Search Results (204)

Cancer cell mitochondria are functionally different from those in normal cells and could be targeted to develop novel anticancer agents. The aryl-ureido fatty acid CTU (16({[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-carbamoyl}amino)hexadecanoic acid) is the prototype of a new class of targeted agents that enhance the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that disrupt the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and kill cancer cells. However, the mechanism by which CTU disrupts the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) and activates apoptosis is not clear. Here, we show that CTU-mediated ROS selectively dysregulated the OMA1/OPA1 fusion regulatory system located in the IMM. The essential role of ROS was confirmed in experiments with the lipid peroxyl scavenger α-tocopherol, which prevented the dysregulation of OMA1/OPA1 and CTU-mediated MDA-MB-231 cell killing. The disruption of OMA1/OPA1 and IMM fusion by CTU-mediated ROS accounted for the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and the activation of apoptosis. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that CTU depolarises the mitochondrial membrane, activates ROS production, and disrupts both the IMM and OMM, which releases cytochrome c and activates apoptosis. Mitochondrial-targeting agents like CTU offer a novel approach to the development of new therapeutics with anticancer activity. Full article

This paper presents an artificial neural network-based graphical user interface, designed to automate finite element model updating using data from operational modal analysis. The approach aims to reduce the uncertainties inherent in both the experimental data and the computational model. A key feature of this method is the application of a discrete wavelet transform-based approach for denoising OMA data. The graphical interface streamlines the FEMU process by employing neural networks to automatically optimize FEM inputs, allowing for real-time adjustments and continuous structural health monitoring under varying environmental and operational conditions. This approach was validated with OMA results, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing model accuracy and reliability. Additionally, the adaptability of this method makes it suitable for a wide range of structural types, and its potential integration with emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things further amplifies its relevance. Full article

New data obtained from core samples of two boreholes and dredged samples in the Alba Guyot in the Magellan Seamount Trail (MST), Western Pacific, including the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of basanite, mineralogy of basanite, tuff, tuffite, mantle-derived inclusions in basanite and tuff (lherzolite xenolith and Ol, Cpx, and Opx xenocrysts), and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, have implications for the guyot′s history. Volcanics in the upper part of the Alba Guyot main edifice and its Oma Vlinder satellite, at sea depths between 3600 and 2200 m, were deposited during the Cretaceous 112 to 86 Ma interval. In the following ~60 myr, the Alba Guyot became partly submerged and denuded with the formation of a flat summit platform while the respective fragment of the Pacific Plate was moving to the Northern Hemisphere. Volcanic activity in the northeastern part of the guyot summit platform was rejuvenated in the Miocene (24–15 Ma) and produced onshore basanitic volcanoes and layers of tuff in subaerial and tuffite in shallow-water near-shore conditions. In the Middle-Late Miocene (10–6 Ma), after the guyot had submerged, carbonates containing calcareous nannofossils were deposited on the porous surfaces of tuff and tuffite. Precipitation of the Fe-Mn crust (Unit III) recommenced during the Pliocene-Pleistocene (<1.8 Ma) when the guyot summit reached favorable sea depths. The location of the MST guyots in the northwestern segment of the Pacific Plate near the Mariana Trench, along with the Miocene age and alkali-basaltic signatures of basanite, provide first evidence for petit-spot volcanism on the Alba Guyot. This inference agrees with the geochemistry of Cenozoic petit-spot basaltic rocks from the Pacific and Miocene basanite on the Alba Guyot. Petit-spot volcanics presumably originated from alkali-basaltic melts produced by decompression partial melting of carbonatized peridotite in the metasomatized oceanic lithosphere at the Lithosphere–Asthenosphere Boundary level. The numerous volcanic cones reaching up to 750 m high and 5.1 km in base diameter, which were discovered on the Alba summit platform, provide the first evidence of voluminous Miocene petit-spot basanitic volcanism upon the Cretaceous guyots and seamounts of the Pacific. Full article

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a significant global health issue, marked by insulin resistance and disrupted glucose metabolism. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) serves as a key regulator of cellular energy balance, playing a crucial role in enhancing insulin sensitivity, promoting glucose uptake, and reducing glucose production in the liver. Recently, there has been growing interest in plant-derived flavonoids as natural activators of AMPK, offering a promising complementary approach to conventional diabetes treatments. This review delves into ten flavonoids identified as AMPK activators, including baicalein, dihydromyricetin, bavachin, 7-O-MA, derrone, and alpinumisoflavone. Their activation mechanisms are explored, which include both direct binding to the AMPK complex and indirect pathways involving upstream signaling. Through molecular docking studies, the binding affinities and interaction profiles of these flavonoids with AMPK are assessed, revealing varying levels of activation potential. Notably, baicalein and dihydromyricetin showed strong binding to the α1 subunit of AMPK, indicating high potential for robust activation. Additionally, this review provides a thorough analysis of the pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness of these flavonoids using the SwissADME tool, focusing on aspects such as ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion). While the overall profiles of these compounds are promising, issues like solubility and possible drug–drug interactions are areas that need further refinement. In summary, plant-derived flavonoids emerge as a promising avenue for developing new natural therapies for T2DM. Moving forward, research should aim at optimizing these compounds for clinical application, elucidating their specific mechanisms of AMPK activation, and confirming their efficacy in T2DM treatment. This review highlights the potential of flavonoids as safer and more holistic alternatives or adjuncts to current diabetes therapies. Full article

For the future of sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication, simultaneously transmitting and reflecting reconfigurable intelligent surface (STAR-RIS) technology is emerging as a promising solution to achieve lower power transmission and flawless coverage. To facilitate the performance analysis of RIS-assisted networks, the statistics of the sum of double random variables, i.e., the sum of the products of two random variables of the same distribution type, become vitally necessary. This paper applies the statistics of the sum of double random variables in the performance analysis of an integrated power beacon (PB) energy-harvesting (EH)-based NOMA-assisted STAR-RIS network to improve its outage probability (OP), ergodic rate, and average symbol error rate. Furthermore, the impact of imperfect successive interference cancellation (ipSIC) on system performance is also analyzed. The analysis provides the closed-form expressions of the OP and ergodic rate derived for both imperfect and perfect SIC (pSIC) cases. All analyses are supported by extensive simulation results, which help recommend optimized system parameters, including the time-switching factor, the number of reflecting elements, and the power allocation coefficients, to minimize the OP. Finally, the results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed framework compared to conventional NOMA and OMA systems. Full article

Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) refers to the modal analysis with only output vibration signals of a structure in its operating state. Classic OMA has developed multiple recognition methods in both the time and frequency domains, where when the random excitation is unknown, the excitation chromaticity is usually treated as white color, which can often cause errors and affect the accuracy of identifying frequencies or damping ratios. In this article, the chromaticity recognition function is defined and a method Chromaticity Recognition Technology (CRT) for identifying noise chromaticity based on system response is proposed. Then, a simulation example is presented. The noise chromaticity is identified for the response of the system under four types of colored noise excitation, and the results of the identification of operational mode parameters with and without CRT are compared. Furthermore, the sensitivity of traditional OMA to different colored noise has been investigated. An experiment with a cantilever under base excitation of pink noise has been undertaken and the results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed CRT in this paper. Full article

The suspension of a car has different structural forms but usually consists of springs, shock absorbers, guiding mechanisms, etc. As a vehicle moves, the terrain often induces a multifaceted non-white noise vibration within the vehicle. Research on this type of vibration often uses the operational modal analysis (OMA) method, due to its advantages of not requiring knowledge of excitation signals. The disadvantage is that it can only analyze systems under white noise excitation, otherwise it will bring errors. So, this paper proposes a frequency domain fitting algorithm (FDFA) based on colored noise excitation. Initially, an exposition on the foundational principles of the FDFA technique was provided, followed by a demonstration of the modal identification approach. Subsequently, a simulation scenario involving a cantilever beam, akin to a suspension system, was chosen for examination in three instances, revealing that the frequency discrepancies are under 2.94%, and for damping coefficients, they are less than 2.76%. In conclusion, the paper’s introduced FDFA technique, along with the frequency–spatial domain decomposition (FSDD) approach, were employed to determine the modal characteristics of aluminum cantilever beams subjected to four distinct colored noise stimulations. The findings indicate that when utilizing the FDFA technique, the error in modal frequency is kept below 2.5%, while the error for the damping ratio does not exceed 15%. Compared with FSDD, the accuracy was improved. Full article

This paper proposes a scheme that adds XOR bit operations into the encoding and decoding process of the conventional non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system to alleviate performance degradation caused by the power distribution of the original signal. Because the conventional NOMA combines and sends multiple data within limited resources, it has a higher data rate than orthogonal multiple access (OMA), at the expense of error performance. However, by using the proposed scheme, both error performance and sum rate can be improved. In the proposed scheme, the transmitter sends the original data and the redundancy data in which the exclusive OR (XOR) values of the data are compressed using the superposition coding (SC) technique. After this process, the data rate of users decreases due to redundancy data, but since the original data are sent without power allocation, the data rate of users with poor channel conditions increases compared to the conventional NOMA. As a result, the error performance and sum rate of the proposed scheme are better than those of the conventional NOMA. Additionally, we derive an exact closed-form bit error rate (BER) expression for the proposed downlink NOMA design over Rayleigh fading channels. Full article

Functional Ankle Instability (FAI) is the subject of extensive research in sports and other environments. Given the importance of accurately measuring this latent construct, it is imperative to carry out a careful assessment of the available tools. In this context, the aim of this review was to take an in-depth look at the six most cited measurement tools to assess FAI, with a specific focus on patient-reported outcome measures related to ankle and foot. Four electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, and SportDiscus) were searched (up to November 2022) to identify the six most cited questionnaires for assessing FAI. Our analysis showed that the most cited questionnaires are the following: the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), the Foot Function Index (FFI), the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), the Olerud and Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), and the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). Each questionnaire was thoroughly assessed and discussed in three sections: Development, Reliability, and Summaries. In addition, bibliometric data were calculated to analyze the relevance of each questionnaire. Despite variations in terms of validity and reliability, conceptualization, structure, and usefulness, the six questionnaires proved to be robust from a psychometric point of view, being widely supported in the literature. The bibliometric analyses suggested that the FAOS ranks first and the FFI ranks sixth in the weighted average of the impact factors of their original publications. Full article

Background: Indirect comparison among biologics in severe asthma (SA) is a challenging but desirable goal for clinicians in real life. The aim of the study is to define characteristics of a biologic-treated T2-driven-SA population and to evaluate the effectiveness of biologic treatments in a real-world setting by variation in intra/inter-biologic parameters in an up to 4-year follow-up. Methods: Demographic, clinical, functional, and biological characteristics were evaluated retrospectively in 104 patients recruited until July 2022 at baseline (T0) and over a maximum of 4 years (T4) of biologic therapy (omalizumab/OmaG = 41, from T0 to T4, mepolizumab/MepoG = 26, from T0 to T4, benralizumab/BenraG = 18, from T0 to T2, and dupilumab/DupiG = 19, from T0 to T1). Variations of parameters using means of paired Delta were assessed. Results: At baseline, patients had high prevalence of T2-driven comorbidities, low asthma control test (ACT mean 17.65 ± 4.41), impaired pulmonary function (FEV₁ 65 ± 18 %pred), frequent exacerbations/year (AEs 3.5 ± 3), and OCS dependence (60%). DupiG had lower T2 biomarkers/comorbidities and AEs, and worse FEV₁ (57 ± 19 %pred) compared to other biologics (p < 0.05). All biologics improved ACT, FEV₁%, FVC%, AEs rate, and OCS use. FEV₁% improved in MepoG and BenraG over the minimal clinically important difference and was sustained over 4 years in OmaG and MepoG. A significant RV reduction in OmaG (T4) and DupiG (T1), and BenraG normalization (T2) of airflow limitation were found. We observed through inter-biologic parameters pair delta variation comparison a significant nocturnal awakenings reduction in BenraG vs. OmaG/MepoG, and neutrophils reduction in BenraG/DupiG vs. OmaG. Conclusions: Indirect comparison among biologics unveils clinical and functional improvements that may mark a different effectiveness. These results may highlight the preference of a single biologic compared to another with regard to specific treatable traits. Full article

The characteristics of a mechanical structure under operating conditions may differ from those in a static state. It is often more desirable to obtain the frequency response function (FRF) of the operating structure in engineering applications. While operational modal analysis (OMA) can estimate modal parameters during operation, it fails to provide mass-normalized mode shapes for FRF synthesis. This paper presents a new method using experimental modal analysis (EMA) to compensate for the absent information in OMA. It categorizes operational mode shapes into changed ones and those that remain the same compared to the static state, applying different scaling techniques accordingly. This method adapts to changes in dynamic characteristics without altering the operating conditions. Stability is emphasized throughout the process. Two examples are provided to verify the method, considering noise and incompleteness in measurement, and disturbances in dynamic properties. The proposed method is proven to be feasible and reliable to capture the changes in operational FRFs. Full article

Enhancing spectral efficiency in non-line-of-sight (NLoS) environments is essential as 5G networks evolve, surpassing 4G systems with high information rates and minimal interference. Instead of relying on traditional Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA) systems to tackle issues caused by NLoS, advanced wireless networks adopt innovative models like Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), cooperative relaying, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), and intelligent reflective surfaces (IRSs). Therefore, this study comprehensively analyzes these techniques for their potential to improve communication reliability and spectral efficiency in NLoS scenarios. Specifically, it encompasses an analysis of cooperative relaying strategies for their potential to improve reliability and spectral efficiency in NLoS environments through user cooperation. It also examines various MIMO configurations to address NLoS challenges via spatial diversity. Additionally, it investigates IRS settings, which can alter signal paths to enhance coverage and reduce interference and analyze the role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in establishing flexible communication infrastructure in difficult environments. This paper also surveys effective energy harvesting (EH) strategies that can be integrated with NOMA for efficient and reliable energy-communication networks. Our findings show that incorporating these technologies with NOMA not only enhances connectivity and spectral efficiency but also promotes a stable and environmentally sustainable data communication system. Full article

Endometriosis and adenomyosis are complex gynecological conditions characterized by diverse clinical presentations, including superficial peritoneal endometriosis (SPE), ovarian endometrioma (OMA), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). The hallmark features of these pathologies involve the manifestation of pain symptoms and infertility, and approximately 30% of patients are asymptomatic. Despite ongoing research, definitive treatments for these conditions remain elusive, and clinical management primarily revolves around medical or surgical interventions. Recent advancements in our understanding of the efficacy of various treatment modalities, including medical therapy and surgical interventions, have provided clinicians with valuable insights into pain relief and fertility preservation. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the latest literature on clinical outcomes, treatment options, and management strategies for different types of endometriosis. By synthesizing the newest available data, this review seeks to inform clinicians and guide decision making based on factors such as patients’ symptom severity, childbearing desire, and overall health. Full article

This work focuses on maximizing the sum rate of ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) systems by leveraging unmanned aerial vehicle-mounted reconfigurable intelligent surface (UAV-RIS) to provide short packet services for users based on the non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) protocol. To optimize the sum rate of system, a joint optimization is performed with respect to the power allocation, UAV position, decoding order, and RIS phase shifts. As the original problem is a non-convex integer optimization problem, it is challenging to obtain the optimal solution. Therefore, approximate solutions are derived using successive convex approximation (SCA), slack variables, and penalty-based methods. The simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed resource allocation algorithm compared with the benchmark algorithm with orthogonal multiple access (OMA) scheme. In addition, this work emphasizes the performance gap between the proposed communication system and the traditional Shannon communication system in terms of throughput and the performance capacity sacrificed to achieve lower latency. Full article

High-frequency radars (HFRs) provide remote information on ocean surface velocity in extended coastal areas at high resolutions in space ($\mathcal{O}$(km)) and time ($\mathcal{O}$(h)). They directly produce radial velocities (in the radar antenna’s direction) combined to provide total vector velocities in areas covered by at least two radars. HFRs are a key element in ocean observing systems, with several important environmental applications. Here, we provide an assessment of the HFR-TirLig network in the NW Mediterranean Sea, including results from the gap-filling open-boundary modal analysis (OMA) using in situ velocity data from drifters. While the network consists of three radars, only two were active during the assessment experiment, so the test also includes an area where the radial velocities from only one radar system were available. The results, including several metrics, both Eulerian and Lagrangian, and configurations, show that the network performance is very satisfactory and compares well with the previous results in the literature in terms of both the radial and total combined vector velocities where the coverage is adequate, i.e., in the area sampled by two radars. Regarding the OMA results, not only do they perform equally well in the area sampled by the two radars but they also provide results in the area covered by one radar only. Even though obviously deteriorated with respect to the case of adequate coverage, the OMA results can still provide information regarding the velocity structure and speed as well as virtual trajectories, which can be of some use in practical applications. A general discussion on the implications of the results for the potential of remote sensing velocity estimation in terms of HFR network configurations and complementing gap-filling analysis is provided. Full article