Advanced nitrogen-doped transition metal oxides decorated with Pt: synthesis and composition strategies for maximised electrochemical performance.

Developing efficient, low-cost catalysts for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER) is key to advancing metal-air batteries and regenerative fuel cells. In this study, nitrogen-doped binary metal (Mn and Ni) oxides (N-BMOs) and Pt-decorated N-BMOs were synthesised using three methods and tested as ORR and OER catalysts in alkaline media. Their physicochemical properties were characterised by XRD, N-sorption, TEM, and XPS, while their electrochemical performance was evaluated using voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy.

Transcriptional Dynamics of Tomato Plants Under Combined Heat and Salt Stress.

The Mediterranean Basin, a hotspot for tomato production, is one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change, where rising temperatures and increasing soil and water salinization represent major threats to agricultural sustainability. Thus, to understand the molecular mechanisms behind plant responses to this stress combination, an RNA-Seq analysis was conducted on roots and shoots of tomato plants exposed to salt (100 mM NaCl) and/or heat (42°C, 4 h each day) stress for 21 days. The analysis identified over 8000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under combined stress conditions, with 1716 DEGs in roots and 2665 in shoots being exclusively modulated in response to this specific stress condition.

Boosting biocompatibility and minimizing inflammation in electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) cardiac patches through optimized low-pressure plasma treatment.

Tailoring surface characteristics is key to guiding scaffold interaction with the biological environment, promoting successful biointegration while minimizing immune responses and inflammation. In cardiac tissue engineering, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a material of choice for its intrinsic piezoelectric properties, which can be enhanced through electrospinning, also enabling the fabrication of nanofibrous structures mimicking native tissue. However, the inherent hydrophobicity of PVDF can hinder its integration with biological tissues.

Characterization of a difficult-to-treat epilepsy in a child with Cornelia de Lange syndrome with a pathogenic variant in NIPBL gene: a case report.

None.

Intraindividual Optic Nerve Sheath Variation and Intracranial Pressure Changes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Purpose: To review the existing evidence on multiple timepoint assessments of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) as an indicator of intraindividual variation of intracranial pressure (ICP).

Methods: A systematic search identified studies assessing intraindividual variation in ICP through multiple timepoint measurements of ONSD using ultrasonography. Meta-analysis of studies assessing intraindividual correlation coefficients between ONSD and ICP was performed using a random effects model, and we calculated the weighted correlation coefficient for the expected change in ICP associated with variations in ONSD.

Optimizing maize late wilt disease management: A comparative assessment of bacterial biocontrol and Azoxystrobin alone and in combination.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world's most widely cultivated and economically important cereal crop, serving as a staple food and feed source in over 170 countries. However, its global productivity is threatened by late wilt disease (LWD), a disease caused by Magnaporthiopsis maydis, that spreads through soil and seeds and can cause severe yield losses.

Multi-way calibration strategies involving excitation-emission data measurements from drug-modulated fluorescence in CdTe quantum dots and AgInS nanocrystals.

Background: When using semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) for single-analyte sensing, recognition is commonly achieved through interactions with capping ligands attached to the QDs surface. These ligands form an organic layer that provides stability in solution and assures selectivity by binding the target analyte via surface functional groups. However, a common analytical challenge arises in the subsequent stage of the QD-based sensing scheme.

Soil-transmitted helminth eggs in public areas of Azores archipelago, Portugal.

In the Azores archipelago, data regarding environmental contamination by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) is inexistent till the moment. The current study aimed to assess the environmental contamination with helminth eggs, in soil samples collected from public parks/gardens and beaches from three islands belonging to the Azores archipelago (Portugal): Faial, Terceira and São Miguel. Between June-December 2024, a total of 37 soil samples were collected from 26 public parks/gardens and 11 public beaches, and processed using the Mini-FLOTAC method to calculate parasites' prevalences and burdens (eggs/oocysts per gram of soil, EPG/OPG).

Variations in Dentists' Thresholds for Restorative Treatment of Active Non-Cavitated Carious Lesions: A Multinational Cross-sectional Study.

Objectives: To assess patterns across 21 countries in dentists' thresholds for initiating operative treatment of active non-cavitated carious lesions and to evaluate the influence of caries risk, clinician characteristics, and geographic variation on decision-making in accordance with current guidelines.

Methods: A cross-sectional, vignette-style web-based survey was conducted between June and October 2023 across 21 countries. A standardized questionnaire, comprising theoretical radiographic scenarios of occlusal and approximal active non-cavitated carious lesions at four progressive stages (E1,E2,EDJ,D1), was distributed to general dentists and specialists.

Optimizing mucosal vaccination: Exploiting Lactobionic acid-modified chitosan for superior gene delivery systems.

The increasing prevalence of respiratory disorders highlights the urgent need for effective mucosal vaccines that elicit targeted immune responses at pathogen entry sites. However, the advancement of mucosal vaccines is limited by challenges in antigen delivery and overcoming mucosal immune tolerance. In this study, we developed a gene delivery platform using chitosan functionalized with lactobionic acid (LA) to enhance targeting of antigen-presenting cells and to form stable DNA polyplexes with high transfection efficiency.

Valorisation of olive oil by-products into pectic- and glucuronoxylo-oligosaccharides via one-step fermentation.

Olive pomace (OLP) and stones (OLS) are key by-products of olive oil production, rich in lignocellulose and pectin, making them viable substrates for prebiotic oligosaccharide (OS) production. This study evaluated the chemical composition of OLP and OLS powders (OLPp and OLSp) and their potential for OS production through one-step fermentation using recombinant Bacillus subtilis 3610. Both substrates had comparable xylan and pectin levels, but OLSp showed greater potential, achieving a maximum total sugar yield of 60 ± 3 mg.

Exposure of an intertidal fish to simulated heatwaves and suspended sediment - a multistressor approach.

Extreme climatic events, such as marine heatwaves (MHW) and increased suspended sediment concentration (SSC), are increasing in frequency and intensity, resulting in sudden changes to coastal environments, especially intertidal zones. Intertidal animals experience conditions that substantially fluctuate over temporal and spatial scales and therefore require the ability to physiologically tolerate these fluctuations. Since multiple stressors often co-occur and natural populations tend to respond to local environmental fluctuations, we aimed to investigate individual and combined effects of MHW and increased suspended sedimentation in Forsterygion lapillum from two neighbouring coastal areas with distinct water temperatures and wave current regimes by assessing fish oxygen consumption rate, mortality and weight loss.

On the biomechanics of a novel L5-S1 posterior fixation system: A finite element study.

Low back pain is estimated to affect more than 70% of the population. Recently, interspinous posterior devices are gaining attention as a less invasive alternative to the traditional pedicle screw systems. However, since most of these devices are not suitable for the L5-S1 segment, the goals for this study are to design a tailored fixation system for the L5-S1 level and to study its effects on the degenerated spine.

Impact of analgesic technique on immediate patient-reported outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: The choice of analgesic technique for total knee arthroplasty affects its rehabilitation and surgical outcomes. This study evaluates this choice on short-term postoperative quality of life.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients were categorised into two groups: epidural analgesia or peripheral nerve blocks.

Global Consensus Statement on the Management of Pregnancy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background & Aims: Pregnancy can be a complex and risk-filled event for women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). High-quality studies in this population are lacking, with limited data on medications approved to treat IBD during pregnancy. For patients, limited knowledge surrounding pregnancy impacts pregnancy rates, medication adherence, and outcomes.

Reliable change indices for the cognitive section of Portuguese version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS screen (ECAS).

This study aimed to derive standardized regression-based (SRB) reliable change indices (RCIs) for the cognitive section of the Portuguese Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS-C). Forty-nine MND patients undergoing the ECAS were followed-up (T1) at 7.2 ± 2 months (range = 5-12).

Rugged LC-MS/MS method for the large-scale monitoring of glyphosate and other highly polar pesticides in soils across European Union olive orchards.

Glyphosate (GLY) is the most widely used herbicide globally. Despite concerns regarding its potential adverse effects on human health and the environment, its use continues to grow each year. Following application, a substantial proportion of glyphosate infiltrates the soil, where it can degrade into transformation products such as aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), which is much more persistent than the parent compound.

Exploring nurse educators' experiences and perceptions of healthcare-associated infection prevention and control in two countries of sub-Saharan Africa: An exploratory qualitative study.

Aim: To explore the experiences and perceptions of nurse educators about prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections in two countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Design: Qualitative descriptive study.

Methods: A multimodal approach was employed to investigate the reality of hospital-associated infections.

Entheseal structural damage according to OMERACT definitions unveils distinct ultrasound phenotypes in SpA: findings from the DEUS multicentre study.

Objectives: To explore the prevalence and distribution of ultrasound-detected lesions indicating structural damage at the enthesis (e.g., bone erosions, enthesophytes, and calcifications) in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA), comparing those with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and to investigate the demographic, clinical, and metabolic factors linked to these lesions.

Bridging the Gut Microbiota and the Brain, Kidney, and Cardiovascular Health: The Role of Probiotics.

The symbiosis between intestinal bacteria and the human body's physiological processes can modulate health. The intestinal microbiota is linked to the development of neurotrophic factors; therefore, it is increasingly related to the modulation of nervous system pathologies. Moreover, microbiota can interfere with inflammation and oxidative stress, which are closely linked to cardiovascular risk factors and several other inflammatory conditions, such as kidney and neurodegenerative diseases.

European survey on metabolic and cardiovascular risk in Cushing syndrome.

Background: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with increased metabolic and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and morbidities. Evidence-based guidelines for the management of these issues in active or remitted CS are not available, so best practice is derived from guidelines developed for the general population. We aimed to evaluate the awareness and practice variation for CV comorbidities of CS across Reference Centres (RCs) of the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN).