Stable Level Research Articles

Bioreactor pH Control System Using Interval Type-2 Fuzzy PID Controller.

In cell culture, maintaining a stable and optimal pH level is critical for ensuring proper cellular growth. This study presents the design of a pH control system specifically tailored for this application, utilizing an algorithm that integrates interval type-2 fuzzy control with traditional PID control strategies. The hardware component of the control system employs an STM32 microcontroller, while the software is developed based on the process characteristics of the controlled system. The PID, type-1 fuzzy PID, and interval type-2 fuzzy PID algorithms are assessed through both simulations and experiments. The results demonstrate that the proposed interval type-2 fuzzy PID control algorithm shows reduced overshoot, enhanced control accuracy, and improved response time. Furthermore, it demonstrates a faster recovery rate when subjected to disturbances, rapidly reaching steady-state conditions and effectively fulfilling the requirements for pH regulation in cell culture.

Ageing trajectories in football: insights from the Chinese Super League on positional performance dynamics

ABSTRACT This study examined the impact of age on the physical and technical performance of professional football players across different positions. Using 28,209 player-match observations from 2012 to 2021, covering 18 performance indicators, players were grouped into five positions: central defenders, fullbacks, central midfielders, wide midfielders and forwards. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were applied to identify nonlinear age-related patterns. The findings revealed distinct developmental trajectories and fluctuations at key age points, notably at 22, 25 and 30 years. Physical performance indicators for central defenders and fullbacks generally declined with age, although fullbacks maintained a stable level of high-speed running between 25 and 30 years. In terms of technical performance, central defenders showed gradual improvements in passing accuracy and ball retention with age, while fullbacks experienced stabilisation after 25. Central midfielders reached their physical peak between 22 and 32 years, and wide midfielders showed slight recovery in high-speed running after 30. As for forwards, their tactical value increased primarily through improved goal-scoring efficiency with age, although their role in organising play and ball control remained limited.

The roles of national anti-Muslim policy, state context, and individual ideology in anti-Muslim implicit bias in the United States

Corresponding with President Trump’s campaign rhetoric and enactment of the “Muslim ban,” anti-Muslim bias and hate crimes rose in the US. Although it was repealed in 2021, many Americans disagreed with revoking the ban and continued to stereotype Muslims as terrorists. This study investigates whether the Muslim ban affected implicit anti-Muslim bias in the US using Project Implicit data, Muslim ban activity records, and state-level election data. Multilevel modeling revealed that, across state political contexts (i.e., presidential election outcomes), the ban was associated with less anti-Muslim implicit bias among liberals during – compared to before and after – the Muslim ban. Conservatives, instead, showed stable but higher levels of anti-Muslim bias across Muslim ban periods and state political contexts. Demonstrating a policy backlash effect among liberals, this study sheds light on how individuals unconsciously responded to the Muslim ban across state political contexts and holds implications for policy implementation across the political spectrum.

Flexible self-powered MoS2/LaVO3 photodetector enhanced by graphene quantum dots interlayer

High-performance self-powered photodetectors (PDs) have attracted significant interest as highly efficient optoelectronic devices capable of operating without an external power source. In this study, we demonstrate a flexible MoS₂/graphene quantum dots (GQDs)/LaVO₃ heterojunction PD fabricated on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate. The device performance was systematically evaluated with and without the GQDs interlayer. The incorporation of GQDs effectively suppresses charge recombination, leading to substantial improvements in key performance metrics such as responsivity, external quantum efficiency, and detectivity. Furthermore, the MoS₂/GQDs/LaVO₃ PD exhibited excellent mechanical stability, maintaining stable photocurrent and dark current levels even after 3000 continuous bending cycles. These results highlight the potential of the MoS₂/GQDs/LaVO₃ PD as a highly promising candidate for next-generation flexible optoelectronic applications.

Long-Term Fertilizer-Based Management Alters Soil N2O Emissions and Silicon Availability in Moso Bamboo Forests

Long-term intensive management practices in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests, primarily characterized by repeated fertilizer application, tillage, and biomass harvesting, can alter soil nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. This study aimed to assess how such fertilizer-based management affects soil N2O emission potential and silicon (Si) availability. We collected soil samples (0–20 cm) from bamboo stands subjected to 0–39 years of intensive management and from adjacent natural broad-leaved forests as a reference. The Soil pH, nitrogen forms, nitrification and denitrification potential, and Si concentrations were measured. The results showed significant nitrogen accumulation and progressive soil acidification with increasing management duration. The nitrification and denitrification potentials were 5.7 and 6.0 times higher in the 39-year-old stand compared to unmanaged bamboo. Meanwhile, the available Si decreased by 20.1%, despite stable total Si levels. The available Si showed strong positive correlations with nitrogen forms and transformation rates. These findings highlight the long-term impact of fertilizer-driven bamboo management on soil biogeochemistry and emphasize the need to consider Si dynamics in sustainable nutrient strategies.

Fermentation Kinetics and Gene Expression Patterns in Adenosine Biosynthesis by Bacillus subtilis

Adenosine holds significant application value in the fields of food additives and pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis. Engineering strains to enhance their efficiency in utilizing fermentation substrates is considered an effective strategy for improving production yield. However, modifications to adenosine-producing strains remain challenging due to the complex physiological and metabolic regulation governing adenosine biosynthesis. In this study, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of adenosine biosynthesis in a high-yielding Bacillus subtilis strain were analyzed through transcriptome sequencing. Under conditions in which an additional 10 g/L glutamine and 6 g/L hypoxanthine were supplemented at 48 h of cultivation to promote adenosine synthesis, a total of 105 significantly differentially expressed genes (69 downregulated and 36 upregulated) were identified, with key genes related to adenosine biosynthesis primarily concentrated in the downstream purine metabolic pathway. Notably, core biosynthetic genes including purD, guaC, purH, and purN showed significant downregulation in the high-yielding strain, suggesting that adenosine accumulation might inhibit related gene expression through negative feedback mechanisms. Fermentation kinetic analysis revealed that biomass reached its peak at 48 h (OD600 = 0.82), with a glucose consumption rate of 73.28% at this stage. Gene expression pattern analysis demonstrated that purD, guaC, purH, and purN maintained relatively stable expression levels during fermentation. However, the exogenous supplementation of inosine (6 g/L) and glutamine (10 g/L) induced significant inhibition of their expression—a trend paralleling that observed with exogenous adenosine addition. This research elucidates key regulatory nodes in the adenosine biosynthesis of Bacillus subtilis and provides theoretical support and candidate targets for the targeted modification of industrial strains through metabolic engineering strategies.

Financial Leverage Analysis of PT Gudang Garam Tbk: A Five-Year Study

This study examines the financial leverage trends of PT Gudang Garam Tbk during the 2019–2023 period and evaluates its relationship with profitability, measured by Return on Equity (ROE), and dividend policy, represented by Dividend Per Share (DPS). Using a descriptive quantitative approach and secondary financial data, the research applies financial ratio analysis to assess performance dynamics. Findings indicate that the company maintained a stable leverage level with low interest burden, suggesting a conservative financing structure. While ROE showed a downward trend, the decline was primarily driven by operational income fluctuations rather than debt utilization. DPS distribution remained relatively consistent, reflecting managerial commitment to shareholder returns despite varying earnings. The results suggest that financial leverage was not a dominant factor influencing profitability during the observed period. Instead, operational efficiency played a more critical role in shaping the company’s financial outcomes. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of capital structure decisions in capital-intensive industries and offers practical implications for corporate financial strategy and investor confidence.

Water quality management strategies for super‐intensive culture of Penaeus vannamei with biofloc system: A case study in Virginia, USA

Abstract The aim of this case study was to investigate and describe water quality and growth performance of Penaeus vannamei produced in a super‐intensive biofloc system (BFT) under diverse water conditions (seawater and low‐salinity water) in the state of Virginia, USA. Three individual indoor super‐intensive grow‐out trials were conducted using a stocking density of 500 shrimp m−3 at salinities of 23 g L−1 for 70 days (TI), 28 g L−1 for 69 days (TII), and 2 g L−1 for 30 days (TIII). Key water quality management strategies included: (TI) BFT system; (TII) BFT system and probiotic; (TIII) BFT system, probiotic, water reuse, and artificial substrate. TII exhibited the highest mean total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration (2.60 mg L−1), and the greatest variation in TAN levels, which were controlled from day 35 onward. TAN levels remained relatively stable in TIII. TI exhibited the highest mean nitrite concentration (3.66 mg L−1) and the greatest variation, with a spike that was successfully controlled from day 35 onward. In contrast, nitrite concentrations in TII displayed a continuous upward trend from day 28 without any indication of stabilization. Nitrite concentrations in TIII remained consistently low, never exceeding 0.5 mg L−1 throughout the experiment. Nitrate concentrations exhibited a consistent upward trend across all trials. The final weight of shrimp in TI and TII was 11.03 g and 13.62 g respectively, while in TIII it was 4.86 g. Survival rates were 77.67% in TI, 86.00% in TII, and 87.00% in TIII. Yield values were 4.28, 5.81, and 2.12 kg m−3 for TI, TII, and TIII, respectively. Our findings indicated slower nitrification rates in TI and TII compared to TIII. Water reuse, probiotic inoculation, and artificial substrates in TIII resulted in significantly lower and more stable levels of ammonia and nitrite compared to TI and TII, indicating a mature system with improved control for nitrogenous compounds. These findings demonstrate the successful application of integrated BFT strategies, including water reuse, probiotic inoculation, and artificial substrates, in enhancing the super‐intensive indoor production of P. vannamei using both seawater and low‐salinity water. These results have significant implications for the development of shrimp farming in the state of Virginia, USA.

Increased eosinophils after oral corticosteroid treatment for asthma exacerbation correlated with longer ER stays and persisting thymic stromal lymphopoietin and increased Park2

TSLP-regulated Park2 and mitophagy may be critical underlying driver of asthma exacerbations, as well as eosinophil responses to oral corticosteroids (OCS). However, detailed molecular knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved is lacking. In a prospective cohort study at ED Siriraj Hospital, 28 consecutive patients with an acute asthma exacerbation were administered OCS treatment for one week. Serum levels of TSLP, Park2, Mul1, related cytokines, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and oxidative stress were measured. The effects of TSLP, inhaled corticosteroids, NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, and mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant on mitophagy, mtDNA release, Park2, and Mul1 were examined in blood monocytes and in a human bronchial epithelial cell line (HBEC). Two distinct eosinophil responses to OCS treatment were observed: reduced (RE) and increased absolute blood eosinophil levels (IE). Following OCS treatment, participants with IE demonstrated stable TSLP levels and a significant rise in Park2. The IE group exhibited markedly higher baseline oxidative stress levels than the RE group at an exacerbation episode and further increase in oxidative stress after OCS treatment. TSLP augmented the induction of Park2 while inhibiting mitophagy, resulting in increased release of mtDNA from blood monocytes and human bronchial epithelial cells and stimulating inflammasome activation. Corticosteroids did not effectively suppress oxidative stress-mediated TSLP effects. The present study demonstrated potential inflammatory mechanisms in acute asthmatics with rising eosinophil counts following OCS treatment including a possible role of TSLP in suppressing mitophagy and inducing mtDNA release with concomitant inflammasome activation, and Park2 expression.

Targeted treatment of hypophosphatemia with trametinib in HRAS-related mosaic RASopathy

Schimmelpenning-Feuerstein-Mims syndrome (SFMS) is a rare mosaic RASopathy associated with epidermal nevi, neurological abnormalities, and increased cancer risk. We report a 2-year-old girl with HRAS-related SFMS, aggressive orbital rhabdomyosarcoma (eRMS) and severe hypophosphatemic rickets resistant to standard therapies. Treatment with the MEK inhibitor trametinib improved phosphate regulation, reducing FGF23 levels, and led to rapid developmental progress, including independent walking. After 29 months, the patient remains in cancer remission with stable phosphate levels. This case highlights trametinib’s potential in managing complex manifestations in SFMS and suggests MEK inhibitors as promising for treating mosaic RASopathies.

Monitoring water crisis from space across a Mediterranean region

Water scarcity, driven by climate change and increased drying trends in the Mediterranean region, presents severe water availability and agricultural production shortages, particularly in North Africa. Morocco, a country with arid to semi-arid conditions, is facing a growing water demand, exacerbated by extreme climatic events such as droughts and inefficient water management. The agricultural sector, the country’s major water consumer, is a pillar of Morocco’s economy. Public policy in the sector has increased irrigated surfaces, contributing to a severe water resources shortage. This study utilizes satellite-based radar data to evaluate the spatial extent and status of Moroccan dams from 2018 to 2024. By focusing on significant reservoirs, particularly the Al Massira dam in the Oum Er-Rbia basin, this investigation aims to assess changes in surface water area and analyze the underlying factors contributing to these variations. Satellite radar data offers a cost-effective and reliable method for monitoring water level changes across large surface areas, compensating for the scarcity of in-situ measurements. The study’s findings reveal an apparent decrease in surface water areas across Moroccan reservoirs, with significant declines observed between 2021 and 2023. Al Massira dam, in particular, experienced severe declines in water storage, dropping to less than 3% of its capacity since 2023. This decline is attributed to ongoing drought conditions, which have persisted since 2017, and unsustainable water extraction driven by the expansion of water-intensive crops under national agricultural policies such as the Green Morocco Plan (GMP). Regional disparities in water availability were also highlighted. While southern reservoirs experienced drastic reductions, northern reservoirs exhibited more stable water levels, reflecting the heterogeneous impact of climatic variability and, thus, precipitation patterns across the country. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of radar data in monitoring dam water levels and underscore the urgent need for improved water management strategies, particularly in Morocco’s central and southern regions, which rely heavily on reservoirs for agricultural and drinking water supplies.

Patterns of hemolysis, erythropoiesis, and iron distribution define unique disease trajectories in three mouse models of genetic anemia.

Patterns of hemolysis, erythropoiesis, and iron distribution define unique disease trajectories in three mouse models of genetic anemia.

Development and evaluation of biphenyl-based small-molecule radiotracers for PET imaging of PD-L1 in tumor.

Development and evaluation of biphenyl-based small-molecule radiotracers for PET imaging of PD-L1 in tumor.

Understanding the ternary interaction of crop plants, fungal pathogens, and rhizobacteria in response to global warming.

Understanding the ternary interaction of crop plants, fungal pathogens, and rhizobacteria in response to global warming.

Molecular-level insights into dissolved organic matter during Ulva prolifera degradation and its regulation on the environmental behaviour of the organic pollutant tributyl phosphate.

Molecular-level insights into dissolved organic matter during Ulva prolifera degradation and its regulation on the environmental behaviour of the organic pollutant tributyl phosphate.

Screening and Validation of Reference Genes for Normalization of qRT-PCR in Rice BLB Pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae Under Tetramycin Stress

Background: Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes rice leaf blight (BLB) and poses a major threat to global rice production. In rice production, tetramycin agents provide good control of rice leaf blight, while the standardization of the reference genes of Xoo under tetramycin stress has not been reported. The aim of this study was to identify the most stable reference genes for quantitative PCR analysis of Xoo under tetramycin stress. Methods: Six candidate reference genes, gyrB (RNA polymerase β gene), GADPH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene), recA (recombinase A gene), gyrA (citrate synthase encoding gene), dnaK (molecular chaperone protein gene), and 16S rRNA (16S ribosomal RNA gene) were selected and their expression stability was assessed under tetramycin stress conditions using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and RefFinder were used to assess the expression stability, the relative expression values of the eight genes involved QS (Quorum sensing) pathway under tetramycin stress were used to validate by the rpf (regulation of pathogenic factors) gene family. Results: 16S rRNA expression was most stable under tetracycline stress, whereas GADPH was the least. The rpf gene family showed a highly stable expression level, confirming the reliability of 16S r RNA as a reference gene in the study of Xoo under tetramycin stress. Conclusions: 16S rRNA was identified as the best reference gene for Xoo gene expression analysis under tetramycin stress. It provides a reliable support for the molecular research on the control strategy of rice BLB.

Successful autologous stem cell transplantation in a case of central nervous system relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with concurrent polycythemia vera.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with central nervous system (CNS) relapse is associated with a poor prognosis, and treatment becomes particularly challenging in such cases when complicated by polycythemia vera (PV). We report a unique case of CNS-relapsed DLBCL coexisting with PV, successfully treated with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). A 64-year-old man achieved complete remission following R-CHOP therapy for DLBCL but developed isolated CNS relapse one year later. After achieving partial remission with high-dose methotrexate, he was referred for ASCT. On admission, erythrocytosis prompted further evaluation, leading to a diagnosis of JAK2 V617F-positive PV with an allele burden of 37.7%. Following phlebotomy, peripheral blood stem cells were successfully mobilized using reduced-dose G-CSF and plerixafor. ASCT was performed using a conditioning regimen of busulfan and thiotepa. Neutrophil engraftment occurred by day 10 without major adverse events. At 30 months post-ASCT, the patient remains in complete remission, with stable hemoglobin levels, a reduced JAK2 V617F allele burden (~ 12%), and no need for further phlebotomy. This case highlights the feasibility and potential dual therapeutic benefit of thiotepa-based ASCT in patients with coexisting CNS-relapsed DLBCL and PV. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of ASCT in this clinical context.

The Efficacy of Neuropuncture™ Electrical Acupuncture Treatment of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

The purpose of this study was to determine the neuro-rehabilitative effect on the dopamine-secreting neurons of the striata of the basal ganglia and the production of a neuroprotective effect that will reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) by applying a specific Neuropuncture™ electrical acupuncture prescription. Electrical stimulation of acupuncture needles placed into the scalp and body transmits a specific electrical dosage that targets pathological neural tissue intended to neuro-modulate, neuro-regulate, and neuro-rehabilitate the nervous system back into homeostasis [1-3]. Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor symptoms, such as rigidity, resting tremors, gait disturbance, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Non-motor symptoms are associated with signs of autonomic dysfunctions, such as anosmia, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, frequent urination, cognitive impairment, and hallucinations [4,5]. The Participants who were clinically diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease were treated with electrical acupuncture and evaluated pre and post therapy utilizing the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), which is the standard for rating the progression of the symptoms associated with PD. The UPDRS evaluation was performed pre-and post-therapy. A urinary neurotransmitter test from ZRT Laboratories was also obtained pre-and post-therapy to measure dopamine and tyrosine levels. The Neuropuncture™ electrical acupuncture prescription for Parkinson’s disease was administered twice weekly for six weeks, totaling 12 treatments. There were improvements in the UPDRS scores in all the patients, and the urinary neurotransmitter tests showed stable or elevated levels of dopamine and tyrosine. Thus, there was a positive correlation between the treatment using Neuropuncture™ electrical acupuncture’s prescription for Parkinson’s Disease and the pre-and post-therapy UPDRS evaluations for these patients. These findings support the treatment benefits of Parkinson’s disease utilizing Neuropuncture™ electrical acupuncture and may be considered as an adjunct to current medical drug therapy.

РОЗВИТОК РЕЗИЛЬЄНТНОСТІ ОСОБИСТОСТІ

The article is devoted to the theoretical analysis of the main approaches to understanding the essence of the concept of “resilience”, its structure, factors, conditions and resources of development. It is substantiated that in the context of a full-scale war, socio-political conflicts, and aggravation of economic problems in the state, there is a growing need for a deep study of the conditions for maintaining psychological stability and human resilience. The article analyzes modern approaches to the definition of this phenomenon, and identifies the issues of correlation between the concepts of “resilience”, “adaptation”, “viability”, and “stress resistance”. It is noted that these concepts reflect the ability of a person to recover from adverse life events, while the ability to post-traumatic growth is ensured by the person's resilience. It has been determined that resilience includes the following components: emotional stability, cognitive flexibility, values, adequate self-esteem, and adequate cultural self-identification. In order to develop resilience, it is important to take into account both external (social competence, favorable family environment, social support) and internal (adaptability (acceptance, openness, flexibility, resourcefulness); endurance (focus on the task, self-control); self-efficacy; positive emotional background) factors. The internal individual resources of the personality (physical activity, expression of emotions, social ties, faith, creativity and cognitive strategies) are identified, which can become the basis for the development of personality resilience. It is summarized that it is important to develop resilience as a dynamic property of personality, which covers a set of cognitive, emotional, adaptive traits that guarantee not only the ability of a person to withstand the negative effects of stress in order to maintain mental health, but also the ability to overcome these difficult periods, traumatic events in a constructive way, recovering and maintaining a stable level of mental functioning in adverse situations, demonstrating post-traumatic growth.

INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR 3D POINT CLOUD SEGMENTATION IN TANK CALIBRATION

The paper presents a hybrid method for segmenting 3D point clouds for the calibration of cylindrical horizontal tanks, combining RANSAC and DBSCAN algorithms with subsequent boundary refinement based on local geometric features. Analysis of prior research indicates that RANSAC is effective for detecting cylindrical surfaces but sensitive to noise, while DBSCAN excels in clustering noisy data but requires parameter optimization. Hybrid methods combining these algorithms demonstrate improved results; however, their robustness to low-density point clouds and accuracy in transition zones remain underexplored. The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a hybrid 3D point cloud segmentation method integrating RANSAC, DBSCAN, and boundary refinement to achieve automated tank calibration with high accuracy across densities levels ranging from ~1 million to ~18 million points. The research results are based on a comparison of a scanned model (18,012,345 points at maximum density) and an ideal model (17,986,543 points) of the tank. The hybrid method enabled precise estimation of geometric parameters: radius (R ≈ 1.5 m, error ±0.03 m) and length (L ≈ 10.8 m, error ±0.05 m). The segmentation identified the front bottom (372,890 points, ~2.07 %), rear bottom (411,230 points, ~2.28 %), and noise (2,181,240 points, ~12.1 %). The proportionality of point reduction for bottoms with decreasing density was confirmed by linear approximation (Fig. 1): slopes of ~20,700–22,800 points/million for the scanned model and ~20,900–21,100 for the ideal model, with R² ≈ 0.999. Relative segmentation errors range from 0.1–0.7 % for the front bottom and 8.3–8.9 % for the rear bottom, indicating higher accuracy for the front bottom and a need for improvement in the rear bottom. The stability of noise (~12.1–12.2 %) confirms the effectiveness of DBSCAN. The method maintained accuracy even at low density (~1 million points), although the increased error for the rear bottom (~8.75 %) suggests potential loss of detail. In conclusion, the developed hybrid method is robust to noise, scalable for densities levels of 1–18 million points, and suitable for automated tank calibration. The proportionality of components and stable noise level highlight the method’s reliability, while visualization (cylinder – red, front bottom – green, rear bottom – blue) illustrates clear component separation. Future research may focus on optimizing DBSCAN for low-density point clouds and reducing errors for the rear bottom in transition zones.