Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advancements in Nanogels for Enhanced Ocular Drug Delivery: Cutting-Edge Strategies to Overcome Eye Barriers

Nanomedicine in gel or particle formation holds considerable potential for enhancing passive and active targeting within ocular drug delivery systems. The complex barriers of the eye, exemplified by the intricate network of closely connected tissue structures, pose significant challenges for drug administration. Leveraging the capability of engineered nanomedicine offers a promising approach to enhance drug penetration, particularly through active targeting agents such as protein peptides and aptamers, which facilitate targeted release and heightened bioavailability. Simultaneously, DNA carriers have emerged as a cutting-edge class of active-targeting structures, connecting active targeting agents and illustrating their potential in ocular drug delivery applications. This review aims to consolidate recent findings regarding the optimization of various nanoparticles, i.e., hydrogel-based systems, incorporating both passive and active targeting agents for ocular drug delivery, thereby identifying novel mechanisms and strategies. Furthermore, the review delves into the potential application of DNA nanostructures, exploring their role in the development of targeted drug delivery approaches within the field of ocular therapy.
The Analysis of Intra-retinal Layers with Automatic Optical Coherence Tomography Segmentation in Healthy Subjects

Aims: To give normative databases of each retinal layers on OCT images in the healthy Caucasian population in Turkey and investigate the relevance of the data with factors such as age, gender, axial length and refraction. Study Design: Prospective, cross sectional, descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir/TURKEY. Between September 2017 and March 2018. Methodology: 133 participants underwent full ophthalmologic examination and spectral domain OCT imaging (Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany). After the automatic segmentation, central 1 mm and 1-3 mm superior, inferior, nasal and temporal thicknesses of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), retina pigment epithelium (RPE), inner retinal layers (IRL), outer retinal layers (ORL) and total retina thickness (TRT) analyzed with respect to age, gender, axial length and refraction (spherical equivalent). Results: Central 1 mm INL, ONL, ORL, IRL and TRT and four quadrants of pericentral 1-3 mm thicknesses of RPE had positive correlation with the age. All the sections of total retina, RNFL, GCL, IPL, INL, ONL and IRL thicknesses were significantly thicker in males compared to females. The thicknesses of all RNFL sections and central 1 mm circle thicknesses of TRT, IPL, INL, OPL, RPE and IRL had positive correlation with the axial length. Conclusion: A normative database for thicknesses of intra-retinal layers in Turkish population was presented in the study and significant impacts of the age, gender and axial length were presented.
The reestablishment of mangrove crabs (Scylla spp.) in an abandoned pond following natural mangrove recolonization

Scylla spp. are among the most economically important fisheries resources derived from the mangroves. However, the widespread mangrove destruction resulted in the loss of habitat, thus the dwindling capture production of many mangrove‐associated faunas. Although studies have shown that Scylla populations have reestablished in mangrove‐reforested areas, this study was the first in a mangrove‐recolonized abandoned pond in the Philippines. Six fishers conducted standardized fishing every spring tide of the month using cylindrical bamboo traps. All crabs caught from July 2010 to December 2011 were recorded for species, sex, sexual maturation of females, carapace width (CW), and body weight (BW). Total landings comprised 14,262 crabs weighing 1,743 kg; 79.67% Scylla olivacea, 20.18% S. tranquebarica, and 0.15% S. serrata. CW ranged 3.1–17.1 cm and BW 10–1,250 g, with the male crabs comprising 39.23–64.65% of the monthly landings and the females distributed as 19.88–45.01% immature, 0.50–16.57% mature, 0.45–16.02% gravid, and less than 0.10% spent crabs. Monthly landings ranged 254–1,231 pcs of crabs or 32.38–160.59 kg. The monthly mean catch per unit effort (CPUE), in terms of number, was 0.101 ± 0.01–0.456 ± 0.02 crab gear−1 day−1 (max = 1.13), while in terms of biomass, 12.86 ± 0.84–54.36 ± 3.16 g gear−1 day−1 (max = 112.50). Length–weight relationships of S. olivacea and S. tranquebarica are expressed as W = 0.224967L2. 9864 (r2 = 94.08%, p < 0.001; n = 11,363) and W = 0.173409L3.1074 (r2 = 92.71%, p < 0.001; n = 2,878), respectively. This study revealed that Scylla spp. could reestablish in mangrove‐recolonized abandoned ponds.
Transcriptomic Response of Differentiating Porcine Myotubes to Thermal Stress and Donor Piglet Age

Climate change is a current concern that directly and indirectly affects agriculture, especially the livestock sector. Neonatal piglets have a limited thermoregulatory capacity and are particularly stressed by ambient temperatures outside their optimal physiological range, which has a major impact on their survival rate. In this study, we focused on the effects of thermal stress (35 °C, 39 °C, and 41 °C compared to 37 °C) on differentiating myotubes derived from the satellite cells of Musculus rhomboideus, isolated from two different developmental stages of thermolabile 5-day-old (p5) and thermostable 20-day-old piglets (p20). Analysis revealed statistically significant differential expression genes (DEGs) between the different cultivation temperatures, with a higher number of genes responding to cold treatment. These DEGs were involved in the macromolecule degradation and actin kinase cytoskeleton categories and were observed at lower temperatures (35 °C), whereas at higher temperatures (39 °C and 41 °C), the protein transport system, endoplasmic reticulum system, and ATP activity were more pronounced. Gene expression profiling of HSP and RBM gene families, which are commonly associated with cold and heat responses, exhibited a pattern dependent on temperature variability. Moreover, thermal stress exhibited an inhibitory effect on cell cycle, with a more pronounced downregulation during cold stress driven by ADGR genes. Additionally, our analysis revealed DEGs from donors with an undeveloped thermoregulation capacity (p5) and those with a fully developed thermoregulation capacity (p20) under various cultivation temperature. The highest number of DEGs and significant GO terms was observed under temperatures of 35 °C and 37 °C. In particular, under 35 °C, the DEGs were enriched in insulin, thyroid hormone, and calcium signaling pathways. This result suggests that the different thermoregulatory capacities of the donor piglets determined the ability of the primary muscle cell culture to differentiate into myotubes at different temperatures. This work sheds new light on the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern piglet differentiating myotube response to thermal stress and can be leveraged to develop effective thermal management strategies to enhance skeletal muscle growth.
Alexithymia and Internet Addiction in Children: Meaning in Life as Mediator and Reciprocal Filial Piety as Moderator

Purpose To explore the psychological mechanism between alexithymia and Internet addiction, the present study constructed a moderated mediation model based on the problem behavior theory. Methods A total of 899 middle school students (Mage=13.95, SD=1.10) were surveyed using the 20-item Toronto-alexithymia-scale, meaning in life questionnaire, dual filial piety scale, and Internet addiction disorder diagnostic scale. Results First, alexithymia was significantly negatively correlated with meaning in life and reciprocal filial piety, and positively correlated with Internet addiction; meaning in life was significantly positively correlated with reciprocal filial piety, and negatively correlated with Internet addiction; reciprocal filial piety was significantly positively correlated with authoritarian filial piety, and negatively correlated with Internet addiction. Second, alexithymia could not only directly predict Internet addiction, but also indirectly predict Internet addiction through meaning in life. Third, reciprocal filial piety played a moderating role between meaning in life and Internet addiction, while authoritarian filial piety did not. For middle school students with low reciprocal filial piety, meaning in life can negatively predict Internet addiction; for those with high reciprocal filial piety, there is no correlation between meaning in life and Internet addiction. Conclusion This study reveals the internal mechanism of the relationship between alexithymia and Internet addiction in middle school students, emphasizes the role of positive psychology and family environment, and provides specific evidence and theoretical guidance for preventing Internet addiction in middle school students.
Biphasic function of GSK3β in gefitinib‑resistant NSCLC with or without EGFR mutations

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as gefitinib, are effective in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations. However, the mechanism underlying acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs remains largely unknown. Therefore, the present study generated gefitinib-resistant PC-9 (PC-9G) cells, which were revealed to be more resistant to gefitinib-induced reductions in proliferation, migration and invasion, and increases in apoptosis, and had no detectable EGFR mutations compared with the control PC-9 cell line. In addition, the present study performed genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of differentially expressed genes between PC-9 and PC-9G cell lines. Cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, migration and flow cytometry analyses were also performed. The genome-wide transcriptomic analysis revealed that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) was downregulated in PC-9G cells compared with that in PC-9 cells. Furthermore, GSK3β overexpression increased the proliferation, migration and invasion of PC-9 and H1975 gefitinib-resistant cells. Conversely, overexpression of GSK3β suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of PC-9G cells. Furthermore, AKT inhibition reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced the apoptosis of PC-9, PC-9G and H1975 cells, the effects of which were reversed following AKT activation; notably, the tumor suppressor function of GSK3β was inconsistent with the tumor promotor role of the AKT pathway in PC-9G cells without EGFR mutation. The present study may provide novel insights into the distinctive role of GSK3β in gefitinib-resistant NSCLC with or without EGFR mutations, suggesting that a more detailed investigation on GSK3β as a therapeutic target for gefitinib-resistant NSCLC may be warranted.
Concomitant Coronary Artery Disease in Identical Twins: Case Report and Systematic Literature Review

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is multifactorial and strongly affected by genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Several studies have reported development of concomitant CAD in identical twins. We report a case in which a pair of Caucasian male monozygotic twins presented almost concomitantly with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and had concordant coronary anatomy and identical site of occlusion. We performed a systematic literature review of PubMed, Web Of Science and Scopus databases from inception until 28 February 2023 of case reports/case series reporting the concomitant development of CAD in monozygotic twins. We found 25 eligible case reports with a total of 31 monozygotic twin pairs (including the case from our center) suffering from CAD and presenting (most of them simultaneously) with ACS (mean age of presentation: 45 ± 12 years, males: 81%). Coronary angiograms demonstrated lesion and anatomy concordance in 77% and 79% of the twin pairs, respectively. Screening for disease-related genetic mutations was performed in six twin pairs leading to the identification of five CAD-related genetic polymorphisms. This is the first systematic literature review of studies reporting identical twin pairs suffering from CAD. In summary, there is high concordance of coronary anatomy and clinical presentation between monozygotic twins. Future monozygotic twin studies—unbiased by age effects—can provide insights into CAD heritability being able to disentangle the traditional dyad of genetic and environmental factors and investigate the within-pair epigenetic drift.
Enhancing Brand Visual Identity for Addressing Digital Customers’ Pain Points: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract This study aimed to identify the dimensions can help develop a brand’s visual identity to address digital customers’ pain points. An online survey was distributed to 600 digital customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Structural equation modeling by the partial least squares method was used for the data analysis. The current study contributed to reaching the most important dimensions of creating a distinctive and unique visual identity, which was represented in the Emotional connection, Mental positioning, Professionalism, Brand eloquence. Marketers can benefit from these results in creating a distinctive and unique visual identity that contributes to overcoming the customer’s pain points, and then reaching the target customers and attracting them to the brand and linking with it, and increasing the sales and profits of the digital organization. also, can benefit from these findings when preparing the marketing strategy to match the components of the organization’s unique and distinctive visual identity.
6C.3 AN ASSESSMENT OF KEY ASPECTS OF WARM AND COOL SEASON SEVERE FLASH FLOODING IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

One of the most challenging and difficult problems facing forecasters today is quantitative precipitation forecasting, especially the prediction of orographically enhanced heavy precipitation (Lin et al. 2001). The difficulty of forecasting flash floods is a global problem. For example, significant orographic flash flooding events affect such areas as the European Alps, the Western Ghats in India, the Central Mountain Range in Taiwan, the islands of Japan, and the South Island of New Zealand (Lin et al., 2001). These flash floods result in significant loss of life and property.
Microstructure and Electron Magnetic Circular Dichroism of Antiphase Boundaries in Magnetic Oxides

A novel antiphase boundary in spinel NiFe2O4 with rock salt structure interlayers and crystal translation (1/4)a [011] is observed. The atomic configuration dependent magnetic property is comprehensively invesitaged thtough the combination of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron magnetic circular dichroism, and dynamical diffraction calculations. Inroduing of antiferromagnetic coupling and decreasing in magnetic magnitudes at antiphase boundary is confirmed though first principles density functional theory calculation.
Whole-Body Vibration Impacts on the Degree of Toe Angle and Its Correlation to the Knee Osteoarthritis Index during Level Walking among Female University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Whole-body vibration (WBV) training is used for ankle rehabilitation as it stimulates muscle spindles to excite tonic vibration reflexes, and improves muscle strength, power, joint proprioception, balance, and flexibility. Thus, this study aims to determine the impact of whole-body vibration on the degree of the toe angle and the correlation between the toe angle and knee osteoarthritis index during level walking among female university students. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 42 participants divided into two groups. The control group performed only home-based exercise (HBE) after education, and the study group received WBV with HBE. The functional status of participants to predict osteoarthritis was evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), where the toe angle degree and WOMAC index were assessed before and six weeks after training. The results showed a significant improvement in the toe-in angle of HBE + WBV compared to the HBE group (p = 0.02), and in HBE + WBV, an improvement of the toe angle showed a 43% decrease in the WOMAC index (p = 0.001). In conclusion, WBV for the ankle and foot training program positively affected the degree of the toe angle, that directly affected the subtalar and ankle joint mechanics. Trial registration in the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR202304816093190 (registered retrospectively, date of registration: 18 April 2023).
Correlation of Doppler ultrasound resistive index in the prostatic gland with severity of male lower urinary tract symptoms, prostate volume, and concomitant diabetes mellitus

Introduction Benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common in elderly men. This study aimed to correlate the Doppler resistive indices of prostatic arteries with the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and prostate volume in men with concomitant BPE and T2DM. Material and methods Fifty men with T2DM and BPE (BPE-DM) as cases and 50 age-matched men with BPE but no T2DM (BPE-ND) as controls were enrolled. B-mode and power Doppler ultrasonography of the prostate gland were done for both groups. Results The mean total prostatic volume of the BPE-DM was 79.18 ±8.9 ml, while that of BPE-ND was 60.73 ±10.6 ml (p <0.0001). The mean prostatic resistive index (PRI) was significantly higher among BPE-DM than BPE-ND (0.74 ±0.02 vs 0.68 ±0.09 for right capsular artery; 0.77 ±0.04 vs 0.71 ±0.02 for left capsular artery; and 0.76 ±0.04 vs 0.70 ±0.02 for the urethral artery). BPE-DM with higher glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, and longer duration of T2DM experienced more severe lower urinary tract symptoms and had higher PRI. Conclusions In conclusion, the BPE-DM group presented larger prostate glands and more bothersome LUTS, which correlated with higher PRI. Strict glycaemic control is necessary in men with co-existing BPE and T2DM.
Modelling of Deep Street Canyon Air Pollution Chemistry and Transport: A Wintertime Naples Case Study

The impact of urban morphology on air quality, particularly within deep canyons with longer residence times for complex chemical processes, remains insufficiently addressed. A flexible multi-box framework was used to simulate air quality at different canyon heights (3 m and 12 m). This approach incorporated essential parameters, including ventilation rates, background concentrations, photochemical schemes, and reaction coefficients. A field campaign within a deep canyon with an aspect ratio of 3.7, in Naples, Italy was conducted and used for the model evaluation. The model performance demonstrated good agreement, especially at the street level, when employing a realistic light intensity profile and incorporating volatile organic compound (VOC) chemistry. Our findings indicate that peroxyl radical production affects NO2 and O3 levels by up to 9.5% in deep canyons and underscore the significance of vertical distribution (approximately 5% variance) in health assessments and urban air quality strategy development. The model response was sensitive to changes in emissions as expected, but also, somewhat more surprisingly, to background conditions, emphasizing that policies to remove pollution hotspots must include local and broader citywide action. This work advances the understanding of air quality dynamics in deep urban canyons and presents a valuable tool for effective air quality management in intricate urban environments.
A Real-World Comparative Analysis of Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Radiotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis

Simple Summary This multicenter cohort study is the first to compare the clinical outcomes between the Atezolizumab-plus-bevacizumab (Ate/Bev) and transarterial-chemoembolization-plus-radiotherapy (TACE + RT) therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) who had no metastasis. Through detailed analyses, our study revealed that the Ate/Bev treatment provided superior one-year survival compared to the TACE + RT treatment. The superior outcome of the Ate/Bev therapy was constantly observed in patients with an extensive HCC burden. Meanwhile, patients with unilobar disease demonstrated comparable outcomes between the two treatment groups. Finally, in the propensity score-matching analysis, both one-year survival and progression-free survival rates were higher in the Ate/Bev treatment group. These results suggest that Ate/Bev treatment should be considered as the primary treatment option for HCC patients with PVTT. With respect to TACE + RT, this could also be considered as an alternative treatment option alongside Ate/Bev therapy in patients with unilobar intrahepatic HCC. Abstract This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of atezolizumab-plus-bevacizumab (Ate/Bev) therapy with those of transarterial chemoembolization plus radiotherapy (TACE + RT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) and without metastasis. Between June 2016 and October 2022, we consecutively enrolled 855 HCC patients with PVTT. After excluding 758 patients, 97 patients (n = 37 in the Ate/Bev group; n = 60 in the TACE + RT group) were analyzed. The two groups showed no significant differences in baseline characteristics and had similar objective response and disease control rates. However, the Ate/Bev group showed a significantly higher one-year survival rate (p = 0.041) compared to the TACE + RT group, which was constantly displayed in patients with extensive HCC burden. Meanwhile, the clinical outcomes were comparable between the two groups in patients with unilobar intrahepatic HCC. In Cox-regression analysis, Ate/Bev treatment emerged as a significant factor for better one-year survival (p = 0.049). Finally, in propensity-score matching, the Ate/Bev group demonstrated a better one-year survival (p = 0.02) and PFS (p = 0.01) than the TACE + RT group. In conclusion, Ate/Bev treatment demonstrated superior clinical outcomes compared to TACE + RT treatment in HCC patients with PVTT. Meanwhile, in patients with unilobar intrahepatic HCC, TACE + RT could also be considered as an alternative treatment option alongside Ate/Bev therapy.
The Application of Quartic Trigonometric B-spline for Solving Second Order Singular Boundary Value Problems

In this paper, a quartic trigonometric B-spline collocation approach is described and presented for the numerical solution of the second order singular boundary value problems. Several numerical examples are discussed to exhibit the feasibility and capability of the technique. The unknown coefficients \(C_{i}\), \(i=-4,-3,\ldots,n-1\) are obtained through optimization. The maximum errors \((L_{\infty})\) and norm errors \((L_{2})\) are also computed for different space size steps to assess the performance of the proposed technique. The rate of convergence is discussed numerically to be of fourth-order. The numerical solutions are contrasted with both analytical and other existing numerical solutions that exist in the literature. The comparison shows that the quartic trigonometric B-spline method is superior as it yields more accurate solutions.