Comparison of protein requirements based on the nitrogen balance and indicator amino acid oxidation methods: an umbrella review and meta-analysis.

Background: An accurate understanding of protein requirements helps prevent health risks caused by deficiency. No statistical comparison exists between the nitrogen balance (NB) method, the standard method for estimating protein requirements, and the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method, which has been increasingly studied.

Objective: To quantitatively compare the protein requirements of the NB and IAAO methods through meta-analyses.

Concerted Reactive Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol-S on Molybdenum Cluster-Modified Nanoceria.

Bisphenol-S (BPS) is a widespread toxic industrial pollutant and endocrine disruptor of growing environmental concern. This study investigates the use of porous nanoceria particles (CeO) functionalized with octahedral molybdenum clusters (Mo) for the removal of waterborne BPS through a combined mechanism of reactive adsorption and photodegradation. Although immobilization of Mo cluster reduced the overall surface area of CeO, BPS adsorption and partial decomposition in the dark were enhanced due to chemical specificity and surface interactions introduced by the Mo clusters.

A Nostalgia Brain-Music Interface for enhancing nostalgia, well-being, and memory vividness in younger and older individuals.

Music-evoked nostalgia has the potential to assist in recalling autobiographical memories and enhancing well-being. However, nostalgic music preferences vary from person to person, presenting challenges for applying nostalgia-based music interventions in clinical settings, such as a non-pharmacological approach. To address these individual differences, we developed the Nostalgia Brain-Music Interface (N-BMI), a neurofeedback system that recommends nostalgic songs tailored to each individual.

Higher central arterial wall viscosity and stiffness in resistance-trained young men.

Resistance training reduces arterial compliance. Although cardiac pulsatile energy is distributed between arterial compliance and arterial wall viscosity, arterial wall viscosity in resistance-trained men remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether resistance-trained men exhibit increased arterial wall viscosity.

Spherical harmonic-domain acousto-optic tomography for three-dimensional sound-field reconstructiona).

Acousto-optic tomography (AOT), a technology that reconstructs two- or three-dimensional sound fields from optically measured sound-field projections, has been widely studied as an efficient and high-spatial-resolution method for sound field observations. Recently, physical-model-based approaches have made significant progress, with higher accuracy and fewer sampling requirements than conventional methods. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to reconstruct three-dimensional outgoing sound waves in the volume surrounding a sound source due to constraints on existing methods both in mathematical formulation and measurement systems.

Changes in yields of oxidative damages 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in the presence of gold nanoparticles under X-rays, protons and heavy ions.

Objectives: To clarify the mechanisms of GNPs radiosensitizing effects, we investigated changes in yields of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which is an oxidative damage marker and generated by reactions of 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) with OH radicals in aqueous solutions.

Methods: Aqueous dG (Sigma Aldrich) solutions (500 μM) are irradiated with X-rays, protons and heavy ions in a wide LET range. The examined LET range is from about 2 to 600 eV/nm.

In vitro characterization of hemodynamics in bicuspid aortic valves: The impact of valve and ascending aortic morphologies.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) morphology and ascending aortic curvature (AAAc) bending angles on aortic hemodynamics, focusing on transvalvular jets and secondary helical flows that contribute to systolic hemodynamic stress linked to aortic complications.

Methods: Using an MRI-compatible pulsatile flow and pressure system, 24 configurations involving six aortic valves (three Type 1 asymmetric BAVs, two Type 0 symmetric BAVs, and one tricuspid aortic valve [TAV]) across four ascending aortic morphologies-two diameters (30 mm and 40 mm) and two AAAc angles (130° and 109°)-were analyzed through four-dimensional-flow MRI measurements.

Results: Three Type 1 BAVs displayed highly deviated transvalvular jets directed toward the aortic wall on the side of the nonfused cusp.

Mutual Phase Stability between Kaolinite-Derived Hexacelsian and Zirconia in a Mixed System.

This study demonstrates the mutual phase stability and chemical inertness of hexacelsian─the metastable phase of BaAlSiO with a layered structure─and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) across a wide temperature range up to 1600 °C, through solid-state reactions between kaolinite and BaCO, with or without YSZ. Hexacelsian remained without transformation to celsian─the stable BaAlSiO phase without a layered structure─under heating when copresent with ZrO. Additionally, while YSZ alone shows both tetragonal and monoclinic ZrO phases upon calcination, only the tetragonal phase is retained when calcined in the presence of hexacelsian.

Do climate change risks and corporate governance encourage green M&A?.

This study investigates whether climate change risk and corporate governance affect the decision to engage in green mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including the acquisition of green businesses and the divestiture of carbon-intensive businesses. The results show that firms in industries with high carbon dioxide (CO) emissions tend to acquire green businesses and divest carbon-intensive businesses. In particular, outside directors significantly promote decisions to sell carbon-intensive businesses.

Percussion Massage Therapy Reduced EMG Activity During Standing Heel Raise.

Objectives: This study examined the acute impact of percussion massage therapy (PMT) on calf muscle activation during heel raises in individuals with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Methods: Thirty-nine university students, 20 with CAI and 19 controls, were randomized to 30 seconds of PMT or no intervention (NOPMT). Surface EMG measured medial gastrocnemius activity during heel raise before and after.

Inhibitory control in response to alcohol-promoting commercials in individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by impaired inhibitory control, which plays a role in the continued consumption of alcohol and relapse despite harmful consequences. External environmental cues, such as alcohol-related advertisements, can aggravate cravings and influence drinking behavior; however, their impact on cognitive processes, including inhibitory control, remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of alcohol-related digital video commercials on inhibitory control in individuals with AUD.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent STI assays: development, current status and future perspective.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to pose major public health challenges globally, with millions of new cases reported annually. The asymptomatic characteristic of many STIs makes accurate and cost-effective diagnostic methods essential for screening and diagnosis. This paper evaluates the utility of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in diagnoses of HIV, HPV, HSV, HBV, HCV, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis and Treponema pallidum.

The impact of sleep quality on resting-state functional connectivity.

Objective: This study investigates the impact of natural sleep quality on the subsequent day's resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) connectivity patterns.

Methods: Fourteen healthy female subjects participated in two sets of tests that included sleep assessments and MRI scans across two consecutive days. Sleep quality was objectively measured using a portable EEG monitor in the participant's home environment.

Biocontrol of Phage Resistance in Infections: Insights into Directed Breaking of Spontaneous Evolutionary Selection in Phage Therapy.

Phage therapy, long overshadowed by antibiotics in Western medicine, has a well-established history in some Eastern European countries and is now being revitalized as a promising strategy against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This resurgence of phage therapy is driven by the urgent need for innovative countermeasures to AMR, which will cause an estimated 10 million deaths annually by 2050. However, the emergence of phage-resistant variants presents challenges similar to AMR, thus necessitating a deeper understanding of phage resistance mechanisms and control strategies.

Research on Disaster Environment Map Fusion Construction and Reinforcement Learning Navigation Technology Based on Air-Ground Collaborative Multi-Heterogeneous Robot Systems.

The primary challenge that robots face in disaster rescue is to precisely and efficiently construct disaster maps and achieve autonomous navigation. This paper proposes a method for air-ground collaborative map construction. It utilizes the flight capability of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to achieve rapid three-dimensional space coverage and complex terrain crossing for rapid and efficient map construction.

Constructive Neuroengineering of Axon Polarization Control Using Modifiable Agarose Gel Platforms for Neuronal Circuit Construction.

Axon polarization is a fundamental process in neuronal development, providing the structural basis for directional signaling in neural circuits. Precise control of axon specification is, thus, essential for the bottom-up construction of neuronal networks with defined architecture and connectivity. Although neurite length and elongation timing have both been implicated as determinants of axonal fate, their relative contributions have remained unresolved due to technical limitations in manipulating these factors independently in conventional culture systems.

Effects of a 12-Week Exercise Intervention on Primitive Reflex Retention and Social Development in Children with ASD and ADHD.

Retained primitive reflexes are associated with delayed motor and behavioral development in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study examined the effects of a 12-week structured exercise intervention on reflex integration, motor coordination, and socio-behavioral outcomes in these populations. Fifteen children with ASD (13 boys, 2 girls) and twelve with ADHD (8 boys, 4 girls), aged 6-12 years, participated in rhythmic, balance, and coordination-based exercises.

Neural Correlates of Resistance to Gaming Desire Induced by Social Media Content.

The rise of gaming-related content on social media has increased exposure to game-related stimuli, particularly among young people, which may reinforce gaming urges and create difficulties in controlling gaming behaviour. Therefore, understanding the management of gaming desire triggered by such content is critical. Identifying the neural mechanisms underlying resistance to these urges will be crucial for effective prevention and intervention.

Circadian Rhythm and Muscle Function.

Since the discovery of clock gene in mammals, the physiological role of the internal clock, which produces a rhythm of approximately 24 h per day, has been revealed, and it has become clear that a regular life rhythm is important for maintaining good health. Skeletal muscle function is no exception, and has been reported to be regulated by the internal clock. In the skeletal muscle, more than 2300 genes exhibit circadian rhythms and are involved in a wide range of functions, including myogenesis, transcription, and metabolism.

Machine-Learning-Guided Multiscale Design of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for Enhanced Supercapacitor Performance.

Hierarchical structural control of nanomaterials across multilength scales is critical for optimizing mass and charge transport in energy-related applications. In this study, we combine machine learning analysis and rational synthesis to design nitrogen-doped carbonaceous hybrid materials with multiscale architectures tailored for supercapacitor electrodes. Data-driven insights from the literature reveal that, in addition to surface area, the presence of pyrrolic nitrogen strongly correlates with enhanced capacitance.

Type 2 statin use increased perioperative blood loss in primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

Purpose: Statins (hydroxyl-methylglutaryl-coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors) are commonly prescribed for managing hypercholesterolemia. Besides lowering cholesterol, statins have been reported to have anticoagulant and antiplatelet effects. This study aimed to analyze postoperative blood loss by standardizing the surgical procedure for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty and evaluate the effect of statin use on bleeding.

Understanding Treatment Response Heterogeneity Using Crossover Randomized Controlled Trials: A Primer for Exercise and Nutrition Scientists.

Crossover randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are common in exercise and nutrition sciences. Since researchers randomize participants to different sequences of the treatment and comparator/control conditions, crossover RCTs are powerful for detecting mean treatment effects under certain circumstances. We aim to review the information that can be derived from crossover RCTs about treatment response heterogeneity-a fundamental issue in precision medicine for tailoring treatments to individuals.

Language-specific phonetic realisation of stop voicing contrasts in English and Japanese synthesised speech.

Speech synthesis has improved dramatically over recent years, enabled by large datasets and advances in neural network architectures. Little is known, however, about how synthesised speech patterns are realized from a phonetic perspective. By synthesising speech in two languages with differing implementations of stop voicing, we observe that synthesised speech broadly follows expected patterns for each language, though partially diverges for specific segments.

A hybrid method combining rule-based filter and machine learning to detect porpoise and vessel sounds from a pulse event recorder.

Passive acoustic monitoring is essential for assessing the impact of anthropogenic noise on marine ecosystems and detecting vocalizing marine life. While acoustic event recorders are widely used to record odontocete echolocation due to their low power and memory demands, conventional detection algorithms are often unsuitable for analyzing datasets composed of complex pulse events. Here, we developed a hybrid analytical framework combining a rule-based filter with a random forest model to efficiently detect narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) click trains and vessel noise events using data from the pulse event recorder.

Subthreshold depression is associated with altered facial expression and impression formation via subjective ratings and action unit analysis.

Depression is often linked to reduced facial expressivity and to biases in recognizing others' emotions. Whether subthreshold depression (StD)-a putative prodromal stage-shows comparable alterations remains unclear. We recorded 10‑second self‑introduction videos of Japanese undergraduates (ratees; n = 64) and obtained subjective impression ratings from a separate group (raters; n = 63).