Rationale: According to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), the FEV1/FVC ratio is used to confirm the presence of airflow obstruction in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas FEV1 percent predicted normal value (FEV1%pred) is used for grading its severity. The STaging of Airflow obstruction by the FEV1/FVC Ratio (STAR), and its prediction of

We study the problem of obtaining lower bounds for polynomial calculus (PC) and polynomial calculus resolution (PCR) on proof degree, and hence by [Impagliazzo et al.'99] also on proof size. [Alekhnovich and Razborov'03] established that if the clause-variable incidence graph of a conjunctive normal form (CNF) formula F is a good enough expander, then proving that F is unsatisfiable requires high

Semidefinite programs are convex optimization problems involving a linear objective function and a domain of positive-semidefinite matrices. Over the past two decades, they have become an indispensable tool in quantum information science. Many otherwise intractable fundamental and applied problems can be successfully approached by means of relaxation to a semidefinite program. This methodology is

Introduction: Having many melanocytic nevi on the skin is a risk factor for melanoma. However, the reproducibility of nevus counts in previous studies is limited due to high inter- and intraobserver variation. Despite the introduction of a protocol for counting and reporting of nevi in 1990 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), significant variations in nevus counting methods

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a lipid-transport protein that functions as a key mediator of lipid transport and cholesterol metabolism. Recent studies have shown that peptides derived from human APOE display anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Here, we applied in vitro assays and fluorescent microscopy to investigate the anti-bacterial effects of full-length APOE. The interaction of APOE wit

Auoxo3 is a gold(iii) compound endowed with cytotoxic activity towards a variety of malignant cells. Encapsulation of Auoxo3 within horse spleen ferritin (Ft) improves the selectivity of the gold compound towards cancer cells over normal cells. In the current work, the changes in protein expression are presented in response to MCF-7 stimulation with Auoxo3-encapsulated Ft versus the free Au(iii) c

New five-coordinate Pt(ii) complexes containing a glycosylated carbene fragment were synthesized. A member of this class shows very high in vitro cytotoxicity and an exceptional selectivity toward malignant cells. The complex lacking the sugary portion fails in the recognition of cancer cells. The results support the use of glycosylation in the design of carbene Pt-based anticancer agents.

The wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) is traditionally employed as an antibacterial and immunostimulant drug in traditional medicine. This plant is rich in different flavonoids and tannins. In this study, we isolated two compounds from S. samarangense leaves: Myricitrin and 3,5-di-O-methyl gossypetin. Then, we investigated the mechanisms of action of the two compounds against oxidative stress (ind

Intimate partner violence disproportionately affects immigrant women, who face unique barriers when seeking support. This study explores factors influencing their help-seeking behaviors through semi-structured interviews with professionals in social services. The thematic analysis identified key themes: children’s well-being as a motivator, cultural and social norms as barriers, and opportunities

UVA radiations contribute up to 95% of the total UV exposure and are known to induce cell damage, leading to apoptosis. Since the benefic effects of ascorbic acid on human health are well known, a new tomato genotype (named DHO4), highly rich in ascorbic acid, has been recently obtained. Here, we compared the effects of ascorbic acid and hydrophilic DHO4 extracts in protecting human keratinocytes

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of several liver diseases. Many natural polyphenols can attenuate oxidative stress and liver injury. In this study, a phytochemical profiling of a methanol extract from leaves of Syzygium samarangense revealed 92 compounds belonging to flavonoids, phenolic acids, condensed tannins, and ellagitannins. The S. samarangense extract exhibited a n

Auoxo3, a cytotoxic gold(iii) compound, was encapsulated within a ferritin nanocage. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography confirm the potential-drug encapsulation. The structure shows that naked Au(i) ions bind to the side chains of Cys48, His49, His114, His114 and Cys126, Cys126, His132, His147. The gold-encapsu

UV-A radiations are known to induce cellular oxidative stress, leading to premature skin aging. Consumption of açai fruit (Euterpe oleracea Martius) is known to have many health benefits due to its high level of antioxidants. Herein, we analyzed the ability of phenolic compounds extracted from this fruit to attenuate UV-A-induced oxidative stress in immortalized fibroblast. A methanol/water açai e

Amyloidoses are devastating diseases characterized by accumulation of misfolded proteins which aggregate in fibrils. Specific gene mutations in Apolipoprotein A I (ApoAI) are associated with systemic amyloidoses. Little is known on the effect of mutations on ApoAI structure and amyloid properties. Here we performed a physicochemical characterization of L75P- and L174S-amyloidogenic ApoAI (AApoAI)

Comparisons among some new types of weighted mixed regression estimators for the linear regression model under the stochastic linear restrictions have been made in this paper. The mean squared error criterion is used to examine the superiority of different weighted mixed regression estimators. A Monte Carlo simulation study and real-life application are carried out to compare the performance of th

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs) all commonlypossess specially modified γ-carboxyglutamic acid residues created in a vitaminK-dependent manner. Several liver-derived coagulation factors are well characterisedVKDPs. However, much less is known about extrahepatic VKDPs, which are more diversein their molecular structures and functions, and some of which have beenBackground/Objectives: Vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs) all commonly possess specially modified γ-carboxyglutamic acid residues created in a vitamin K-dependent manner. Several liver-derived coagulation factors are well characterised VKDPs. However, much less is known about extrahepatic VKDPs, which are more diverse in their molecular structures and functions, and some of which have been impli

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an obsessive–compulsive disorder-related psychiatric condition characterized by an intense preoccupation with perceived physical flaws that are not observable by others. BDD affects ~2% of the adult population but is underdiagnosed, partly owing to limited clinician awareness, and undertreated, partly due to limited access to treatment. Research on the aetiology o

Background: Supplier involvement in product development has proven beneficial for companies and is a phenomenon researched in various domains. The definitions of supplier involvement represent points of origin and dimensions addressed in research. Still, there is no overview of these definitions and dimensions. This study reviews current definitions of the phenomenon of supplier involvement in pro

Dalköpingeån, en icke-perenn å med ett avrinningsområde på 66 km² beläget i Söderslätt, södra Skåne, upplever en säsongsbunden torka längs en 3 km lång sträcka av dess totala längd på 15,4 km under sommaren. På den plats där ån torkar ut observerades ett slukhål 1976, vilket tros bidra till torrperioden. För att undersöka detta fenomen och få insikter i det hydrogeologiska systemet genomfördes en The Dalköpinge River, a non-perennial river with a 66 km² catchment area located in Söderslätt, southern Scania, Sweden, experiences a seasonal dry phase along a 3 km stretch of its 15.4 km length during summer. At the location where it runs dry a sinkhole was observed in 1976, believed to contribute to the dry spell. To investigate this phenomenon and gain insights into the hydrogeological system

Bioresorbable photonic implants are emerging as potential material choice for interstitial theranostic and monitoring applications. They gradually dissolve within the physiological environment in a clinically relevant period, eliminating the need for extraction surgeries. In the present study, we tested the suitability of in-house fabricated bioresorbable optical fibres based on calcium phosphate