Search Results (456)

Background/Objectives: Cytolytic vaginosis or, classically, Doderlein’s cytolysis is characterized by significant growth of species of the Lactobacillus genus, which leads to high amounts of lactic acid in the vaginal environment. Lactobacillus crispatus has been proposed as a key pathogen in this clinical condition. The symptomatology of cytolytic vaginosis is commonly confused with that of vulvovaginal candidosis, leading to inadequate and ineffective azole therapies. Nevertheless, historically, the use of sodium bicarbonate intimate baths was an effective way to reduce the symptoms of cytolytic vaginosis. Methods: In this study, four HPMC gel prototypes were developed, containing sodium bicarbonate concentrations ranging from 4% to 7% (w/w). These gels were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity, interference with lactobacilli adhering to cells, and cellular and tissue biocompatibility. Results: The gels presented pH values of around 9.0, and osmolality between 706 mOsm/kg (F4) and 1065 mOsm/kg (F7). The viscosity upon heating to physiologic temperature and dilution with simulated vaginal fluid was highly affected by the concentration of sodium bicarbonate. Gels with higher sodium bicarbonate concentrations (F6 and F7) were not shown to be stable in these conditions. All formulations exhibited effective antimicrobial activity against seven L. crispatus strains, with MIC values ranging from 6.25% to 25% (v/v) in terms of dilution. Additionally, the 4% (w/w) gel significantly interfered with the adhesion of L. crispatus to epithelial cells in competition and exclusion assays, reducing adhesion by more than 90% in relation to the control. Cytotoxicity tests on the Hec-1A, HeLa, and VK2/E6E7 cell lines indicated that the F4 and F5 gels demonstrated lower cytotoxicity levels compared to those with higher concentrations. Furthermore, ex vivo assays using porcine vaginal tissue confirmed that the 4% gel was non-toxic at a 25% (v/v) dilution. Conclusions: Based on these results, the 4% (w/w) sodium bicarbonate gel (F4) emerges as a promising therapeutic option for cytolytic vaginosis, offering effective bacterial interference, favourable physicochemical properties, and biocompatibility suitable for vaginal application. Full article

Ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) deposits are widely used in paleoenvironmental reconstructions owing to their mineralogical and geochemical properties. We analyzed Fe-Mn deposits using micro-X-ray fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy to study the paleo-ocean environment. Samples were collected from the OSM-XX seamount in the western Pacific. The Fe-Mn crust was divided into three parts: phosphatized, massive non-phosphatized, and porous non-phosphatized. Vernadite was identified in all layers. Furthermore, in the nodule, high values of Mn, Ni, and Cu were observed near the nucleus, with vernadite and todorokite, and these values decreased outward. A high Mn/Fe ratio near the nucleus indicates early diagenetic processes. Formation of Fe-Mn nodules began around 19–16 Ma, and this period corresponded to a minor phosphatization event and persistent reducing conditions. From 11–10 Ma, the Mn/Fe and Co/Mn ratios decreased due to the formation of a western Pacific warm pool during this period. Subsequently, with the opening of the Indonesian seaway and global cooling, the Mn/Fe and Co/Mn ratios in the Fe-Mn deposits increased again. The comparative analysis of variations in Mn/Fe ratio and vernadite crystallinity in the Fe-Mn deposits confirmed that it is possible to reconstruct paleo-productivity and redox condition changes in the western Pacific Magellan Seamount. Full article

In this paper, we investigate whether greedy algorithms, traditionally used for pedestrian-based crowdsensing, remain effective in the context of vehicular crowdsensing (VCS). Vehicular crowdsensing leverages vehicles equipped with sensors to gather and transmit data to address several urban challenges. Despite its potential, VCS faces issues with user engagement due to inadequate incentives and privacy concerns. In this paper, we use a dynamic incentive mechanism based on a recurrent reverse auction model, incorporating vehicular mobility patterns and realistic urban scenarios using the Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) traffic simulator and OpenStreetMap (OSM). By selecting a representative subset of vehicles based on their locations within a fixed budget, our mechanism aims to improve coverage and reduce data redundancy. We evaluate the applicability of successful participatory sensing approaches designed for pedestrian data and demonstrate their limitations when applied to VCS. This research provides insights into adapting greedy algorithms for the particular dynamics of vehicular crowdsensing. Full article

Multi-scale electronic map tiles are important basic geographic information data, and an approach based on deep learning is being used to generate multi-scale map tiles. Although generative adversarial networks (GANs) have demonstrated great potential in single-scale electronic map tile generation, further research concerning multi-scale electronic map tile generation is needed to meet cartographic requirements. We designed a multi-scale electronic map tile generative adversarial network (MsM-GAN), which consisted of several GANs and could generate map tiles at different map scales sequentially. Road network data and building footprint data from OSM (Open Street Map) were used as auxiliary information to provide the MsM-GAN with cartographic knowledge about spatial shapes and spatial relationships when generating electronic map tiles from remote sensing images. The map objects which should be deleted or retained at the next map scale according to cartographic standards are encoded as auxiliary information in the MsM-GAN when generating electronic map tiles at smaller map scales. In addition, in order to ensure the consistency of the features learned by several GANs, the density maps constructed from specific map objects are used as global conditions in the MsM-GAN. A multi-scale map tile dataset was collected from MapWorld, and experiments on this dataset were conducted using the MsM-GAN. The results showed that compared to other image-to-image translation models (Pix2Pix and CycleGAN), the MsM-GAN shows average increases of 10.47% in PSNR and 9.92% in SSIM and has the minimum MSE values at all four map scales. The MsM-GAN also performs better in visual evaluation. In addition, several comparative experiments were completed to verify the effect of the proposed improvements. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxidized soybean meal and oxidized soybean oil on the muscle oxidative stability, flesh quality, amino acid profile, and fatty acid profile of blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala. Oxidized soybean meal and oxidized soybean oil were obtained from fresh soybean meal (FSM) and fresh soybean oil (FSO) by heating. In the experimental diet, the proportions of oxidized soybean meal (OSM) and oxidized soybean oil (OSO) were 30% and 4.19%, respectively. The feeding trial was conducted for 8 weeks. The findings revealed that both OSM and OSO reduced glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), hardness, chewiness, and oxymyoglobin (OxyMb) and elevated the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC), and metmyoglobin (MetMb) in the muscle. OSM notably decreased the content of muscle essential amino acids (EAAs), nonessential amino acids (NEAAs), delicious amino acids (DAAs), and total amino acids (TAAs) compared with CON and OSO. Compared with CON and OSM, OSO significantly reduced the content of elaidic acid (C18:1n9t), linoelaidic acid (C18:2n6c), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), ω-6 PUFAs, and the ratio of ω-6/ω-3, while stearic acid (C18:0), γ-linolenic acid (C18:3n6) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were significantly elevated. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that both OSM and OSO negatively impacted muscle antioxidant capacity and flesh quality. Moreover, OSM adversely affected the amino acid profile of the muscle, while OSO impaired the fatty acid profile. Full article

Urban land use classification plays a significant role in urban studies and provides key guidance for urban development. However, existing methods predominantly rely on either raster structure deep features through convolutional neural networks (CNNs) or topological structure deep features through graph neural networks (GNNs), making it challenging to comprehensively capture the rich semantic information in remote sensing images. To address this limitation, we propose a novel urban land use classification model by integrating both raster and topological structure deep features to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the classification model. First, we divide the urban area into block units based on road network data and further subdivide these units using the fractal network evolution algorithm (FNEA). Next, the K-nearest neighbors (KNN) graph construction method with adaptive fusion coefficients is employed to generate both global and local graphs of the blocks and sub-units. The spectral features and subgraph features are then constructed, and a graph convolutional network (GCN) is utilized to extract the node relational features from both the global and local graphs, forming the topological structure deep features while aggregating local features into global ones. Subsequently, VGG-16 (Visual Geometry Group 16) is used to extract the image convolutional features of the block units, obtaining the raster structure deep features. Finally, the transformer is used to fuse both topological and raster structure deep features, and land use classification is completed using the softmax function. Experiments were conducted using high-resolution Google images and Open Street Map (OSM) data, with study areas on the third ring road of Shenyang and the fourth ring road of Chengdu. The results demonstrate that the proposed method improves the overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient by 9.32% and 0.17, respectively, compared to single deep learning models. Incorporating subgraph structure features further enhances the overall accuracy and Kappa by 1.13% and 0.1. The adaptive KNN graph construction method achieves accuracy comparable to that of the empirical threshold method. This study enables accurate large-scale urban land use classification with reduced manual intervention, improving urban planning efficiency. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, particularly in terms of classification accuracy and feature representation completeness. Full article

Online social media (OSM) has revolutionized the manner in which communication unfolds, enabling users to spontaneously generate, disseminate, share, and aggregate multimedia data across the internet. Nevertheless, in this exchange of information, OSM platforms assume a dominant, central role, wielding excessive power. Blockchain online social media (BOSM) seeks to mitigate the drawbacks of traditional centralized OSM by leveraging the decentralized nature of blockchain technology, migrating the functionalities of social media into a decentralized realm, and positioning the users at the core of the OSM ecosystem. However, current BOSM models often rely on tokens for incentives and are hampered by the centralized, inefficient blockchain consensus mechanisms, alongside vulnerabilities such as collusion attacks. This paper introduces a novel blockchain system, NexoNet, tailored for decentralized social media, exploring the application of blockchain technology in the realm of online social media from both technical and economic perspectives. The NexoNet quantifies and evaluates user participation within the system, employing a multiple incentive mechanism to equitably distribute value created by users without the need for tokens. Furthermore, we propose the Proof-of-Active-Participation (PoAP) blockchain consensus mechanism, enabling all users to partake in the maintenance of the blockchain system, thus ensuring its security and efficiency. Theoretical analysis and simulations across various scenarios demonstrate that the NexoNet, with extensive user engagement, achieves equitable value distribution through its multiple incentive mechanism. It successfully safeguards against a spectrum of malicious attacks and attains high transaction processing efficiency. The simulation results show that NexoNet achieves an average transaction throughput of 2000 transactions per second (TPS) and a consensus delay of 2.385 s with 100 maintainers in the network. Furthermore, our tests demonstrated that even collusion with users comprising 75% of the total would only allow an additional 30 chances to propose a block. By deeply integrating user behavior with the underlying mechanisms of the blockchain system, the NexoNet fosters a user-centric blockchain social media ecosystem. Full article

Background/objectives: The porcine intestinal epithelium plays a fundamental role as a defence interface against pathogens. Its alteration can cause severe inflammatory conditions and diseases. Hyperosmotic stress under physiological conditions and upon pathogen challenge can cause malabsorption. Different cell types counteract the osmolarity increase by accumulating organic osmolytes such as betaine, taurine, and myo-inositol through specific transporters. Betaine is known for protecting cells from hyperosmotic stress and has positive effects when fed to pigs. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the modulation of osmolyte transporters gene expression in IPEC-J2 during osmolarity changes and assess the effects of betaine. Methods: IPEC-J2 were seeded in transwells, where differentiate as a polarized monolayer. Epithelial cell integrity (TEER), oxidative stress (NO) and gene expression of osmolyte transporters, tight junction proteins (TJp) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Results: Cells treated with NaCl hyperosmolar medium (500 mOsm/L) showed a TEER decrease at 3 h and detachment within 24 h, associated with an osmolyte transporters reduction. IPEC-J2 treated with mannitol hyperosmolar medium (500 mOsm/L) upregulated taurine (TauT), myo-inositol (SMIT) and betaine (BGT1) transporters expression. A decrease in TJp expression was associated with a TEER decrease and an increase in TNFα, IL6, and IL8. Betaine could attenuate the hyperosmolarity-induced reduction in TEER and TJp expression, the NO increase and cytokines upregulation. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the expression of osmolyte transporters in IPEC-J2, which was upregulated upon hyperosmotic treatment. Betaine counteracts changes in intracellular osmolarity by contributing to maintaining the epithelial barrier function and reducing the inflammatory condition. Compatible osmolytes may provide beneficial effects in therapies for diseases characterized by inflammation and TJp-related dysfunctions. Full article

This study investigated the potential of five pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids from the marine sponge Agelas sp. to inhibit key targets in neuroblastoma, the most common pediatric malignant solid tumor. Molecular docking analysis using GOLD software (v4.1.2) revealed that Strepoxazine A (Mol3) and Taurodispacamide A (Mol5) exhibited the strongest inhibition of focal adhesion kinase 1 (FAK), caspase-3 (ca3), phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit gamma isoform (PI3K), telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), osm-9-like TRP channel 1 (TRPV1), and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1). Normal mode analysis using iMODS server confirmed the stability of the best complexes and pharmacokinetics, such as toxicity and predictions of biological activity as inhibitors of anticancer targets, indicating a balance between efficacy and safety for bothMol3 and Mol5. The remaining compounds (Ageladine A, Oroidine, and Cyclooroidine) showed moderate effects, with significant toxicity, suggesting limited therapeutic potential. The promising results of our in silico-study suggest that Strepoxazine A and Taurodispacamide A could serve as novel therapeutic agents for neuroblastoma, potentially leading to more effective treatment options and improved survival rates for pediatric patients suffering from this challenging malignancy, although further in vitro and in vivo validation is needed. Full article

Recently, more consumers have reached for plant-based milk substitutes, mainly for health, dietary, and flavour reasons. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and bioactive properties and sensory profile of 10 selected rice drinks available on the EU market. Assessment of the physicochemical characteristics included measurement of soluble solids, pH, osmolality, foaming properties and colour parameters. Analysis of bioactive compounds involved the determination of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Based on the manufacturer’s data, the composition and nutritional value of the above-mentioned beverages were also analysed in this study. The tested beverages were characterised by a low fat content of 0.6–1.3 g/100 mL, derived mainly from added sunflower oil, but are a good source of energy (energy value of 37–55 kcal/100 mL), derived mainly from naturally occurring carbohydrates whose content ranged from 8.0–11.0 g/100 mL. The protein content of all rice drinks was shallow, not exceeding 0.5 g/100 mL. Of the ten rice drinks analysed, in only two were vitamins B12 and D added (0.38 μg/100 mL and 0.75 μg/100 mL, respectively) and in only three was calcium (120 mg/100 mL) added. In evaluating the physicochemical characteristics, the drinks showed a pH close to neutral (mean 6.85 ± 0.01). The average soluble solids content was about 11%, which was determined by the carbohydrate content. The osmolality of the beverages averaged 324.73 ± 70.17 mOsm/kg H₂O, with four beverages classifiable as hypertonic ones (osmolality > 330 mOsm/kg H₂O), three as isotonic ones (with osmolality between 270–330 mOsm/kg H₂O), and three as hypotonic beverages (osmolality < 270 mOsm/kg H₂O). Only two rice drinks evaluated in this study showed foaming properties. The high whiteness index (81.79 ± 2.55) indicated high white colour saturation of the tested beverages. The rice drinks were characterised by a relatively diverse sensory quality regarding aroma and flavour notes. The overall sensory quality was rated highest for the beverages with the highest sugar content. The tested beverages were characterised by a low content of total polyphenols (average 1.40 ± 0.62 mg GAE/100 mL) and relatively high antioxidant activity (average 418.33 ± 59.65 µM TEAC/100 mL). Based on the research conducted and the analysis of the manufacturer’s data, it can be concluded that the rice drinks studied in this paper can be included in the daily diet, providing a rehydrating beverage that shows free radical-neutralizing properties and provides carbohydrates. At the same time, it should be highlighted that the studied drinks have a low nutritional value and cannot be recommended as milk substitutes due to low protein levels and lack of milk-specific vitamins and minerals. Full article

The coordinated development of park green spaces (PGS)with urban functional areas (UFA) has a direct impact on the operational efficiency of cities and the quality of life of residents. Therefore, an in-depth exploration of the coupling patterns and influencing factors between PGS and UFA is fundamental for efficient collaboration and the creation of high-quality living environments. This study focuses on the street units of Fuzhou’s central urban area, utilizing multi-source data such as land use, points of interest (POI), and OpenStreetMap (OSM) methods, including kernel density analysis, standard deviational ellipse, coupling coordination degree model, and geographical detectors, are employed to systematically analyze the spatial distribution patterns of PGS and UFA, as well as their coupling coordination relationships. The findings reveal that (1) both PGS and various UFA have higher densities in the city center, with a concentric decrease towards the periphery. PGS are primarily concentrated in the city center, exhibiting a monocentric distribution, while UFA display planar, polycentric, or axial distribution patterns. (2) The spatial distribution centers of both PGS and UFA are skewed towards the southwest of the city center, with PGS being relatively evenly distributed and showing minimal deviation from UFA. (3) The dominant type of coupling coordination between PGS and various UFA is “Close to dissonance”, displaying a spatial pattern of “high in the center, low on the east-west and north-south wings”. Socioeconomic factors are the primary driving force influencing the coupling coordination degree, while population and transportation conditions are secondary factors. This research provides a scientific basis for urban planning and assists planners in more precisely coordinating the development of parks, green spaces, and various functional spaces in urban spatial layouts, thereby promoting sustainable urban development. Full article

Ovarian cysts are linked to hormone imbalances and altered gene expressions, but the connection between cysts and ion channel expression is understudied. This study explored the role of TWIK-related acid-sensitive K⁺ (TASK) channels in bovine ovarian cyst formation. The ovarian follicles were split into small (5 to 10 mm in diameter) and large (>25 mm in diameter) groups. Among the measured K⁺, Na⁺, and Cl⁻ concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) obtained from small-sized follicles (SFs) and large-sized follicles (LFs), the K⁺ concentration was significantly lower in LFFF. Quantitative PCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemistry data revealed that TASK-3 expression levels significantly decreased by approximately 50% in LFs and granulosa cells obtained from LFs (LFGCs) compared to the corresponding controls. The TASK-3 protein was localized to the plasma membranes of GCs. The diameters of LFGCs were larger than those of SFGCs. The cell swelling response to exposure to a hypotonic solution (200 mOsm/L) was highly reduced in TASK-3-overexpressing cells compared to vector-transfected cells. TASK-3-knockdown cells showed arrested growth. Senescence markers were detected in LFGCs and TASK-3-knockdown cells. These findings suggest that reduced TASK-3 expression in LFs is associated with the inhibition of GC growth, leading to senescence and cyst formation. Full article

GoodBiome™ Foods are functional foods containing a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis HU58™) and prebiotics (mainly inulin). Their effects on the human gut microbiota were assessed using ex vivo SIFR^® technology, which has been validated to provide clinically predictive insights. GoodBiome™ Foods (BBM/LCM/OSM) were subjected to oral, gastric, and small intestinal digestion/absorption, after which their impact on the gut microbiome of four adults was assessed (n = 3). All GoodBiome™ Foods boosted health-related SCFA acetate (+13.1/14.1/13.8 mM for BBM/LCM/OSM), propionate (particularly OSM; +7.4/7.5/8.9 mM for BBM/LCM/OSM) and butyrate (particularly BBM; +2.6/2.1/1.4 mM for BBM/LCM/OSM). This is related to the increase in Bifidobacterium species (B. catenulatum, B. adolescentis, B. pseudocatenulatum), Coprococcus catus and Bacteroidetes members (Bacteroides caccae, Phocaeicola dorei, P. massiliensis), likely mediated via inulin. Further, the potent propionogenic potential of OSM related to increased Bacteroidetes members known to ferment oats (s key ingredient of OSM), while the butyrogenic potential of BBM related to a specific increase in Anaerobutyricum hallii, a butyrate producer specialized in the fermentation of erythritol (key ingredient of BBM). In addition, OSM/BBM suppressed the pathogen Clostridioides difficile, potentially due to inclusion of HU58™ in GoodBiome™ Foods. Finally, all products enhanced a spectrum of metabolites well beyond SCFA, including vitamins (B3/B6), essential amino acids, and health-related metabolites such as indole-3-propionic acid. Overall, the addition of specific ingredients to complex foods was shown to specifically modulate the gut microbiome, potentially contributing to health benefits. Noticeably, our findings contradict a recent in vitro study, underscoring the critical role of employing a physiologically relevant digestion/absorption procedure for a more accurate evaluation of the microbiome-modulating potential of complex foods. Full article

Cultural property includes immovable assets that are part of a nation’s cultural heritage and reflect the cultural identity of a people. Hence, information about armed conflict’s impact on historical buildings’ structures and heritage sites is extremely important. The study aims to demonstrate the application of Earth observation (EO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, and in particular Sentinel-1 SAR coherence time-series analysis, to monitor spatial and temporal changes related to the recent Russian–Ukrainian war in the urban areas of Mariupol and Kharkiv, Ukraine. The study considers key events during the siege of Mariupol and the battle of Kharkiv from February to May 2022. Built-up areas and cultural property were identified using freely available OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. Semi-automated coherent change-detection technique (CCD) that utilize difference analysis of pre- and co-conflict coherences were capable of highlighting areas of major impact on the urban structures. The study applied a logistic regression model (LRM) for the discrimination of damaged and undamaged buildings based on an estimated likelihood of damage occurrence. A good agreement was observed with the reference data provided by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) in terms of the overall extent of damage. Damage maps enable the localization of buildings and cultural assets in areas with a high probability of damage and can serve as the basis for a high-resolution follow-up investigation. The study reveals the benefits of Sentinel-1 SAR CCD in the sense of unsupervised delineation of areas affected by armed conflict. However, limitations arise in the detection of local and single-building damage compared to regions with large-scale destruction. The proposed semi-automated multi-temporal Sentinel-1 data analysis using CCD methodology shows its applicability for the timely investigation of damage to buildings and cultural heritage, which can support the response to crises. Full article

Curcumin is a well-known and widely used substance of natural origin. It has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of liver diseases. Unfortunately, curcumin has very low bioavailability and a sensitivity to external agents. Improving these parameters is the subject of many studies. One way to overcome these problems may be to use Phosal^® Curcumin as a source of curcumin and encapsulate this dispersion into a nanoemulsion using different types and concentrations of surfactants and co-surfactants, thus manipulating the physicochemical parameters of the nanoemulsion. The present study aimed to develop curcumin-loaded nanoemulsions for intravenous administration and to investigate the effect of Kolliphor HS15 concentration on their critical quality attributes. Methods: Phosal^® Curcumin-loaded nanoemulsions with different concentrations of Kolliphor HS15 were prepared by high-pressure homogenization. The effect of Kolliphor HS15 on emulsion physicochemical properties such as mean droplet diameter (MDD), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), osmolality (OSM), and pH, as well as encapsulation efficiency (EE) and retention rate (RR) of curcumin, were determined. Mid-term stability studies and short-term stress tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of Kolliphor HS15 on the critical quality attributes of the curcumin-loaded nanoemulsions stored under various conditions. Results: Five nanoemulsions with increasing Kolliphor HS15 concentrations were developed. Their MDD ranged from 85.2 ± 2.0 to 154.5 ± 5.1 nm, with a PDI from 0.18 ± 0.04 to 0.10 ± 0.01 and ZP from −15.6 ± 0.7 to −27.6 ± 3.4 mV. Depending on the concentration of Kolliphor HS15, the EE ranged from 58.42 ± 1.27 to 44.98 ± 0.97%. Conclusions: The studied parameters of the developed nanoemulsions meet the requirements for formulations for intravenous administration. Using the appropriate concentration of Kolliphor HS15 allows for a formulation that presents a protective effect against both curcumin and emulsion degradation. Full article