Superior Effect Research Articles

Nanoplatelets modified with RVG for targeted delivery of miR-375 and temozolomide to enhance gliomas therapy

Gliomas are one of the most frequent primary brain tumors and pose a serious threat to people’s lives and health. Platelets, a crucial component of blood, have been applied as drug delivery carriers for disease diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we designed engineered nanoplatelets for targeted delivery of therapeutic miR-375 and temozolomide (TMZ, a first-line glioma treatment agent) to enhance glioma therapy. Nanoplatelets were prepared through mild ultrasound, TMZ and miR-375 were co-loaded through ultrasound and electrostatic interactions, respectively, to combine chemotherapy with gene therapy against glioma. To improve the blood brain barrier (BBB) crossing efficiency and glioma targeting ability, the nanoplatelets were modified with central nervous system-specific rabies viral glycoprotein peptide (RVG) through thiol-maleimide click reaction. The RVG modified nanoplatelets co-loaded TMZ and miR-375 (NR/TMZ/miR-375) not only inherited the good stability and remarkable biocompatibility of platelets, but also promoted the cellular uptake and penetration of glioma tissues, and effectively induced cell apoptosis to enhance the therapeutic effect of drugs. In vivo studies showed that NR/TMZ/miR-375 significantly increased the circulation time of TMZ, and exhibited superior combined antitumor effects. In summary, this multifunctional ‘natural’ nanodrug delivery system provides a potent, scalable, and safety approach for platelet-based combined cancer chemotherapy and gene therapy.

Obinutuzumab versus rituximab for the treatment of refractory primary membranous nephropathy.

Rituximab has been shown effective in patients with primary membranous nephropathy refractory to glucocorticoids plus cyclophosphamide (GC+CTX) or calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), but the response rates remain limited. Compared with rituximab, obinutuzumab is a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody with greater B-cell depletion capacity. This study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of obinutuzumab compared to rituximab in treating patients with refractory primary membranous nephropathy. A retrospective study was conducted at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University between January 1, 2015 and July 31, 2024, and included adult patients with primary membranous nephropathy who met the following criteria, 1) resistance to GC+CTX and/or calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) regimens, 2) dependence on CNIs, or 3) relapse within 1 year after CTX discontinuation. The patients subsequently received either obinutuzumab or rituximab. The primary endpoint was treatment response, which was defined as overall remission of nephrotic syndrome with no need for rescue therapy after obinutuzumab versus rituximab treatment. The secondary measures included immunological remission and safety profiles. Among the 51 participants, 20 received obinutuzumab and 31 received rituximab. The response rate was significantly greater in patients receiving obinutuzumab than in those receiving patients (90.0% vs. 38.7%, p<0.001) during a follow-up period of 24 (IQR, 10-34) months. Cox proportional hazards survival regression analysis also revealed the superior effectiveness of obinutuzumab (p<0.001). Immunological remission rates were higher in patients receiving obinutuzumab at both 3 months (75.0% vs. 20.0%, p<0.001) and 6 months (87.5% vs. 21.4%, p<0.001). The safety profiles of the two treatments were comparable. Among the 19 nonresponders treated with rituximab, 10 subsequently received obinutuzumab, and 8 achieved remission during a follow-up period of 20.0 (IQR, 18.5-22.3) months. This retrospective study suggests that obinutuzumab is an effective treatment option for patients with primary membranous nephropathy refractory to GC+CTX, CNI, and rituximab regimens.

Thumbtack needle at front-mu points for abnormal behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders

To compare the clinical effect of thumbtack needle at front-mu points combined with conventional rehabilitation training and simple conventional rehabilitation training in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A total of 40 children with ASD were randomly divided into a combination group (20 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a conventional rehabilitation group (20 cases, 3 cases dropped out). Conventional rehabilitation training i.e. language-cognition training and comprehensive education training was adopted in the conventional rehabilitation group, once a day, 5 days a week. On the basis of the treatment in the conventional rehabilitation group, thumbtack needle was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), bilateral Tianshu (ST 25) and Guanyuan (CV 4) in the combination group, the needles were retained for 3 days each time, 3-day interval was taken between each treatment, for 5 times per month. One-month treatment was as one course and a total of 3 courses were required in both groups, with 10-day break between each course. Before and after treatment, the scores of autism behavior checklist (ABC), childhood autism rating scale (CARS), TCM spleen-stomach symptoms and Achenbach child behavior checklist (CBCL) were observed, and the serum ratio of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (Glu/GABA) was measured. After treatment, the scores of ABC, CARS and CBCL were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01) in both groups, the TCM spleen-stomach symptoms score was decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05) in the combination group; the changes in the scores of ABC, CARS, TCM spleen-stomach symptoms and CBCL, as well as the serum Glu/GABA in the combination group were lager than those in the conventional rehabilitation group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Both thumbtack needle at front-mu points combined with conventional rehabilitation training and simple conventional rehabilitation training can effectively treat ASD, the combination treatment has superior effect on improving the abnormal behavior, spleen-stomach symptoms and balance of nerve impulse and inhibition.

Synergistic combination of perphenazine and temozolomide suppresses patient-derived glioblastoma tumorspheres.

Glioblastoma (GBM), a primary malignant brain tumor, has a poor prognosis, even with standard treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In this study, we explored the anticancer effects of the synergistic combination of perphenazine (PER), a dopamine receptor D2/3 (DRD2/3) antagonist, and temozolomide (TMZ), a standard treatment for GBM, in patient-derived human GBM tumorspheres (TSs). The biological effects of the combination of PER and TMZ in GBM TSs were assessed by measuring cell viability, ATP, stemness, invasiveness, and apoptosis. Changes in protein and mRNA expression were analyzed using western blotting and RNA sequencing. Co-administration of PER and TMZ was evaluated in vivo using a mouse orthotopic xenograft model. The Severance dataset showed that DRD2 and DRD3 expression was higher in tumor tissues than in the tumor-free cortex of patients with GBM. DRD2/3 knockout by CRISPR/Cas9 in patient-derived human GBM TSs inhibited cell growth and ATP production. The combined treatment with PER and TMZ resulted in superior effects on cell viability and ATP assays compared to those in single treatment groups. Flow cytometry, western blotting, and RNA sequencing confirmed elevated apoptosis in GBM TSs following combination treatment. Additionally, the combination of PER and TMZ downregulated the expression of protein and mRNA associated with stemness and invasiveness. In vivo evaluation showed that combining PER and TMZ extended the survival period of the mouse orthotopic xenograft model. The synergistic combination of PER and TMZ has potential as a novel combination treatment strategy for GBM.

Effect of intermittent theta burst stimulation on upper limb function in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Stroke is a serious health issue that affects individuals, families, and society. Particularly, the upper limb dysfunction caused by stroke significantly reduces the quality of life for patients and may lead to psychological issues. Current treatment modalities are not fully effective in helping patients regain upper limb motor function to optimal levels. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new rehabilitation methods to address this issue. The purpose of this meta-analysis and systematic review is to explore the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on upper limb function in stroke patients. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, PEDro and China National Knowledge Internet as of April 8, 2024. Retrieved a total of 100 articles. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The study included a total of 9 trials and involved 224 patients. The results demonstrate that compared to the control group, iTBS therapy significantly improved Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE) scores (SMD = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.11-1.66; P = 0.03, I 2 = 84%), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) scores (SMD = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.16-1.50; P = 0.02, I 2 = 57%), and Barthel Index (BI) scores (SMD = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.53-1.32; P < 0.0001, I 2 = 0%) in stroke patients. The comprehensive evidence suggests that iTBS has superior effects in improving upper limb function and activities of daily living in stroke patients.

Circular economy strategies research for Beijing buildings in a low-carbon future

The circular economy strategy can effectively reconcile the contradiction between human activities and the ecological environment through utilizing resources efficiently and circularly, thereby promoting global low-carbon sustainable development. However, it lacks application in urban buildings. This study constructs the four-layer framework based on the turnover dynamic stock model and carbon emissions method. Combined with 7 circular economy strategies and scenario analysis, this framework captures the production, demand, use, recycling and reuse of 13 major materials in 7 prototypes of 3 types for Beijing's buildings, and explores the potential of dematerialization and low-carbon development from 2022 to 2060. Results indicate that the floor area will continue to grow to 1749.00 million m2 by 2060, material requirements will increase by 49.64 Mt annually, and CO2 emissions will increase by 8.26 Mt annually under current policies. Circular economy strategies can reduce cumulative material requirements by 20.40–762.09 Mt and CO2 emissions by 2.62–157.46 Mt until 2060, which have enormous abatement potential for materials and CO2 emissions. Executing multi-strategy simultaneously demonstrates superior overall effectiveness compared to individual strategies, which resulted in a cumulative reduction of 40.40 % of material requirements and 50.14 % of CO2 emissions. Decarbonizing buildings, promoting sustainable development, and contributing to achieving "3060" dual carbon goals require a collaborative implementation of multiple strategies.

Protective Role of Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic and Their N-Ethanolamide Derivatives in Olfactory Glial Cells Affected by Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation is a symptom of different neurodegenerative diseases, and growing interest is directed towards active drug development for the reduction of its negative effects. The anti-inflammatory activity of polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosahexaenoic (DHA), and their amide derivatives was largely investigated on some neural cells. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the protective role of both EPA and DHA and the corresponding N-ethanolamides EPA-EA and DHA-EA on neonatal mouse Olfactory Ensheathing Cells (OECs) after exposition to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation. To verify their anti-inflammatory effect and cell morphological features on OECs, the expression of IL-10 cytokine, and cytoskeletal proteins (vimentin and GFAP) was evaluated by immunocytochemical procedures. In addition, MTT assays, TUNEL, and mitochondrial health tests were carried out to assess their protective effects on OEC viability. Our results highlight a reduction in GFAP and vimentin expression in OECs exposed to LPS and treated with EPA or DHA or EPA-EA or DHA-EA in comparison with OECs exposed to LPS alone. We observed a protective role of EPA and DHA on cell morphology, while the amides EPA-EA and DHA-EA mainly exerted a superior anti-inflammatory effect compared to free acids.

A retrospective study on patient satisfaction and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life with fixed 4- or 6-implant supported prostheses over 3-7 years.

To compare patients' satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in edentulous patients treated by All-on-4 and All-on-6 implant-supported fixed prostheses rehabilitation over 3-7 years. All patients (n = 125) were divided into short-term (3-5 years, n = 71) and long-term (5-7 years, n = 54) follow-up groups. Patients' satisfaction was examined in a cross-sectional survey. OHRQoL and psychological impact were evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Comparison of All-on-4 and All-on-6, including OHIP values, satisfaction scores, treatment duration and complications, were analyzed using the Chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Potential influence of patient-related factors on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were analyzed via the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple regression analyses. Power calculation was conducted in R Studio. Both All-on-4 and All-on-6 follow-up groups showed high scores in total satisfaction and PROMs, including chewing comfort, aesthetics, cleanability, and stability, with no significant difference (p > 0.05). Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed in the OHIP scores between two groups in both follow-up durations (p > 0.05). However, in patients with 3-5 years follow-up, All-on-4 group had significantly lower phonetic satisfaction scores than All-on-6 group (p < 0.05). Additionally, during both follow-up periods, All-on-4 patients exhibited notably superior psychological effect in contrast to All-on-6 patients (p < 0.05). Edentulous patients treated by four or six implant-supported fixed prostheses showed same high satisfaction in oral health-related quality of life in both 3-5 years and 5-7 years follow-ups.

Striking long-term beneficial effects of single dose psilocybin and psychedelic mushroom extract in the SAPAP3 rodent model of OCD-like excessive self-grooming.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly prevalent disorder that causes serious disability. Available treatments leave 40% or more of people with OCD significantly symptomatic. There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. Mice that carry a homozygous deletion of the SAPAP3 gene (SAPAP3 KO) manifest a phenotype of excessive self-grooming, tic-like head-body twitches and anxiety. These behaviors closely resemble pathological self-grooming behaviors observed in humans in conditions that overlap with OCD. Following a preliminary report that the tryptaminergic psychedelic, psilocybin, may reduce symptoms in patients with OCD, we undertook a randomized controlled trial of psilocybin in 50 SAPAP3 KO mice (28 male, 22 female). Mice that fulfilled inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to a single intraperitoneal injection of psilocybin (4.4 mg/kg), psychedelic mushroom extract (encompassing the same psilocybin dose) or vehicle control and were evaluated after 2, 12, and 21 days by a rater blind to treatment allocation for grooming characteristics, head-body twitches, anxiety, and other behavioral features. Mice treated with vehicle (n = 18) manifested a 118.71 ± 95.96% increase in total self-grooming (the primary outcome measure) over the 21-day observation period. In contrast, total self-grooming decreased by 14.60 ± 17.90% in mice treated with psilocybin (n = 16) and by 19.20 ± 20.05% in mice treated with psychedelic mushroom extract (n = 16) (p = 0.001 for effect of time; p = 0.0001 for time × treatment interaction). Five mice were dropped from the vehicle group because they developed skin lesions; 4 from the psilocybin group and none from the psychedelic mushroom extract group. Secondary outcome measures such as head-body twitches and anxiety all showed a significant improvement over 21 days. Notably, in mice that responded to psilocybin (n = 12) and psychedelic mushroom extract (n = 13), the beneficial effect of a single treatment persisted up to 7 weeks. Mice initially treated with vehicle and non-responsive, showed a clear and lasting therapeutic response when treated with a single dose of psilocybin or psychedelic mushroom extract and followed for a further 3 weeks. While equivalent to psilocybin in overall effect on self-grooming, psychedelic mushroom extract showed superior effects in alleviating head-body twitches and anxiety. These findings strongly justify clinical trials of psilocybin in the treatment of OCD and further studies aimed at elucidating mechanisms that underlie the long-term effects to alleviate excessive self-grooming observed in this study. Prepared with BioRender ( https://www.biorender.com/ ).

Drug-Drug Cocrystal Alloy and Nanoformulation of Cytarabine: Optimized Biopharmaceutical Property and Synergistic Antitumor Efficacy.

An integrated strategy by combining cocrystallization with nanotechnology is developed to optimize in vitro/vivo performances of marine antitumor drug cytarabine (ARA) and further obtain innovative insights into the exploitation of cocrystal alloy nanoformulation. Therein, the optimization of properties and synergistic effects of ARA mainly depends on assembling with uracil (U) and antitumor drug 5-fluorouracil (FU) into the same crystal by cocrystallization technology, while the long-term efficacy is primarily maintained by playing the superiority of nanotechnology. Along this line, the first cocrystal alloy of ARA, viz., ARA-FU-U (0.6:0.4), is successfully obtained and then transformed into a nanocrystal. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrates that this cocrystal alloy consists of two isomorphic cocrystals of ARA, namely, ARA-FU and ARA-U, in 0.6:0.4 ratio. An R22(8) hydrogen-bonding cyclic system formed by a cytosine fragment of ARA with U or FU can protect and stabilize the amine group on ARA, laying the foundation for regulating its properties. The in vitro/in vivo properties of the cocrystal alloy and its nanocrystals are investigated by theoretical and experimental means. It reveals that both the alloy and nanocrystal can improve physicochemical properties and promote drug absorption, thus bringing to optimized pharmacokinetic behaviors. The nanocrystal produces superior effects than the alloy that helps to extend therapeutic time and action. Particularly, relative to the corresponding binary cocrystal, the synergistic antitumor activity of ARA and FU in the cocrystal alloy is heightened obviously. It may be that U contributes to reducing the degradation of FU, specifically increasing its concentration in tumors to enhance the synergistic effects of FU and ARA. These findings provide new thoughts for the application of cocrystal alloys in the marine drug field and break fresh ground for cocrystal alloy formulations to optimize drug properties.

Protective Effects of Trimetazidine and Dexmedetomidine on Liver Injury in a Mesenteric Artery Ischemia-Reperfusion Rat Model via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Acute mesenteric ischemia can lead to severe liver damage due to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study investigated the protective effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) and dexmedetomidine (DEX) against liver damage induced by mesenteric artery I/R via endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) mechanisms. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: control, I/R, I/R+TMZ, and I/R+DEX. TMZ (20 mg/kg) was administered orally for seven days, and DEX (100 µg/kg) was given intraper-itoneally 30 min before I/R induction. Liver tissues were analyzed for creatinine, alanine ami-notransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total thiol (TT) levels. Compared with the control group, the I/R group presented significantly increased AST, ALT, TBARS, and TT levels. TMZ notably reduced creatinine levels. I/R caused significant liver necrosis, inflammation, and congestion. TMZ and DEX treatments reduced this histopathological damage, with DEX resulting in a more significant reduction in infiltrative areas and vascular congestion. The increase in the expression of caspase-3, Bax, 8-OHdG, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) decreased with the TMZ and DEX treatments. In addition, Bcl-2 positivity decreased both in the TMZ and DEX treatments. Both TMZ and DEX have protective effects against liver damage. These effects are likely mediated through the reduction in ERS and apoptosis, with DEX showing slightly superior protective effects compared with TMZ.

Automatic Landing Control for Fixed-Wing UAV in Longitudinal Channel Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning

The objective is to address the control problem associated with the landing process of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with a particular focus on fixed-wing UAVs. The Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controller is a widely used control method, which requires the tuning of its parameters to account for the specific characteristics of the landing environment and the potential for external disturbances. In contrast, neural networks can be modeled to operate under given inputs, allowing for a more precise control strategy. In light of these considerations, a control system based on reinforcement learning is put forth, which is integrated with the conventional PID guidance law to facilitate the autonomous landing of fixed-wing UAVs and the automated tuning of PID parameters through the use of a Deep Q-learning Network (DQN). A traditional PID control system is constructed based on a fixed-wing UAV dynamics model, with the flight state being discretized. The landing problem is transformed into a Markov Decision Process (MDP), and the reward function is designed in accordance with the landing conditions and the UAV’s attitude, respectively. The state vectors are fed into the neural network framework, and the optimized PID parameters are output by the reinforcement learning algorithm. The optimal policy is obtained through the training of the network, which enables the automatic adjustment of parameters and the optimization of the traditional PID control system. Furthermore, the efficacy of the control algorithms in actual scenarios is validated through the simulation of UAV state vector perturbations and ideal gliding curves. The results demonstrate that the controller modified by the DQN network exhibits a markedly superior convergence effect and maneuverability compared to the unmodified traditional controller.

Associations between anthropometric indices as complementary predictors and incidence of type 2 diabetes; Panasonic Cohort Study 21

AimsTo compare the predictive abilities of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-corrected BMI (wBMI), a body shape index (ABSI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) for the incidence of type 2 diabetes and determine the practical cut-off values for the Japanese population. MethodsThis study used data from 155,623 participants who had medical checkups with Panasonic Corporation between 2008 and 2021. Predictive abilities of anthropometric indices were evaluated at 13 years using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Results8,800 developed type 2 diabetes during the study period. The area under the ROC curve for the WHtR was high (0.717, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.710–0.724), with cut-off value of 0.497 in men, while those for wBMI (0.829, 95 % CI: 0.808–0.848) and WHtR (0.826, 95 % CI: 0.806–0.845) were high in women, with cut-off values of 18.6 kg/m and 0.510, respectively. It was also showed WHtR was the most effective in men, while WHtR and wBMI outperformed WC and were comparable to BMI in women for predicting type 2 diabetes. ConclusionsWHtR demonstrated superior effectiveness in predicting type 2 diabetes in men, while both WHtR and wBMI showed higher effectiveness than WC and were almost equivalent to BMI in women.

A deformability-based mechanical model for predicting shear strength of FRP-strengthened RC beams failed in concrete cover separation

Concrete cover separation (CCS) is frequently happened prior to the yielding of steel stirrups in FRP-strengthened RC beams. However, the debonding mechanism and criterion have not been fully understood. In this study, the typical crack types associated with CCS are comprehensively summarized and investigated in terms of profiles and kinematics of crack. The dowel action and dowelling cracks are proved to be the dominant factors causing CCS. Based on the cracking features, the simplified local debonding strength and average shear strength of fracture interface, which constitutes the contribution of concrete to shear capacity of strengthened RC beams, are analytically derived and verified against the available experiments and code provisions. Through regression analysis of 179 collected shear tests, a formulation based on the Critical Shear Crack Theory (CSCT) is presented to assess the deformability of strengthened RC beams governed by CCS. The commonly overlooked actual stress level in steel stirrups is considered as a function of the rotation capacity of beams and assessed based on the Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT). Validation of this analytical approach, involving comparison against the empirical models and experimental results from 107 specimens, confirms its superior effectiveness and consistency in predicting CCS and shear strength.

Color restoration of mural images based on a reversible neural network: leveraging reversible residual networks for structure and texture preservation

AbstractThe Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, a treasure of China's and the world's cultural heritage, contains rich historical and cultural deposits and has left precious relics of the history of human art. Over centuries, the Mogao Caves have been affected by natural and human factors, resulting in irreversible fading and discoloration of many murals. In recent years, deep learning technology has shown great potential in the field of virtual mural color restoration. Therefore, this paper proposes a mural image color restoration method based on a reversible neural network. The method first employs an automatic reference selection module based on structural and texture similarity to choose suitable reference mural images for the faded murals. Then, it utilizes a reversible residual network to extract deep features of the mural images without information loss. Next, a channel refinement module is used to eliminate redundant information in the network channels. Finally, an unbiased color transfer module restores the color of the faded mural images. Compared to other image color restoration methods, the proposed method achieves superior color restoration effects while effectively preserving the original structure and texture details of the mural images. Compared to baseline methods, the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), Feature Similarity Index (FSIM), and Perception-based Image Quality Evaluator (PIQE) values are improved by 7.97%, 3.46%, and 13.98%, respectively. The color restoration of the Dunhuang Mural holds significant historical, artistic, cultural, and economic values, and plays a positive role in the preservation and inheritance of Chinese culture, as well as in the promotion of cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

Influence of energy-saving devices on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a waterjet-propelled ship: Experimental and numerical investigation

Installing stern energy-saving devices can help conserve energy and enhance ship speed, particularly for medium-to-high-speed ships. This study focuses on a waterjet-propelled ship and examines the performance of two energy-saving devices: the interceptor and stern flap. The investigation involves conducting a comparative analysis through towing-tank experiments and utilising Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) numerical methods. The findings suggest that incorporating energy-saving devices alters the capture flow of the waterjet-propelled ship. Furthermore, these devices reduce ship resistance, resulting in a maximum decrease in the impeller speed of the self-propulsion point up to 5%. Following the installation of energy-saving devices, the propulsion efficiency of the waterjet-propelled ship demonstrates an enhancement ranging from 0.5% to 5.7%. This increase in propulsion efficiency emerges as a principal factor contributing to the energy savings facilitated by the stern energy-saving device. Upon comparison, it was found that within the Fr range of 0.3–0.5, the stern flap exhibited a superior energy-saving effect. Conversely, when Fr exceeded 0.5, the interceptor demonstrated a more pronounced energy-saving effect. Finally, the mechanisms of the stern energy-saving devices are elucidated based on the momentum velocity coefficient, thrust deduction fraction, and changes in the internal and external flow fields of the waterjet-propelled ship.

Operational electricity cost reduction using real-time simulators

Ensuring the safe and cost-effective electricity transmission to consumers, along with the efficient and sustainable operation of power systems, has long been a primary objective for power system managers and operators. However, achieving optimal performance in a modern power system requires timely planning and operational optimal routines to be run within the realm of real-time simulation programs, and sometimes, the divergence becomes a problem with these developed routines. Despite extensive research aimed at advancing these objectives, the growing complexity of networks and their constraints has often led to the oversight of simultaneously considering both technical and economic aspects during operation. In this paper, an innovative real-time framework is introduced to reduce the operational costs of a power system swiftly. This framework addresses various nonlinear constraints, such as transmission losses, generation-consumption balance, power device limitations, and transient stability constraints, across various operational scenarios within a real-time simulator. This novel approach leverages scattered search and intentional contingencies within the network to pinpoint the optimal operating point, taking into account various network dynamics, including Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVR), governors, and tap of the transformers. The proposed method offers a fast and robust approach to identifying the most effective operating conditions for a power system. It incorporates considerations for sudden contingencies and extends capabilities through parallel simulations. It not only facilitates pre-determined preventive actions but also enables the adjustment of control parameters during post-contingency periods, such as fine-tuning of the active and reactive power generation of generators and adjusting the tap settings of transformers within power networks. Since the network simulation can be executed on distributed computers, referred to as ’Global,’ it is possible to achieve global network optimization. This approach allows for the consideration of grid networks, including renewable energy sources with models distributed through PCs. Also, it accounts for the induction motor losses within all factories involved in the global simulation. The results obtained from simulating the proposed method on a commercial real-time simulator demonstrate the superior effectiveness of the proposed framework compared to the existing methodologies, highlighting its potential to enhance the operational efficiency and economic viability of power systems.

Three-dimensional Morphometric Analysis of the Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping on Postoperative Discomfort Following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Split-mouth Study

This study investigates the efficacy of Kinesio taping (KT) in reducing postoperative discomfort, including edema, trismus, and pain, following mandibular third molar extraction. A prospective randomized split-mouth design was employed, involving 7 patients with impacted mandibular third molars. KT was applied immediately postsurgery, and outcomes were assessed on the third and seventh postoperative days using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, 3D morphometric analysis for swelling, and caliper measurements for trismus. Results showed significant reductions in pain, swelling, and trismus on the KT-treated side compared with the control side. The most notable differences were observed on day 7, where KT demonstrated superior effectiveness in alleviating symptoms. The control group showed improvement over time, but the KT-treated group experienced faster and more pronounced recovery. In conclusion, KT proved to be a safe and effective method for improving postoperative recovery following mandibular third molar surgery, offering a low-cost, accessible option to enhance patient comfort and quality of life.

&lt;i&gt;In vitro&lt;/i&gt; studies on the development of microbial consortia for the management of major diseases in coconut and citrus

Microbial consortia for disease suppression involve combining multiple beneficial microorganisms to enhance their effectiveness in plant disease management. In present study, development of microbial consortia for the management of major diseases in coconut and citrus was carried out using bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida (striata), Bacillus subtilis and fungi – Trichoderma reesei, T. harzianum, T. asperellum against major pathogens viz. Ganoderma lucidum, Thielaviopsis paradoxa, Phytopthora palmivora, Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from the coconut rhizosphere, and Fusarium solani isolated from the citrus rhizosphere. The promising fungal and bacterial antagonists were identified and studied for compatibility. Non-volatile compounds of consortia inhibited the test pathogens with an increase in concentration from 10 % to 75% with fungal consortia and bacterial consortia and also with mixed consortia which is composed of bacterial consortia + fungal consortia. Superior growth suppression was recorded with mixed consortia even at 10% concentration (59.44% to 65.83%) against the test pathogens in the ascending order of L. theobromae (59.44%) T. paradoxa (63.89%), G. lucidum (65.83%), P. palmivora (63.61%) and F. solani (62.78%). A similar trend was observed in 75% concentration where inhibition observed in the order of Thielaviopsis paradoxa (90.28%), G. lucidum (89.44%), F. solani (82.50%), L. theobromae (81.94%) and P. palmivora (81.39%). Volatile effect by bacterial consortia recorded the superior inhibition on test pathogens in the order of Ganoderma (85.28%), F. solani (75.28%), T. paradoxa (71.94%), P. palmivora (71.67%) and L. theobrome (67.50%) compared to the individual bioagents. Similarly, the fungal consortia showed the superior inhibitory effect on test pathogens in the order of G. lucidum (83.25%), P. palmivora (82.50%), L. theobromae (83.06%), F. solani (80.56%) and T. paradoxa (73.61%). Since there was no zone of inhibition between the strains, the interactions between Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains of Trichoderma spp. were compatible with one another. Neem cake recorded superior CFU population from 9.43 X 106 CFU at seven days by T. asperellum. Shelf life study on mixed consortia with bacterial + fungal bioagents in talc formulation indicated that all the bacterial and fungal CFU count recorded in 106 dilution for 90 days.

Pulmonary delivery of forsythin-phospholipid complexes improves the lung anti-inflammatory efficacy in mice by enhancing dissolution and lung tissue affinity

Forsythin, currently in phase II clinical trials in China for the treatment of the common cold and influenza, faces challenges in achieving adequate lung drug exposure due to its limited dissolution and permeability, thereby restricting its therapeutic efficacy. The objective of this work was to formulate a forsythin-phospholipid complex (FPC) to enhance its dissolution properties and lung affinity with a particular view to improving pulmonary drug exposure and anti-inflammatory response. The results revealed that forsythin reacted with dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine to form a stable, nanosized FPC suspension. This formulation significantly improved the in vitro drug's dissolution, cellular uptake, and lung affinity compared to its uncomplexed form. Intratracheal administration of FPC in a mouse model of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a substantial increase in drug exposure to lung tissues (39.6-fold) and immune cells in the epithelial lining fluid (198-fold) compared to intraperitoneal injection. In addition, FPC instillation exhibited superior local anti-inflammatory effects, leading to improved survival rates among mice with LPS-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome, outperforming both instilled forsythin and injected FPC. Overall, this work demonstrated the potential of phospholipid complexes as a viable option for developing inhalation products for drugs with limited solubility and permeability properties.