Scientific Research Research Articles

Sweet cherry fruit nutritional profile modulation and molecular docking studies of major compounds.

This research was conducted to determine how the altitude difference affects the fruit quality in sweet cherries by using different cultivars (Kordia, Regina, Sweetheart, and 0900 Ziraat) grown at two different altitudes (200m, 800m) in Eskişehir (Türkiye) for two consecutive years. Malic acid and chlorogenic acid, which stood out as the major organic acid and phenolic, respectively were found to be at 9039.17mg·L-1 and 64.88mg·L-1, respectively, at low altitude, positively affected and increased to 9309.58mg·L-1 and 66.99mg·L-1 with altitude increase. Kordia came to the fore with its high and stable performance at both altitudes. Low pH in the fruit is critical for promoting phytochemical accumulation and antioxidant activity. Molecular docking simulations revealed how malic acid and chlorogenic acid would bind with furin, pointing to possible antioxidant effects. Farmers and researchers are expected to benefit from the obtained results during cultivar selection and scientific research.

Characterisation of the HollandPTC R&D proton beamline for physics and radiobiology studies.

HollandPTC is an independent outpatient center for proton therapy, scientific research, and education. Patients with different types of cancer are treated with Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT). Additionally, the HollandPTC R&D consortium conducts scientific research into the added value and improvements of proton therapy. To this end, HollandPTC created clinical and pre-clinical research facilities including a versatile R&D proton beamline for various types of biologically and technologically oriented research. In this work, we present the characterization of the R&D proton beamline of HollandPTC. Its pencil beam mimics the one used for clinical IMPT, with energy ranging from 70 up to 240MeV, which has been characterized in terms of shape, size, and intensity. For experiments that need a uniform field in depth and lateral directions, a dual ring passive scattering system has been designed, built, and characterized. With this system, field sizes between 2×2cm2 and 20×20cm2 with 98% uniformity are produced with dose rates ranging from 0.5Gy/min up to 9Gy/min. The unique and customized support of the dual ring system allows switching between a pencil beam and a large field in a very simple and fast way, making the HollandPTC R&D proton beam able to support a wide range of different applications.

How does idea rejection translate into employee creativity: A perspective from incubation theory

Previous studies have generally posited that idea rejection negatively impacts innovation performance, however, few have explored the potential positive effects. From a novel perspective grounded in incubation theory, this research investigated whether, how, and when idea rejection could be translated into employee creativity. Six studies were conducted: a questionnaire survey (Study 1a) and five simulated situational experiments (Studies 1b, 1c, 1d, 2, and 3). In Study 1a, we collected samples from various industry backgrounds, including manufacturing, high-tech companies, internet-related companies, and modern service industries, to verify whether idea rejection could be translated into employee creativity. Studies 1b, 1c, and 1d further validated the findings of Study 1a in distinct fields—new home and kitchen products, technology, and scientific research—through simulated situational experiments. Studies 2 and 3 selected new home and kitchen products as representative experimental situations and used simulated situational experiments to explore the mechanisms and boundary conditions through which idea rejection translates into employee creativity. The results revealed that idea rejection could be translated into employee creativity. This translation was mediated by both problem restructuring and the activation of new knowledge. Furthermore, servant leadership positively moderated the relationship between idea rejection and the activation of new knowledge, thereby strengthening the mediating role of the latter. However, servant leadership did not moderate the relationship between idea rejection and problem restructuring, nor did it enhance the mediating role of problem restructuring. These findings opened the “black box” of how idea rejection is translated into employee creativity, expanded the research on the effects of idea rejection, and provided a reference for organizational innovation management practices.

The impact of the European Federation of Periodontology on European and global periodontology.

The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization comprising 43 national periodontal societies worldwide, representing over 18 000 professionals. Its mission is to promote periodontology and oral health globally. The EFP's strategic objectives include advancing the practice and development of periodontology, promoting scientific research, ensuring the integrity of the profession, and raising awareness of the link between periodontal and general health. These goals are pursued through initiatives such as EuroPerio, the EFP's flagship scientific congress held every 3 years, which attracts thousands of global participants, and European Workshops in Periodontology (EWPs), which foster evidence-based discussions and produce consensus reports. These workshops have produced landmark publications, including the new classifications of periodontal diseases and S3-level clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of periodontitis and peri-implant diseases. Additionally, the organization plays a central role in setting standards for postgraduate education in periodontology, accrediting programs across Europe and internationally, with 24 universities offering EFP-accredited programs as of 2024. The EFP also publishes the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, a key platform for disseminating scientific and clinical research. Through outreach campaigns in collaboration with global partners, the EFP aims to raise awareness of the links between periodontal health and systemic diseases, engaging medical professionals, international organizations, policymakers, and patient groups. A notable initiative is Gum Health Day, held annually on May 12, to promote public awareness of periodontal health. The EFP's activities have significantly contributed to the development of modern periodontology, both academically and clinically, with a substantial global impact.

Validating the questionnaire of achievement of developmental task (QADT) to measure achieving mental wellness in school-aged children.

This article presents a verification of the factor structure and validation of the Questionnaire of Achievement of Developmental Task (QADT), designed to measure children's social expectations in early childhood. Three tasks, important from the point of view of both children's functioning at a given life stage and preparation for the next developmental phase, were selected. These are school skills, cooperation with others and a sense of competence. The research aimed to verify the tool's psychometric validity and establish relationships between developmental tasks and indicators of children's mental health. The study was conducted in primary school's 4th, 5th and 6th grades (N = 453). The QADT, Brief Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children were used. The tool shows sufficient validity and reliability. The hypothesis regarding associations between the level of developmental task completion and life satisfaction and depressive symptoms was also confirmed. The QADT tool can be used in scientific research. This work contributes to the growing body of literature on factors influencing children's mental health and underscores the importance of measuring social expectations of children in early childhood. It also highlights the need to consider developmental tasks in clinical practice and interventions to improve children's mental health. Ultimately, the findings of this study can inform the development of effective preventive and intervention strategies to promote children's mental health and well-being.

Do you have depression? A summative content analysis of mental health-related content on TikTok.

TikTok is a global social media platform with over 1 billion active users. Presently, there are few data on how TikTok users navigate the platform for mental health purposes and the content they view. This study aims to understand the patterns of mental health-related content on TikTok and assesses the accuracy and quality of the advice and information provided. We performed a summative content analysis on the top 1000 TikTok videos with the hashtag #mentalhealth between October 12 and 16, 2021. Six content themes were developed to code the data: (1) a personal story, perspective, or confessional, (2) advice and information, (3) emoting, (4) references to death, (5) references to science or research, and (6) a product or service for sale. Advice and information were further assessed by clinical experts. A total of 970 mental health-related videos were pulled for our analysis (n = 30 removed due to non-English content). The most prevalent content themes included a personal story, perspective, or confessional (n = 574), advice and information (n = 319), emoting (n = 198), references to death (n = 128). Advice and information were considered misleading in 33.0% of videos (n = 106), with misleading content performing better. Few videos included references to scientific evidence or research (n = 37). Healthcare practitioners and researchers may consider increasing their presence on the platform to promote the dissemination of evidence-based information to a wider and more youth-targeted population. Interventions to reduce the amount of misinformation on the platform and increase people's ability to discern between anecdotal and evidence-based information are also warranted.

Sociodemographic characteristics, occupational characteristics, motivational factors, and job satisfaction among primary health service practitioners

BackgroundThe Chinese Basic Public Health Service has achieved certain results since its implementation. As direct providers, understanding the job satisfaction and its influencing factors among basic public health service practitioners is crucial for enhancing service quality and efficiency. This study examines levels of motivational factors and their contribution to job satisfaction among community health workers in China.MethodsA multistage sampling method was employed to measure socioeconomic and demographic status, motivational factors, and job satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess key determinants of job satisfaction.ResultsRegarding overall occupational characteristics, influencing factors of overall and external satisfaction were respondents with different job titles and different working years. Years of service in primary health institutions and different authorized types influence satisfaction across various dimensions, including working arrangement, interpersonal relationship, environment, promotion opportunities, organizational culture, system and policy, professional identity, social identity, and overall, internal, and external satisfaction. Professional title, interpersonal relationship, work arrangement, system and policy, occupational identity, and other dimensions have a positive impact on satisfaction.ConclusionThe overall job satisfaction of essential public health service practitioners is influenced by various factors. Healthcare managers should focus on improving job satisfaction among healthcare workers in low-resource settings. Establishing scientific and reasonable research on the incentive mechanism at grassroots medical institutions can help stabilize the team, enhance staff satisfaction and work performance, and optimize human resource utilization.

Public control of outer space: towards the formulation of the problem

This article is devoted to the analysis of issues related to the possibility of organizing and implementing public control (control of the civil society of the peoples of the United Nations) over the processes of exploration and use of outer space. The authors note that outer space is of exceptional value and importance for the processes of conservation and development of mankind, since: the exploration of outer space in the last decade has been carried out at a rapidly growing pace; modern telecommunications technologies are not possible without the use of outer space; outer space is the most important condition for ensuring the defense security of states; the danger of environmental pollution of near space by waste has increased. There are serious risks of additional militarization of outer space (up to the placement of weapons of mass destruction in it); the activities of private economic entities in outer space are poorly controlled by the international community and the civil society of the peoples of the United Nations. A number of scientific research methods are used in the work, in particular: formal-logical; comparative-legal; historical-legal; statistical; sociological; method of analyzing specific legal situations. The authors note that the organization and implementation of public control (control of the civil society of the peoples of the United Nations) over the processes of exploration and use of outer space are fraught with a number of problems: the UN Charter and international legislation do not directly fix the grounds and limits of the implementation of this control; the norms of international space law do not always detail the possibility of participation of civil society institutions in the control of the study and use of outer space; there is no certainty as to which subjects of public control (control of the civil society of the peoples of the United Nations) should organize and conduct its activities for the processes of exploration and use of outer space; these subjects are not endowed with a set of real powers that can ensure the legality of the above-mentioned processes; these subjects have a weak material and technical base; there is no mechanism for bringing to legal responsibility those responsible for countering the legitimate control activities of the above-mentioned entities.

Catching the glucocorticoid receptor in the act: Lessons from fluorescence fluctuation methods.

Technological innovation can drive scientific inquiry by allowing researchers to answer questions that were once out of reach. Eukaryotic mRNA synthesis was not so long ago thought of as a deterministic, sequential process in which transcriptional regulators and general transcription factors assemble in an orderly fashion into chromatin to, ultimately, activate RNA polymerase II. Advances in fluorescence microscopy techniques have revealed a much more complex scenario, wherein transcriptional regulators dynamically engage with chromatin in a more stochastic, probabilistic way. In this review, we will concentrate on what fluorescence fluctuation methods have taught us about the journey of transcription factors within live cells. Specifically, we summarized how these techniques have contributed to reshaping our understanding of the mechanism(s) of action of the glucocorticoid receptor, a ligand-regulated transcription factor involved in many physiological and pathological processes. This receptor regulates a variety of gene networks in a context-specific manner and its activity can be quickly and easily controlled by the addition of specific ligands. Thus, it is widely used as a model to study the mechanisms of transcription factors through live-cell imaging.

Mapping the terrain of social media misinformation: A scientometric exploration of global research.

The rise of social media has enabled unrestricted information sharing, regardless of its accuracy. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in the widespread dissemination of misinformation. This study aims to provide a comprehensive scientometric analysis under the PRISMA paradigm to clarify the repetitive trajectory of misinformation on social media in the current digital age. In this study, 3724 publications on social media misinformation from the Web of Science between January 2010 and February 2024 were analyzed scientifically and metrically using CiteSpace software. The findings reveal a sharp increase in annual publication output starting from 2015. The United States of America and China have made more significant contributions in publication volume and global collaborations than other nations. The top five keywords with high frequency are social media, fake news, information, misinformation, and news. In contrast to a brief review of existing articles, this study provides an exhaustive review of annual scientific research output, journals, countries, institutions, contributors, highly cited papers, and keywords in social media misinformation research. The developmental stages of social media misinformation research are charted, current hot topics are discussed, and avenues for future research are suggested.

Projection of glacier changes over the Laohugou Glacier No. 12, Northeast Tibetan Plateau, China from 2020 to 2100

Study regionLaohugou Glacier No. 12 in the Qilian Mountains, northeast Tibetan Plateau. Study focusAlpine glacier meltwater from the Qilian Mountains (QMs), northeast Tibetan Plateau, is the main source of water for the surrounding arid zones. Accurately reconstructing long-term mountain glacier mass balance (MB) and projecting glacier changes under climate warming are pivotal in cryospheric scientific research. In this study, Laohugou Glacier No. 12 (LHG12), in the western QMs, was selected as a study area. Based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) models, the degree-day and glacier retreat models were used to predict the glacier changes under three scenarios for 2020–2100. New hydrological insights for the regionFrom 2020–2100, the annual mass loss of LHG12 simulated using CanESM5 and EC-Earth3 which perform best increased compared to the measured data in the historical period (2010–2014) (i.e., annual MB of −0.26 m w.e) by a factor of 1.04 and 1.73 under SSP1–2.6, 4.62 and 4.88 under SSP3–7.0, and 6.23 and 7.15 times under SSP5–8.5. By 2100, the ice volume and area of LHG12 simulated using CanESM5 and EC-Earth3 reduced to 0.03×109 (1.6 %) and 0.01×109 (0.4 %) m3, 1.87 and 0.75 km2 under SSP5–8.5, respectively.

The Regulatory Landscape of Biobanks In Europe: From Accreditation to Intellectual Property

Biobanks are necessary resources for the storage and management of human biological materials, such as biofluids, tissues, cells, or nucleotides. They play a significant role in the development of new treatments and the advancement of basic and translational research, especially in the field of biomarkers discovery and validation. The regulatory landscape for biobanks, which is necessary to safeguard both privacy and scientific discoveries, exhibits significant heterogeneity across different countries and regions. This article outlines the standards that modern biobanks should fulfill in the European Union (EU), including general, structural, resource, process, and quality requirements. Special attention is given to the importance of transparency and donor consent following the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ISO 20387:2018, the international standard specifies general requirements for biobanks. A dedicated section covers the preparation of donor information materials, emphasizing consent for research involvement and personal data processing. The delicate balance between donors' privacy rights and scientific research promotion is also discussed, with a focus on the patenting and economic use of biological material- derived inventions and data. Considering these factors, it would be warranted to refine legal frameworks and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to ethically and responsibly expand biobanking.

Beneficial Effects of Spirulina on Brain Health: A Systematic Review

<p>Background: This review provides a concise overview of existing scientific research concerning the potential advantages of incorporating spirulina, a blue-green algae, into one's diet to promote brain health. The substantial nutritional composition and associated health benefits of algae have drawn significant interest. </p> <p> Methods: Numerous studies have illuminated the neuroprotective characteristics of spirulina, contributing to its positive influence on brain functionality. Primarily, spirulina boasts antioxidants, like phycocyanin and beta-carotene, that effectively counter oxidative stress and curb inflammation within the brain. This is particularly significant as these factors play roles in the advancement of neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, spirulina has demonstrated the capacity to enhance cognitive capabilities and enrich memory and learning aptitudes. </p> <p> Results: Animal-based investigations have revealed that introducing spirulina can bolster spatial learning and memory, as well as guard against cognitive decline linked to aging. Research has indicated its potential in shielding against neurotoxins, encompassing heavy metals and specific environmental pollutants. Its potential to neutralize heavy metals and counteract free radicals contributes to these protective effects, potentially thwarting neuronal harm. </p> <p> Conclusion: In conclusion, the extant scientific literature proposes that spirulina integration can elicit advantageous outcomes for brain health. Its antioxidative, neuroprotective, cognitiveenhancing, and mood-regulating properties present a promising avenue for bolstering brain health and potentially diminishing the susceptibility to neurodegenerative ailments. Nonetheless, further research, notably well-designed human clinical trials, is imperative to ascertain the optimal dosing, duration, and enduring consequences of spirulina supplementation concerning brain health.</p>

Impact factors and publication times of original scientific research in radiology journals

PurposeThe time from article submission to publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals is variable and can be prolonged, which slows the dissemination of research and can influence the academic progress of authors. This study evaluated the publication times for articles in radiology journals, in particular the relationship between turnaround times and journal impact factors (IFs). MethodsBibliometric data was obtained from Journal Citation Reports to conduct a comparative analysis of radiology journals against those in other disciplines of clinical medicine using highest IF, median IF, cited half-life, immediacy index, and number of journals. Journals from various radiology subcategories were further examined to assess IF trends over time. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to identify any statistically significant relationships between IF and other variables. ResultsAmong 28 medical disciplines, there was a significant positive correlation of 0.63 between the number of journals and the highest journal IF of a given discipline. Among 135 radiology journals categorized into 12 subcategories, there was a similar significant correlation of 0.64. For high-ranking radiology journals, the median time from submission to publication online was 22.7 weeks [IQR = 9.3] and median time from submission to publication in print was 37.9 weeks [IQR = 7.1]. The former time interval showed a positive correlation of 0.58 with journal IF at p < 0.05. ConclusionThere is wide variation in the time from submission to publication in radiology journals. Authors can expect a longer turnaround time when publishing in higher-impact journals.

X-ray absorption near edge structure of bulk and two-dimensional Na2Po: A testbed for scientific research

X-ray absorption near edge structure of bulk and two-dimensional Na2Po: A testbed for scientific research

On Mathematical Analysis of a Micro-Scale Boltzmann-Maxwell’s PDEs Model for a Plasma Flow Influence by Non-linear Sinusoidal External Electric Field: Novel Irreversibility Analysis of Plasma Kinetic Theory

Unfortunately, the scientific research concerned with the micro-scale mathematical models in plasma has very few numbers compared with the other mathematical models. However, the microscopic fields are related to all modern technology like nano and micro technology, quantum computers, and many other essential applications. This study focuses on the mathematical analysis of a micro-scale Boltzmann-Maxwell partial differential equations (PDE) system for a gaseous plasma flow influenced by a non-linear, non-uniform external electric field, specifically in the context of a novel irreversibility micro-scale analysis of the kinetic theory of plasma. We did that using the analytical solution of the PDE system. The governing equations were developed using the moment and traveling-wave techniques in a new irreversible non-equilibrium thermodynamics (INT) methodology. To our knowledge, this was applied for the first time. We are investigating the distinct behavior of the electron velocity distribution functions (VDF) and the non-equilibrium velocity functions, representing an essential INT novel study. As a result, critical micro-scale INT variables would employ the generated non-equilibrium VDF to get the equilibrium time for each species. We aim to show how the impacts of various thermodynamic forces on internal energy change (IEC) are maintained. The research generates visual representations of physical variables in 3D. Extensive physics, electric manufacturing, and nano-electro-mechanical systems applications in various manufacturing contexts attest to the research’s standing. We aim to calculate the percentages between the numerous contributions of IEC in diamagnetic and paramagnetic plasma based on the total derivatives of the extensive parameters. We apply the results to a typical model of laboratory helium plasma because of the helium’s various excellent applications.

Perception on EMI amidst medical university students: A bane or a boon?

Recently, the Algerian government has been struggling to refine higher education outcomes and to enhance scientific research crop. A key-measure to reaching this objective is showing interest to foreign languages notably English. This paper investigates medical students’ perception towards a conceivable implementation of English as a medium of instruction rather than French at Tlemcen University after a governmental decision accompanied with concrete measures in other scientific and technical streams. By using an online qualitative survey with 150 participants, the findings revealed that the learners confess the significance of English alongside its utility. However, they are still reluctant on the adoption of English as a medium of instruction and prefer to continue their studies in French. Some reasons behind this proclivity cover lack of sources in English, lack of ill-trained teachers and fear of academic failure. Another interesting result is the students’ discontent with the way the initiative has been implemented, for they are ill-trained for such a sudden linguistic swap. In the aftermath, the paper ends with some implications.

WCN25-272 A Scientific Approach to Management of Chronic Kidney Disease Through Indian Traditional Polyherbal Formulation

WCN25-272 A Scientific Approach to Management of Chronic Kidney Disease Through Indian Traditional Polyherbal Formulation

Systematic investigation of hybrid cold plate combining embedded phase change material with liquid cooling minichannels under different ambient temperatures for battery thermal management

Systematic investigation of hybrid cold plate combining embedded phase change material with liquid cooling minichannels under different ambient temperatures for battery thermal management

Quantification of antibiotic usage against Streptococcus suis in weaner pigs in The Netherlands between 2017-2021

Streptococcus suis is an important pig pathogen that can cause severe disease in the post-weaning period. As there are no commercial vaccines available in the Netherlands, antibiotic treatment is often necessary to control disease. S. suis is regarded as one of the major causes of antibiotic prescription in weaned pigs, but scientific studies supporting this claim with quantitative data are lacking. The aim of this study was to obtain insight in, and to quantify usage of, antibiotics against S. suis in weaner pigs at sow farms in the Netherlands. Three sources of data were used, including 1) total antibiotic usage in weaner pigs in the Netherlands, as yearly reported by the Netherlands Veterinary Medicines Institute (SDa), and estimates from 2) pig veterinarians and 3) pig farmers on the relative amount of antibiotics prescribed against S. suis, via questionnaires. Information from the SDa on the total amount of antibiotic usage was combined with the estimates of the veterinarians to estimate the antibiotic usage against S. suis in weaner pigs. Our study shows that ~90% of the total amount of amoxicillin (AMOX) and ampicillin (AMPI) prescribed in weaner pigs is used for treatment of disease caused by S. suis (S. suis disease). Of all orally prescribed antibiotics against S. suis, AMOX comprises 85% of the total absolute usage expressed by the mean defined daily dosage per animal farm (3.2 – 5.4 mean DDDAF). Furthermore, veterinarians reported that at farms with structural S. suis disease problems second choice antibiotics (AMOX, AMPI) are more often prescribed than at farms with incidental S. suis disease. All together, we estimated that S. suis disease accounts for about 1/3rd of the total antibiotic usage in weaner pigs. This study is the first to quantify antibiotic usage against S. suis in weaner pigs and shows that S. suis is a hotspot of antibiotic usage. This underlines the severity and relevance of S. suis disease and the need for alternative control measures.