Background: Conflicting data exist on traditional lipid profiles in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD), whereas scarce number of studies evaluated non-traditional lipid profiles in patients with AD and VD. Studies have shown that ethnic background may affect lipid profile. Objective: The aim of the present study was to conduct comparative assessment of traditional and non-traditional lipid profiles in Bosnian patients with AD and VD. Methods: A controlled, cross-sectional study was performed with 66 patients with AD, 50 patients with VD, and 60 control subjects. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was used for an evaluation of the global cognitive function. The Hachinski ischemic score was used to distinguish patients with VD from those with AD. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein -cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) levels were determined using standard enzymatic colorimetric techniques, whereas the Friedewald formula was used to calculate low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The non-traditional lipid indices such as TG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were separately calculated. The differences between the groups were analyzed with ANOVA followed by the Tuckey posthoc test or with the Kruskal Wallis test followed by the Mann-Whitney test. Results: Results of the present study have shown that patients in AD group had significantly lower level of TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, Non-HDL-C and significantly lower atherogenic index compared to the control group (CG) and compared to the VD patients. Significant difference in values of TG and VLDL-C was observed between VD and the CG, whereas no significant difference in values of TC, LDL-C, atherogenic index and Non-HDL-C was observed between these two groups. Our results have also shown that TG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were significantly lower in AD patients compared to the VD and CG. Moreover, TG/HDL-C ratio was significantly lower in VD compared to the CG. However, a significant difference in TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C was not observed between VD and the CG. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study it can be deduced that there is a difference in traditional and non-traditional lipid profiles between AD and VD patients of Bosnian descent. Obtained results suggest that lipids are decreased in AD and in VD to a certain extent. However, since there is an inconsistence in literature whether there is an association between cholesterol and cognition, large prospective studies are required to elucidate this controversy.

Vehicle automation and connectivity bring new opportunities for safe and sustainable mobility in urban and highway networks. Such opportunities are however not directly associated with traffic flow improvements. Research on exploitation of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) toward a more efficient traffic currently remains at a theoretical level, and/or based on simulation models with limited reliability. Furthermore, testing CAVs in the real world is still costly and very challenging from an implementation perspective. A possible alternative is to use automated robots. By designing and testing both the low- and the high-level controllers of CAVs, it is indeed possible to reach a better understanding of the challenges that future vehicles will need to face. Robotic applications can effectively test these challenges within a wide variety of research communities—for example, via robotic competitions. Along this direction, the Joint Research Centre has organized the first European robotic traffic competition for automated miniature vehicles. Each team participated with four robots and was judged based on a set of indicators that assess the collective behaviors of the vehicles. Results show the suitability of the methodology with different teams proposing completely different approaches to deal with the challenge and thus achieving different results. Future competitions may further raise awareness about the possibility of using CAVs to improve traffic and to engage with a broader community to design systems that are really capable of achieving this goal.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been obvious that virus infection poses a serious threat to human health on a global scale. Certain plants, particularly those rich in polyphenols, have been found to be effective antiviral agents. The effectiveness of Alchemilla viridiflora Rothm. (Rosaceae) methanol extract to prevent contact between virus spike (S)-glycoprotein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and neuropilin-1 (NRP1) receptors was investigated. In vitro results revealed that the tested samples inhibited 50% of virus-receptor binding interactions in doses of 0.18 and 0.22 mg/mL for NRP1 and ACE2, respectively. Molecular docking studies revealed that the compounds from A. viridiflora ellagitannins class had a higher affinity for binding with S-glycoprotein whilst flavonoid compounds more significantly interacted with the NRP1 receptor. Quercetin 3-(6″-ferulylglucoside) and pentagalloylglucose were two compounds with the highest exhibited interfering potential for selected target receptors, with binding energies of −8.035 (S-glycoprotein) and −7.685 kcal/mol (NRP1), respectively. Furthermore, computational studies on other SARS-CoV-2 strains resulting from mutations in the original wild strain (V483A, N501Y-K417N-E484K, N501Y, N439K, L452R-T478K, K417N, G476S, F456L, E484K) revealed that virus internalization activity was maintained, but with different single compound contributions.

For more than two years, coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has represented a threat to global health and lifestyles. Computed tomography (CT) imaging provides useful information in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. However, this diagnostic modality is based on exposure to ionizing radiation, which is associated with an increased risk of radiation-induced cancer. In this study, we evaluated the common dose descriptors, CTDIvol and DLP, for 1180 adult patients. This data was used to estimate the effective dose, and risk of exposure-induced death (REID). Awareness of the extensive use of CT as a diagnostic tool in the management of COVID-19 during the pandemic is vital for the evaluation of radiation exposure parameters, dose reduction methods development and radiation protection.

Slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW) contains a significant volume of highly polluted organic wastes. These include blood, fat, soluble proteins, colloidal particles, suspended materials, meat particles, and intestinal undigested food that consists of higher concentrations of organics such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen and phosphorus hence an efficient treatment is required before discharging into the water bodies. The effluent concentrations and performance of simultaneous sequential batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) with recycled plastic carrier media support are better than the local single-stage sequential batch reactor (SBR), which is lacking in the literature in terms of COD, NH3, NO3, and PO4 treatment efficiency. In the present study, we report a novel strategy to remove the above-mentioned contaminants using an intermittently aerated SBBR with recycled plastic carrier media support along with simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. The central composite design was evaluated to optimize the treatment performance of seven different process variables including; different alternating conditions (Oxic/anoxic) for aeration cycles (3/2 h in a 6 h cycle, 6/5 h in a 12 h cycle, and 9/8 h in an 18 h cycle) and hydraulic retention time (6, 12 and 18 h). The average removal efficiencies are 94.5% for NH3, 93% for NO3 and 90.1% for PO4, and 99% for COD. The study reveals that the denitrification in the post-anoxic phase was more efficient than the pre-anoxic phase for pollutant removal and maintaining higher quality effluent. The effluent concentrations and performance of simultaneous SBBR with recycled polyethylene carrier support media were better than local SBR system in terms of COD, NH3, NO3 and PO4 treatment efficiency. Results stipulated the suitability of SBBR for wastewater treatment and reusability as a sustainable approach for wastewater management under optimum conditions.

Aim To determine a prognostic value of cerebral blood flow parameters for the development of neurological sequelae in term neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods We reviewed medical records of 47 term neonates with HIE who survived until the age of 12 months of life. According to the Sarnat and Sarnat clinical score, neonates were divided into 3 groups: mild HIE, moderate HIE and severe HIE. All included neonates had the colour Doppler brain sonography performed in the first 24 hours of life. The neurological assessment was done at the age of 12 months of life by using the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST). Logic regression analysis was performed using the colour doppler brain sonography parameters with the development of neurological impairment as the primary outcome. Results Out of 47 neonates, 19 (40.4%) were with mild, 17 (36.2%) with moderate and 11 (23.4%) with severe HIE. The values of cerebral blood flow parameters and resistance index (RI) significantly correlated with the neurological impairment at the age of 12 months of life (p<0.001). The limit value of RI indicating the poor neurodevelopmental outcome was 0.81, sensitivity 80%, specificity 85.3%, positive predictive value 52.2% and negative predictive value 95.2%. Conclusion The cerebral blood flow parameters measured with colour doppler brain sonography are good indicators of the severity of HIE and later neurodevelopmetal outcome.

Reaction of diphenylmethanol (4) with n-butyllithium and subsequent treatment with selenium resulted in 12H-dibenzo[d,g][1,2,3]triselenocin-12-ol (5) comprising a novel heterocyclic ring system. The title compound 5 was analyzed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HPLC. Additionally, the structure of 5 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

The expression pattern of the markers p19, Ki-67, MSX1, MSX2, PDL1, pRB, and CYCLINA2 was quantitatively and semiquantitatively analyzed in histologic sections of the developing and postnatal human eye at week 8, in retinoblastoma, and in various uveal melanomas post hoc studies by double immunofluorescence. The p19 immunoreactivity characterized retinal and/or choroidal cells in healthy and tumor tissues: expression was lower in the postnatal retina than in the developing retina and retinoblastoma, whereas it was high in epithelioid melanomas. Ki67 expression was high in the developing eye, retinoblastoma, and choroidal melanomas. MSX1 and MSX2 expression was similar in the developing eye and retinoblastoma, whereas it was absent in the postnatal eye. Their different expression was evident between epithelioid and myxoid melanomas. Similarly, PDL1 was absent in epithelioid melanomas, whereas it was highly expressed in developing and tumor tissues. Expression of pRB and CYCA2 was characteristic of developing and tumorous eye samples but not of the healthy postnatal eye. The observed expression differences of the analyzed markers correlate with the origin and stage of cell differentiation of the tissue samples. The fine balance of expression could play a role in both human eye development and ocular tumorigenesis. Therefore, understanding their relationship and interplay could open new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions and a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the developmental plasticity of the eye and the development of neoplasms.

Nonlinear handheld detection of magnetic nanoparticles is used to assess the lymph node status of cancer patients. Joint sensitivity and resolving power of nonlinear handheld detection can be maximized by optimizing the frequency of the excitation field, which is strongly influenced by Brownian and Néel relaxation. The characteristic frequency of magnetic nanoparticles that defines sensitivity and resolving power is usually assessed by AC susceptometry. In this study, we used SPaQ data to predict handheld detection performance for magnetic nanoparticles with various particle sizes. SPaQ assesses dynamics by measuring the derivative of the magnetization originating from magnetic nanoparticles activated by an alternating excitation field. The ratio between the maximum signal difference and full-width-at-half-maximumis used to estimate the optimal excitation frequency. Thereupon, it was shown that a particle with a combination of Brownian and Néel relaxation is superior in nonlinear handheld detection compared to Brownian or Néel only particles. Moreover, the optimal excitation frequency is generally established at a slightly higher frequency compared to the characteristic frequency assessed by AC susceptometry. Consequently, this insight into the consequences of the dynamic behavior of magnetic nanoparticles under an alternating magnetic field enables the optimization of nonlinear handheld detection for specific clinical applications.

Background

BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated, but it is unclear if this is a causal relationship or confounding. We used genetic analyses and sibling comparisons to clarify the direction of this relationship. METHODS Linkage disequilibrium score regression and 2-sample Mendelian randomization were used to test for genetic correlation (rg) and bidirectional causal effects using European ancestry genome-wide association studies of ADHD (20,183 cases and 35,191 controls) and 6 PTSD definitions (up to 320,369 individuals). Several additional variables were included in the analysis to verify the independence of the ADHD-PTSD relationship. In a population-based sibling comparison (N = 2,082,118 individuals), Cox regression models were fitted to account for time at risk, a range of sociodemographic factors, and unmeasured familial confounders (via sibling comparisons). RESULTS ADHD and PTSD had consistent rg (rg range, 0.43-0.52; p <  .001). ADHD genetic liability was causally linked with increased risk for PTSD (β = 0.367; 95% CI, 0.186-0.552; p = 7.68 × 10-5). This result was not affected by heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy (Mendelian randomization Egger intercept = 4.34 × 10-4, p = .961), or other phenotypes and was consistent across PTSD datasets. However, we found no consistent associations between PTSD genetic liability and ADHD risk. Individuals diagnosed with ADHD were at a higher risk for developing PTSD than their undiagnosed sibling (hazard ratio = 2.37; 95% CI, 1.98-3.53). CONCLUSIONS Our findings add novel evidence supporting the need for early and effective treatment of ADHD, as patients with this diagnosis are at significantly higher risk to develop PTSD later in life.