In order to promote the accurate recognition and application of visual navigation robots to the environment, this paper carried out research on the road pattern recognition of a vision-guided robot based on improved YOLOv8 on the basis of road pattern calibration and experimental sampling. First, an experimental system for road image shooting was built independently, and 21 different kinds of road pattern image data were obtained by sampling roads with different weather conditions, road materials, and degrees of damage. Second, the road pattern recognition model based on the classical neural network Resnet 18 was constructed for model training and testing, and the initial recognition of road pattern was realized. Third, the YOLOv8 target detection model was introduced to build the road pattern recognition model based on YOLOv8n, and the model was trained and tested, improving road pattern recognition accuracy and recognition response speed by 3.1% and 200%, respectively. Finally, to further improve the accuracy of road pattern recognition, improvement research was carried out on the YOLOv8n road pattern recognition model based on the C2f-ODConv module, the AWD adaptive weight downsampling module, the EMA attention mechanism, and the collaboration of the three modules. Three network architectures, classical CNN (Resnet 18), YOLOv8n, and improved YOLOv8n, were compared. The results show that four different optimization models can further improve the accuracy of road pattern recognition, among which the accuracy of the improved YOLO v8 road pattern recognition model based on multimodule cooperation is the highest, reaching more than 93%. Full article

Breast cancer is the fifth-ranked cancer globally. Despite early diagnosis and advances in treatment, breast cancer mortality is increasing. This meta-analysis aims to examine all possible prognostic factors that improve/deteriorate breast cancer-specific survival. MEDLINE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Ovid, and Google Scholar were systematically searched until September 16, 2023. The retrieved studies from 1995 to 2022 accumulated 1,386,663 cases from 30 countries. A total of 13 out of 22 prognostic factors were significantly associated with breast cancer-specific survival. A random-effects model provided a pooled estimate of the top five poorest prognostic factors, including Stage 4 (HR = 12.12; 95% CI: 5.70, 25.76), followed by Stage 3 (HR = 3.42, 95% CI: 2.51, 4.67), a comorbidity index ≥ 3 (HR = 3.29; 95% CI: 4.52, 7.35), the poor differentiation of cancer cell histology (HR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.79, 3.30), and undifferentiated cancer cell histology (HR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.66, 3.01). Other survival-reducing factors include positive nodes, age, race, HER2-receptor positivity, and overweight/obesity. The top five best prognostic factors include different types of mastectomies and breast-conserving therapies (HR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.70), medullary histology (HR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.72), higher education (HR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.77), and a positive estrogen receptor status (HR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.94). Heterogeneity was observed in most studies. Data from developing countries are still scarce. Full article

Apomixis is a common reproductive characteristic of Zanthoxylum plants, and RWP-RKs are plant-specific transcription factors known to regulate embryonic development. However, the genome-wide analysis and function prediction of RWP-RK family genes in Z. armatum are unclear. In this study, 36 ZaRWP-RK transcription factors were identified in the genome of Z. armatum, among which 15 genes belonged to the RKD subfamily and 21 belonged to the NLP subfamily. Duplication events of ZaRWP-RK genes were mainly segmental duplication, and synteny analysis revealed a close phylogenetic relationship between Z. armatum and Arabidopsis. The analysis of cis-elements indicated that ZaRWP-RK genes may be involved in the regulation of the embryonic development of Z. armatum by responding to plant hormones such as abscisic acid, auxin, and gibberellin. Results of a real-time PCR showed that the expression levels of most ZaRWP-RK genes were significantly increased from flowers to young fruits. Protein–protein interaction network analysis further revealed the potential roles of the ZaRWP-RK proteins in apomixis. Collectively, this study is expected to improve our understanding of ZaRWP-RK transcription factors and provide a theoretical basis for future investigations into the ZaRWP-RK genes and their regulatory mechanisms in the apomixis process of Z. armatum. Full article

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, the highest mortality being found in low- and middle-income countries. Abdominal parietal metastases in cervical cancer are a very rare entity, with an incidence of 0.1–1.3%, and represent an unfavorable prognostic factor with the survival rate falling to 17%. Here, we present a review of cases of abdominal parietal metastasis in recent decades, including a new case of a 4.5 cm abdominal parietal metastasis at the site of the scar of the former drain tube 28 months after diagnosis of stage IIB cervical cancer (adenosquamous carcinoma), treated by external radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy and subsequent surgery (type B radical hysterectomy). The tumor was resected within oncological limits with the histopathological result of adenosquamous carcinoma. The case study highlights the importance of early detection and appropriate treatment of metastases in patients with cervical cancer. The discussion explores the potential pathways for parietal metastasis and the impact of incomplete surgical procedures on the development of metastases. The conclusion emphasizes the poor prognosis associated with this type of metastasis in cervical cancer patients and the potential benefits of surgical resection associated with systemic therapy in improving survival rates. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and enteric methane emissions of beef cattle using a meta-analytic approach. The final meta-analysis database included results from 15 scientific articles. The response variables were analyzed through random effects models, where the results were reported as weighted mean differences (WMD) between the treatments without 3-NOP and those supplemented with 3-NOP. The dietary inclusion of 3-NOP decreased (p < 0.001) dry matter intake but did not affect (p > 0.05) average daily gain and increased (p < 0.05) feed efficiency. In the rumen, 3-NOP supplementation increased (p < 0.01) the pH and ruminal concentration of propionate, butyrate, valerate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate. In contrast, dietary supplementation with 3-NOP decreased (p < 0.001) the rumen concentration of ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids, acetate, and the acetate/propionate ratio. Furthermore, daily methane (CH₄) emission, CH₄ yield, and CH₄ emission as a percentage of gross energy ingested decreased (p < 0.001) in response to 3-NOP dietary supplementation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 3-nitrooxypropanol can be used as a nutritional strategy to improve feed efficiency and ruminal fermentation in beef cattle and, at the same time, reduce enteric methane emissions. Full article

In this work, optical–structural and morphological behavior when Nd is incorporated into ZnO is studied. ZnO and Nd-doped ZnO (ZnO-Nd) films were deposited at 900 °C on Silicon n-type substrates (100) by using the Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition (HFCVD) technique. For this, pellets were made by from powders of ZnO(s) and a mixture of ZnO(s):Nd(OH)₃(s). The weight percent of the mixture ZnO:Nd(OH)₃ in the pellet is 1:3. The gaseous precursor generation was carried out by chemical decomposition of the pellets using atomic hydrogen which was produced by a tungsten filament at 2000 °C. For the ZnO film, diffraction planes (100), (002), (101), (102), (110), and (103) were found by XRD. For the ZnO-Nd film, its planes are displaced, indicating the incorporation of Nd into the ZnO. EDS was used to confirm the Nd in the ZnO-Nd film with an atomic concentration (at%) of Nd = 10.79. An improvement in photoluminescence is observed for the ZnO-Nd film; this improvement is attributed to an increase in oxygen vacancies due to the presence of Nd. The important thing about this study is that by the HFCVD method, ZnO-Nd films can be obtained easily and with very short times; in addition, some oxide compounds can be obtained individually as initial precursors, which reduces the cost compared to other techniques. Something interesting is that the incorporation of Nd into ZnO by this method has not yet been studied, and depending on the method used, the PL of ZnO with Nd can increase or decrease, and by the HFCVD method the PL of the ZnO film, when Nd is incorporated, increases more than 15 times compared to the ZnO film. Full article

The intensification of the urban heat island effect, characterized by persistent high temperatures in Chinese cities during summer, has led to notable shifts in urban residents’ activity patterns and travel preferences. Given that street trees, as fundamental components of urban road networks, have significant interaction with residents, it is imperative to investigate their thermal comfort impact. This study aims to enhance the comfortable summer travel experience for urban dwellers. Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) was selected as the case study site, with eight street tree species identified as measurement points. The summer solstice (21 June 2023) served as the representative weather condition. Through monitoring temperature and humidity, the study explored the correlation between street tree species, their characteristic factors, and thermal comfort. Utilizing ENVI-met and ArcGIS, the thermal comfort of campus travel routes was assessed, leading to the development of a summer travel guide based on thermal comfort considerations. The research novelty lies in applying a combined ENVI-met 5.0.2 and ArcGIS 10.8 software approach for modelling and visualizing the microclimate, which enables a more precise analysis of the thermal comfort variations of different campus paths, thus improving the accuracy and applicability of the results in urban planning. The findings reveal several points. (1) Different street trees possess varying capacities to enhance human comfort, with Falcataria falcata and Mangifera indica exhibiting the strongest cooling and humidifying effects, whereas Bauhinia purpurea and Amygdalus persica perform the poorest. Additionally, the research confirms ENVI-met’s scientific accuracy and practicality for microclimate studies. (2) The contribution of street trees to the comfort of campus road travel is primarily determined by the Sky View Factor (SVF), which negatively correlates with cooling and humidifying intensity and positively with thermal comfort. (3) During midday, travel comfort conditions on campus roads are better. Based on the thermal comfort assessment, a summer roadmap was created for the campus. In this case, the campus roads indicated by road A are considered the best travel routes in summer, and the roads indicated by roads B and C are considered alternatives for travelling. This practical application demonstrates how theoretical research results can be translated into practical tools for daily commuting and urban planning. It provides data references and empirical cases for the scientific optimization and enhancement of urban roads. Full article

Red wine is a beverage consumed worldwide and contains suspended solids that cause turbidity. The study’s purpose was to mathematically model estimated turbidity in artisanal wines concerning the dosage and types of fining agents based on previous studies presenting positive results. Burgundy grape wine (Vitis lambrusca) was made and clarified with ‘yausabara’ (Pavonia sepium) and bentonite at different concentrations. The system was modelled using several machine learning models, including MATLAB’s Neural Net Fitting and Regression Learner applications. The results showed that the validation of the neural network trained with the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm obtained significant statistical indicators, such as the coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.985, mean square error (MSE) of 0.004, normalized root mean square error (NRSME) of 6.01 and Akaike information criterion (AIC) of −160.12, selecting it as the representative model of the system. It presents an objective and simple alternative for measuring wine turbidity that is useful for artisanal winemakers who can improve quality and consistency. Full article

The rapid expansion of the scale of wind power has led to a wave of efforts to decommission wind turbine blades. The pyrolysis of decommissioned wind turbine blades (DWTBs) is a promising technological solution. Microwave pyrolysis offers the benefits of fast heating rates and uniform heat transfer, making it a widely used method in various heating applications. However, there are few studies on the microwave pyrolysis of DWTBs, and pyrolysis characteristics under different boundary conditions remain unclear. In this paper, we investigate the pyrolysis characteristics of DWTBs by utilizing silicon carbide (SiC) particles as a microwave absorbent. The results demonstrated that, when the microwave heating power increased from 400 W to 600 W, the heating rate and pyrolysis final temperature of the material increased, resulting in a reduction in pyrolysis residual solid yield from 88.30% to 84.40%. At 600 W, pyrolysis gas components included C₂H₄, CH₄, and CO, while the tar components included phenol and toluene. The highest degree of pyrolysis was achieved under the condition of an SiC particle size of 0.85 mm, with better heating performance, and the calorific value of the pyrolysis gas generated was 36.95 MJ/Nm³. The DWTBs did not undergo pyrolysis when SiC was not added. However, when the mass ratio of SiC to DWTBs was 4, the tar yield was 4.7% and the pyrolysis gas yield was 17.0%, resulting in a faster heating rate and the highest degree of pyrolysis. Based on this, an optimal process for the microwave pyrolysis of DWTBs was proposed, providing a reference for its industrial application. Full article

Deposition of extracellular Amyloid Beta (Aβ) and intracellular tau fibrils in post-mortem brains remains the only way to conclusively confirm cases of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Substantial evidence, though, implicates small globular oligomers instead of fibrils as relevant biomarkers of, and critical contributors to, the clinical symptoms of AD. Efforts to verify and utilize amyloid oligomers as AD biomarkers in vivo have been limited by the near-exclusive dependence on conformation-selective antibodies for oligomer detection. While antibodies have yielded critical evidence for the role of both Aβ and tau oligomers in AD, they are not suitable for imaging amyloid oligomers in vivo. Therefore, it would be desirable to identify a set of oligomer-selective small molecules for subsequent development into Positron Emission Tomography (PET) probes. Using a kinetics-based screening assay, we confirm that the triarylmethane dye Crystal Violet (CV) is oligomer-selective for Aβ42 oligomers (AβOs) grown under near-physiological solution conditions in vitro. In postmortem brains of an AD mouse model and human AD patients, we demonstrate that A11 antibody-positive oligomers but not Thioflavin S (ThioS)-positive fibrils colocalize with CV staining, confirming in vitro results. Therefore, our kinetic screen represents a robust approach for identifying new classes of small molecules as candidates for oligomer-selective dyes (OSDs). Such OSDs, in turn, provide promising starting points for the development of PET probes for pre-mortem imaging of oligomer deposits in humans. Full article

Plant hormones regulate adaptive responses to various biotic and abiotic stress factors. Applied exogenously, they trigger the natural plant defense mechanisms, a feature that could be implemented in strategies for supporting crop resilience. The potential of the exogenous cytokinin-like acting compound (kinetin), the auxin analogue 1-naphtyl acetic acid (NAA), abscisic acid (ABA) and the ethyleneprecursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) to mitigate dehydration was tested on Lactuca sativa (lettuce) grown on 12% polyethylene glycol (PEG). Priming with different blends containing these plant growth regulators (PGRs) applied in bioequivalent concentrations was evaluated through biometric measurements and biochemical analyses. The combined treatment with the four compounds exhibited the best dehydration protective effect. The antioxidative enzyme profiling of the PGR-primed individuals revealed increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and peroxidase activity in the leaves. Immunodetection of higher levels of the rate-limiting enzyme for proline biosynthesis (delta-pyroline-5-carboxylate synthase) in the primed plants coincided with a significantly higher content of the amino acid measured in the leaves. These plants also accumulated particular dehydrin types, which may have contributed to the observed stress-relieving effect. The four-component mix applied by spraying or through the roots exerted similar stress-mitigating properties on soil-grown lettuce subjected to moderate drought. Full article

The rapid restoration and renewal of the moso bamboo logging zone after strip logging has emerged as a key research area, particularly regarding whether nutrient accumulation and utilization in reserve zones can aid in the restoration and regeneration of the logging zone. In this study, a dynamic ¹⁵N isotope tracking experiment was conducted by injecting labeled urea fertilizer into bamboo culms. Logging zones and reserve zones of 6 m, 8 m, and 10 m widths were established. The conventional selective logging treatment served as a control (Con). Measurements were taken in May and October to assess the differences in nitrogen accumulation ability, utilization rates, and nutrient content across different organs in bamboo forests at different growth stages and under different treatments. Principal component analysis was conducted to evaluate and determine the importance of each indicator and strip logging treatment comprehensively. The results showed that various bamboo organs exhibited higher nitrogen accumulation and utilization rates during the peak growth period compared to the late growth period. Leaves had the highest nitrogen accumulation and utilization rates than the other organs. The average C content in various bamboo organs under different logging treatments exhibited subtle differences, irrespective of variation in logging width treatments. Bamboo culm exhibited the highest carbon accumulation. The C content in various bamboo organs was higher during the peak growth period than in the late growth period. The nitrogen content peaked in the leaves during the two growth stages and was significantly higher compared to the other organs. Most bamboo organs in the logging zones exhibited relatively higher nitrogen content than in the reserve zone and Con group. The P content was highest in bamboo leaves compared with other organs across the different strip logging treatments. Principal component analysis revealed relatively high absolute values of the coefficients for the C content, bamboo stump C content, and culm Ndff%. Log8 and Res10 zones had the highest comprehensive evaluation scores, indicating that Log8 and Res10 had the best effect on the promotion of nitrogen utilization and nutrient accumulation in various organs of moso bamboo. Full article

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of radiation dose on the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for benign meningiomas and determine an optimal dosing strategy for balancing tumor control and treatment-related toxicity. Clinical data of 147 patients with 164 lesions treated between 2014 and 2022 were reviewed. Primary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), local control rate (LCR), and radiation-induced toxicity, with secondary outcomes focusing on LCR and radiation-induced peritumoral edema (PTE) in two dose groups (≥14 Gy and <14 Gy). The results revealed a median follow-up duration of 47 months, with 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year PFS rates of 99.3%, 96.7%, and 93.8%, respectively, and an overall LCR of 95.1%. Radiation-induced toxicity was observed in 24.5% of patients, primarily presenting mild symptoms. Notably, no significant difference in LCR was found between the two dose groups (p = 0.628), while Group 2 (<14 Gy) exhibited significantly lower PTE (p = 0.039). This study concludes that SRS with a radiation dose < 14 Gy demonstrates comparable tumor control with reduced toxicity, advocating consideration of such dosing to achieve a balance between therapeutic efficacy and safety. Full article

The Ebinur Lake Basin is a typical terrestrial sedimentary Basin in Northwest China that has developed a piedmont distributive fluvial system (DFS) sedimentary environment, lake sedimentary environment, and desert sedimentary environment. The Ebinur Lake receives the sediments carried by the rivers in the basin and is the regional sedimentary center. In this study, a division scheme of modern sedimentary system tracts in the Ebinur Lake Basin was proposed. According to the landform, sedimentary environment, structure, and sedimentary system types, the Ebinur Lake Basin was divided into five system tracts. The area with high altitude and steep gradients mainly develops the rapid sedimentary system DFS, and the area with the lowest altitude in the region develops the lake sedimentary system. The main action area of climate drought and wind field is the dune sedimentary area. The wind field under the influence of hydrological climate and geomorphology has an important influence on the distribution of the sedimentary system tract. The structure determines the development of different types of sedimentary systems by controlling the topographic fluctuation and sedimentary space. Hydroclimate and geomorphology affect the development of sedimentary systems by controlling the sediment source rate in the sedimentary area. Based on the analysis of the characteristics and distribution of the modern sedimentary system in the Ebinur Lake Basin, a method for determining the level of the sedimentary system of the Ebinur Lake was established together with a plane model of the sedimentary system of the Ebinur Lake, which provides a reference for the study of the sedimentary system of continental basins. Full article

Given the challenges in recommendation effectiveness, communication costs, and privacy issues associated with federated learning, the current algorithm amalgamates locality sensitive hash (LSH) with three federated recommendation models: Generalized Matrix Factorization, Multilayer Perceptions, and Neural Matrix Factorization. First, the participation weights of the model are determined based on the participation degree of the federated learning clients to improve the efficiency of joint learning. Second, the local parameters of the federated aggregation model are divided into two groups to protect user embedding. Finally, rapid mapping and similarity retrieval of the upload parameters are performed using LSH to protect user privacy and shorten training time. We conducted experiments to compare the performance differences between LSH-based and Laplace noise-based differential privacy methods in terms of recommendation effectiveness, communication costs, and privacy preservation. Experimental results demonstrate that LSH models achieved a favorable balance between recommendation effectiveness and privacy protection, with improved time performance. Full article

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer (BC) is the deadliest and the most common type of cancer worldwide in women. Several factors associated with BC exert their effects by modulating the state of stress. They can induce genetic mutations or alterations in cell growth, encouraging neoplastic development and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are able to activate many signal transduction pathways, producing an inflammatory environment that leads to the suppression of programmed cell death and the promotion of tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis; these effects promote the development and progression of malignant neoplasms. However, cells have both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant systems that protect them by neutralizing the harmful effects of ROS. In this sense, antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), and peroxiredoxin (Prx) protect the body from diseases caused by oxidative damage. In this review, we will discuss mechanisms through which some enzymatic antioxidants inhibit or promote carcinogenesis, as well as the new therapeutic proposals developed to complement traditional treatments. Full article

Background: Thomas Cullen described bleeding abnormalities and dysmenorrhea as the “expected” presentations of adenomyomas. Adenomyosis is included within the FIGO classification of structural causes of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Nevertheless, this long-standing association has been questioned by some authors who reported a high incidence of adenomyosis in uteri removed for indications other than AUB or dysmenorrhea. Here, we examine evidence for the link between adenomyosis and AUB. Methods: A comprehensive Medline literature review of all publications to October 2023. Results: Sixty-three articles were identified and included in the review. Despite a large body of studies, the available literature does not provide conclusive evidence of a link between adenomyosis and AUB. This is because of unsuitable study design, or poor characterization of the study population or of the inclusion or exclusion criteria. Additional challenges arise because of the lack of agreed criteria for diagnosing adenomyosis and the often absence of detailed assessment of menstrual blood loss. Adenomyosis often coexists with other conditions that have also been linked to similar symptoms, and many cases of adenomyosis are asymptomatic. Conclusion: Most of the existing literature and studies that addressed treatment outcome of adenomyosis started from the premise that a link between the condition and AUB had been proven. Yet, published information shows that aspects such a relationship is still uncertain. Further research is needed to address the relation between AUB and adenomyosis burden (or subtypes), distribution, and concomitant pathology. Full article

A novel metal-free synthesis of 3-substituted isocoumarins through a sequential O-acylation/Wittig reaction has been established. The readily accessible (2-carboxybenzyl)-triphenylphosphonium bromide and diverse chlorides produced various 1H-isochromen-1-one in the presence of triethylamine, employing sequential O-acylation and an intramolecular Wittig reaction of acid anhydride. Reactions using these facile conditions have exhibited high functional group tolerance and excellent yields (up to 90%). Moreover, the fluorescence properties of isocoumarin derivatives were evaluated at the theoretical and experimental levels to determine their potential application in fluorescent materials. These derivatives have good photoluminescence in THF with a large Stokes shift and an absolute fluorescence quantum yield of up to 14%. Full article

Grain filling is critical for determining yield and quality, raising the question of whether central coordinators exist to facilitate the uptake and storage of various substances from maternal to filial tissues. The duplicate NAC transcription factors ZmNAC128 and ZmNAC130 could potentially serve as central coordinators. By analyzing differentially expressed genes from zmnac128 zmnac130 mutants across different genetic backgrounds and growing years, we identified 243 highly and differentially expressed genes (hdEGs) as the core target genes. These 243 hdEGs were associated with storage metabolism and transporters. ZmNAC128 and ZmNAC130 play vital roles in storage metabolism, and this study revealed two additional starch metabolism-related genes, sugary enhancer1 and hexokinase1, as their direct targets. A key finding of this study was the inclusion of 17 transporter genes within the 243 hdEGs, with significant alterations in the levels of more than 10 elements/substances in mutant kernels. Among them, six out of the nine upregulated transporter genes were linked to the transport of heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs), which was consistent with the enrichment of cadmium, lead, and arsenic observed in mutant kernels. Interestingly, the levels of Mg and Zn, minerals important to biofortification efforts, were reduced in mutant kernels. In addition to their direct involvement in sugar transport, ZmNAC128 and ZmNAC130 also activate the expression of the endosperm-preferential nitrogen and phosphate transporters ZmNPF1.1 and ZmPHO1;2. This coordinated regulation limits the intake of HMMs, enhances biofortification, and facilitates the uptake and storage of essential nutrients. Full article

The documentation, preservation and rescue of biological diversity increasingly uses living biological samples. Persistent associations between species, biosamples, such as tissues and cell lines, and the accompanying data are indispensable for using, exchanging and benefiting from these valuable materials. Explicit authentication of such biosamples by assigning unique and robust identifiers is therefore required to allow for unambiguous referencing, avoid identification conflicts and maintain reproducibility in research. A predefined nomenclature based on uniform rules would facilitate this process. However, such a nomenclature is currently lacking for animal biological material. We here present a first, standardized, human-readable nomenclature design, which is sufficient to generate unique and stable identifying names for animal cellular material with a focus on wildlife species. A species-specific human- and machine-readable syntax is included in the proposed standard naming scheme, allowing for the traceability of donated material and cultured cells, as well as data FAIRification. Only when it is consistently applied in the public domain, as publications and inter-institutional samples and data are exchanged, distributed and stored centrally, can the risks of misidentification and loss of traceability be mitigated. This innovative globally applicable identification system provides a standard for a sustainable structure for the long-term storage of animal bio-samples in cryobanks and hence facilitates current as well as future species conservation and biomedical research. Full article

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are characterized by chronic gastrointestinal inflammation due to abnormal immune responses to gut microflora. The gut–brain axis is disrupted in IBDs, leading to neurobiological imbalances and affective symptoms. Systemic inflammation in IBDs affects the brain’s inflammatory response system, hormonal axis, and blood–brain barrier integrity, influencing the gut microbiota. This review aims to explore the association between dysregulations in the gut–brain axis, serum biomarkers, and the development of cognitive disorders. Studies suggest a potential association between IBDs and the development of neurodegeneration. The mechanisms include systemic inflammation, nutritional deficiency, GBA dysfunction, and the effect of genetics and comorbidities. The objective is to identify potential correlations and propose future research directions to understand the impact of altered microbiomes and intestinal barrier functions on neurodegeneration. Serum levels of vitamins, inflammatory and neuronal damage biomarkers, and neuronal growth factors have been investigated for their potential to predict the development of neurodegenerative diseases, but current results are inconclusive and require more studies. Full article

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a complex and multi-determined process that is influenced by psychosocial variables. Although international studies have pointed to the adverse impact of HIV stigma, sexual stigma, and depression on ART adherence among men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV, less is known about this association among Brazilians. We aimed to (a) evaluate indicators of depression, stigma related to HIV and homosexuality, and adherence to ART in a sample of Brazilian MSM living with HIV; (b) assess possible correlations between the variables analyzed, and (c) assess the impact of HIV and sexual stigma and depression on ART adherence. This cross-sectional study comprised 138 Brazilian MSM living with HIV as participants. Scales used included: a sociodemographic/clinical questionnaire, the questionnaire for assessment of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (CEAT-HIV), the Beck depression inventory (BDI-II), the internalized homophobia scale, and the HIV stigmatization scale. The mean adherence score was relatively high (78.83, within a range of 17–89 points). However, we observed inadequate ART adherence (CEAT-HIV < 75) in 28 (20.2%) respondents. Participants reported high scores for internalized sexual stigma, perceived sexual stigma in the community, and HIV stigma. Symptoms of depression were identified in 48.47% of participants. We found negative correlations between depression, HIV stigma, and treatment adherence, but not between sexual stigma and ART adherence. HIV-related stigma and sexual stigma were positively correlated with depression. Our regression analysis indicated that each year of age at diagnosis of HIV increased adherence by 0.22 points, on average. Each additional BDI-II score reduced adherence to ART by 0.20 points. The high prevalence of depression, HIV stigma, and sexual stigma, and their adverse effects on ART adherence and mental health, point to the need to implement evidence-based interventions to reduce sexual and serological stigma in the general population, as well as to mitigate the negative impacts of stigma on MSM living in HIV in Brazil. They also highlight the importance of periodically screening for these variables among MSM treated in Brazilian public health services, especially among those with inadequate adherence to ART. Full article