constituting presumably a normal variant and was considered as an unrelated factor to the right-sided palsy and pain symptoms that corresponded to cranial nerves V (trigeminal nerve) and VII (facial nerve). In this study we describe all aspects of this case and discuss possible causal links between the rapid emergence of this metastatic cancer and mRNA vaccination. We place this within the context of multiple immune impairments potentially related to the mRNA injections that would be expected to potentiate more aggressive presentation and progression of cancer. The type of malignancy we describe suggests a population risk for occurrence of a large variety of relatively common basaloid phenotype cancer cells, which may have the potential for metastatic disease. This can be avoidable with early diagnosis and adequate treatment. Since facial paralysis/pain is one of the more common adverse neurological events following mRNA injection, careful inspection of cutaneous/soft tissue should be conducted to rule out malignancy. An extensive literature review is carried out, in order to elucidate the toxicity of mRNA vaccination that may have led to the death of this patient. Preventive and precise routine clinical investigations can potentially avoid future mortalities. See also Figure 1(Fig. 1).

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the global threats to human health in the 21st century. Drug discovery of inhibitors against novel targets rather than conventional bacterial targets has been considered an inevitable strategy for the growing threat of AMR infections. In this study, we applied quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling to the LpxC inhibitors to predict the inhibitory activity. In addition, we performed various cheminformatics analysis consisting of the exploration of the chemical space, identification of chemotypes, performing structure-activity landscape and activity cliffs as well as construction of the Structure-Activity Similarity (SAS) map. We built a total of 24 QSAR classification models using PubChem and MACCS fingerprint with 12 various machine learning algorithms. The best model with PubChem fingerprint is the Extremely Gradient Boost model (accuracy on the training set: 0.937; accuracy on the 10-fold cross-validation set: 0.795; accuracy on the test set: 0.799). Furthermore, it was found that the best model using the MACCS fingerprint was the Random Forest model (accuracy on the training set: 0.955; accuracy on the 10-fold cross-validation set: 0.803; accuracy on the test set: 0.785). In addition, we have identified eight consensus activity cliff generators that are highly informative for further SAR investigations. It is hoped that findings presented herein can provide guidance for further lead optimization of LpxC inhibitors.

Highly stressful experiences such as terrorist attacks, domestic and sexual violence may lead to persistent pathological symptoms such as those seen in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is growing evidence of multiple metabolic and immune disorders underlying the etiology and maintenance of PTSD. However, changes in the functioning of various systems and organs associated with PTSD are not well understood. Studies of reliable animal models is one of the effective scientific tools that can be used to gain insight into the role of metabolism and immunity in the comorbidity associated with PTSD. Since much progress has been made using animal models to understand mechanisms of PTSD, we summarized metabolic and immune dysfunction in mice and humans to compare certain outcomes associated with PTSD. The systemic effects of PTSD include chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system (psycho-emotional stress), that leads to impairment of the function of the immune system, increased release of stress hormones, and metabolic changes. We discuss PTSD as a multisystem disease with its neurological, immunological, and metabolic components.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevailing health challenge that requires urgent innovative interventions. This review explores the role of nanotechnology as a promising potential in the treatment of NAFLD. It delineates the limitations of the current management strategies for NAFLD and highlights the new nanotechnology-based treatments including nanoemulsions, liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, nanogels, inorganic nanoparticles, and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Despite the optimism surrounding the nanotechnological approach, the review underscores the need to address the limitations such as technical challenges, potential toxicity, and ethical considerations that impede the practical application of nanotechnology in NAFLD management. It advocates for collaborative efforts from researchers, clinicians, ethicists, and policymakers to achieve safe, effective, and equitable nanotechnology-based treatments for NAFLD. See also Figure 1(Fig. 1).