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Background: The scientific interest in dominant Candida species colonizing the surface of conventional and double-layer dentures (D-LCDs) is still topical. Numerous studies are comparing fungal colonization in both types of removable dentures. Aim: Performing a comparative analysis of the colonization of Candida spp. on the dentures surfaces of the conventional (CCDs) and the double-layer dentures (soft-lined) complete dentures (D-LCDs) over six months, placing them under the same intraoral in vivo conditions. Methods: For isolating Candida spp., specimens were obtained from inner denture surfaces using two sterile swabs, one for the upper complete denture (n=28) and one for the lower complete denture (n=28). The culture-based Candida detection method with CHROM agar was used to identify Candida species. Results: In the third month after dentures delivery C. Albicans is the predominant Candida spp. found on both types of complete dentures surface and isolated in 46 % of the patients with conventional complete dentures and 43 % with double-layer dentures (p>0.05). In the sixth month of the finished prosthetic treatment, combinations of C. Albicans and non-albicans Candida, predominantly C. Tropicalis, C. Glabrata and C. Parapsilosis, were found in 43 % of D-LCDs and 45 % of CCDs (p>0.05). Conclusion: There was no difference in colonization based on the different materials used for denture fabrication. However, there is a significant proportional change for all studied Candida spp. over the period (3-6 months after delivery), irrespective of the denture material used.

Chemical modifications are necessary to ensure the metabolic stability and efficacy of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Here, we describe analyses of the α-(l)-threofuranosyl nucleic acid (TNA) modification, which has a shorter 3'-2' internucleotide linkage than the natural DNA and RNA, in the context of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The TNA modification enhanced nuclease resistance more than 2'-O-methyl or 2'-fluoro ribose modifications. TNA-containing siRNAs were prepared as triantennary N-acetylgalactosamine conjugates and were tested in cultured cells and mice. With the exceptions of position 2 of the antisense strand and position 11 of the sense strand, the TNA modification did not inhibit the activity of the RNA interference machinery. In a rat toxicology study, TNA placed at position 7 of the antisense strand of the siRNA mitigated off-target effects, likely due to the decrease in the thermodynamic binding affinity relative to the 2'-O-methyl residue. Analysis of the crystal structure of an RNA octamer with a single TNA on each strand showed that the tetrose sugar adopts a C4'-exo pucker. Computational models of siRNA antisense strands containing TNA bound to Argonaute 2 suggest that TNA is well accommodated in the region kinked by the enzyme. The combined data indicate that the TNA nucleotides are promising modifications expected to increase the potency, duration of action, and safety of siRNAs.

Objectives Through the Multidisciplinary Ecosystem to study Lifecourse Determinants and Prevention of Early-onset Burdensome Multimorbidity (MELD-B) project, we established the SAIL MELD-B e-cohort (SMC) and the SAIL MELD-B Young adults e-cohort (SMYC), with the aim to enhance the understanding of ‘burdensomeness’ in individuals living with multimorbidity, including identifying new clusters of burdensome indicators, exploring early life risk factors and modelling potential preventative scenarios. Approach We use routinely-collected anonymised linked demographic, health and administrative data sources available within the SAIL Databank to define SMC and SMYC. These cohorts were developed using a reproducible, maintainable, methodological pipeline that allows for dynamic updates as data coverage expands. The pipeline efficiently processes new burdensomeness concepts, facilitating the extraction of relevant records associated with the concepts identified for use in the SMC and SMYC. Results SMC and SMYC comprises of 5,180,602 and 896,155 individuals registered with a Welsh General Practice at any time between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2022 respectively. Analysis of primary and secondary care health data reveals that the most common conditions in SMC were depression (21.6%), anxiety (21.1%), asthma (17.5%), hypertension (16.2%), and atopic eczema (14.1%). In SMYC, the most common conditions were atopic eczema (21.2%), asthma (11.6%), anxiety (6.0%), deafness (4.6%), and depression (4.3%). Conclusions and Implications SMC and SMYC provide two generalisable population samples, which can be used to address various research questions across MELD-B. The adaptability of the methodological pipeline allows cohort curation to be repurposed for other projects accessing population-scale data sources and trusted research environments.

The article examines the main characteristics of white brine cheeses from different manufacturers and changes in their quality indicators. These characteristics include the active acidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, oxidation–reduction potential, and organoleptic assessment. In this context, the connection to biomimetics lies in the approach of integrating multiple sensory modalities, similar to how biological systems often use multiple senses to perceive and understand their environment. For this purpose, spectral, ultrasonic, and gas characteristics were used, from which informative indices were extracted, united at a later stage in a vector of features. Based on the classification, it was found that the optical characteristics of cheeses from different manufacturers overlap, thus making it possible to predict the main indicators for each type of cheese. The results show that the use of a multimodal approach combining features from different sensors contributes to a better understanding of the variations in cheese properties, while improving the predictive abilities of the created models. The obtained results give a clear idea of the quality of the cheese, thus enabling adequate decisions to be made during the production process.

Abstract Background Kidney transplantation suffers from a shortage of donor organs. Despite this, a lot of grafts are discarded due to inadequate quality. As many kidneys are afflicted by transient filtration failure early after preservation, classical renal function tests are not applicable to differentiate between prospective recovery or continuing deficit of renal function. Methods Using normothermic machine perfusion as a platform for pre-implantation evaluation of the graft, we present a novel evaluative approach based on the metabolic turnover of 13C-acetate during isolated perfusion. After injection of the tracer, 13CO2 as a metabolic end-product can be quantified by high-precision laser-based spectroscopy in the gas outflow of the oxygenator. Three groups of porcine kidneys with graduated ischemic injury were investigated. Results This quantitative approach is able to discriminate acceptable quality kidneys, most likely to recover within days from poor kidney grafts that are unlikely to regain notable glomerular function with high discriminatory power (area under the ROC curve 0.91; P

The neglect of physical activity in the education of high-school students (14 – 19 years old) during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to serious consequences for their physical development and put their health at risk. In order to mitigate the problem with inactivity many countries all over the world use different approaches to sports classes. In cases where attendance is not possible, it is necessary to provide distance learning with maximum efficiency. The aim of the study was to examine the opinion of high-school students on the influence of COVID-19 on their physical activity and to optimize the learning process in physical education and sports under the conditions of distance learning in an electronic environment (DLEE). The study was carried out with 43 respondents who met the criteria of the target group. The survey was administered in two phases. Two questionnaires were completed by the participating students. The analysis of the results shows that in Bulgaria the pandemic does not have a negative influence on the physical activity of high-school students. We assume that the main reasons for this observation are the more liberal measures and the availability of options to use different sports facilities. In perspective, it would be useful to identify contemporary and innovative methods for improvement and monitoring of the activity of high-school students under the conditions of DLEE.

In this research, the attractiveness of combinations of natural colors and contemporary shapes in fashion design is explored. This was done by means of a questionnaire survey. Four shapes of clothing and ten colors obtained from plant and insect pigments are proposed. The research was conducted in two phases – qualitative and quantitative analysis. The quantitative study confirmed the results of the qualitative study and using an appropriate data reduction method, the study results were analyzed graphically. The results showed that users rated designs with high-contrast color and shape combinations as more attractive than those with low-contrast combinations. The study also showed that in addition to the shape of the garment, the choice of natural color sources can also influence consumer preferences. This study aims to overcome the shortcomings of previous studies that only examined color without investigating its relationship to garment shape. The knowledge gained from this study can help fashion designers create garments that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly. However, further research is needed to determine the relationship between natural colors, contemporary shapes and consumer behavior in selecting them.

This study conducted a systematic analysis and investigation of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for assessing tomato fruits’ quality. This was combined with the integration of multivariate techniques for analysis to improve existing methods for nondestructive quality assessment of tomato fruits. Variations in tomato characteristics were revealed by selecting spectral indices, leading to changes in reflection spectra at different wavelengths. To achieve more accurate predictions, the use of vectors containing various spectral indices became necessary. This study found that predicting key tomato characteristics relies more on the informativeness and predictive ability of vectors derived from spectral indices than on the method used to reduce data volume. Regression models were developed to automate the prediction of six tomato characteristics based on the spectral data. The developed models for vitamin C content, titratable organic acids, and lycopene showed the highest predictive efficiency (over 90%) among the investigated features. These results highlight the potential of regression models to be integrated into automated systems for assessing the quality of tomato fruits, providing sufficiently accurate information to enhance quality control processes.

In this paper, analyses of Francis turbine failures for powerful Pumped Hydraulic Energy Storage (PHES) are conducted. The structure is part of PHES Chaira, Bulgaria (HA4—Hydro-Aggregate 4). The aim of the study is to assess the structure-to-concrete embedding to determine the possible causes of damage and destruction of the HA4 Francis spiral casing units. The embedding methods that have been applied in practice for decades are discussed and compared to those used for HA4. A virtual prototype is built based on the finite-element method to clarify the influence of workloads under the generator mode. The stages of the simulation include structural analysis of the spiral casing and concrete under load in generator mode, as well as structural analysis of the spiral casing under loads in generator mode without concrete. Both simulations are of major importance. Since the failure of the surface between the turbine, the spiral casing, and the concrete is observed, the effect of the growing contact gap (no contact) is analyzed. The stresses, strains, and displacements of the turbine units are simulated, followed by an analysis for reliability. The conclusions reveal the possible reasons for cracks and destruction in the main elements of the structure.

The aim of the research is to improve the public’s assessment and understanding of the cultural values and history of Bulgaria. The main issues related to the sustainable use of elements of the cultural heritage are defined, and the accessible literary sources related to the digitization of the folklore heritage are reviewed. Shape indices, color, and textural characteristics were obtained from digital color images of the elements of Bulgarian folk costumes. The most informative indices of these features were selected. A kernel variant of the principal component analysis (kPCA) method was used to reduce the data volume of the feature vector. A Naïve Bayes classifier, discriminant analysis, and the support vector method (SVM) were used for classification. The classification accuracy was assessed. In the analysis of the decorative elements of Bulgarian costumes, it was found that the accuracy of classification depended both on the method for reducing the volume of data and on the separability of the classes of data, depending on the classifier used. In the analysis of microscopic images of textile fabrics from Bulgarian costumes, it was found that the accuracy of classification for the studied objects depended both on the method for reducing the volume of data and on the used classifier. In the considered cases, a classification error below 10% was obtained using a non-linear kPCA kernel and SVM with a non-linear partition function. It was proven that the results of this development can be used in the creation of modern cross-stitch patterns, textile patterns, and clothing. The practical application of these research findings has the potential to benefit various stakeholders, including cultural heritage institutions, researchers, artisans, designers, and the general public, promoting a deeper appreciation and sustainable use of costume embroidery elements. Research can continue in the direction of the sustainable use and preservation of embroidery elements of Bulgarian costumes, enriching the understanding of cultural heritage and promoting appreciation for it in future generations.

I argue that the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty can help resolve a long-lasting problem, with continued relevance for philosophy, semiotics and linguistics: the dialectical relationship between pre-verbal consciousness and language. I proceed by reconstructing the development of his thought on the topic from the Phenomenology of Perception to his final writings. From an initial standpoint where language was not differentiated from gesture, Merleau-Ponty moved under the influence of Saussure’s structuralism to distinguish the “diacritical”, opposition-based, structure of the language system from the Gestalt-based nature of perception and bodily expression. At the same time, this system needs to be conceived as already “spoken language” (langage parlé), sedimented from living and expressive “speaking language” (langage parlant), the latter resembling modern conceptions of “languaging”. The dialectical relationship between the two, as well as the ultimately motivating role of non-verbal experience is then analysed by means of the three levels of the Motivation & Sedimentation Model, leading to a clarification of the key notions of expression and sublimation. I propose that by understanding the two as “intertwined” the paradox of their respective primacy can be resolved, alongside with conceiving of language as fundamentally motivated rather than arbitrary, and thus with no fundamental rupture from bodily experience.

AbstractThe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak increased the usage of hand rub disinfectants, resulting in skin damage. The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed hand rubs formulations incorporating glycerine due to its moisturizing effect; nonetheless, glycerine can reduce the antimicrobial activity of alcohol-based hand rubs. Here we demonstrated that incorporating hydroglycolic extract as a substitute for glycerol in hand rub formulations reduces epidermis damage while improving antimicrobial effectiveness. We applied the hydroglycolic extracts from Cucumis sativus L., Fragaria sp. and Calendula officinalis instead of glycerol to modify the formula proposed by the WHO. The antimicrobial activity and the healing skin action were evaluated using the agar diffusion test and a human skin tolerability trial. Furthermore, we assessed the cytotoxicity and wound repair capability of the formulated hydroglycolic extracts against human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and the phenotype of murine macrophages. The hand rubs containing Fragaria sp. and C. officinalis hydroglycolic extracts showed improved antimicrobial activity even after six months of fabrication. Moreover, the formulated hand rubs had similar cellular viability behaviour to glycerol. Interestingly, the tolerability and acceptability response were promoted by the C. sativus extract, showing skin protection and increased integrity by up to 14.12%. Our results represent an alternative, ecofriendly and cost-effective option for formulating new potential hand rubs that improve skin protection without compromising the disinfection functionality.

Three-dimensional (3D) spirals are fascinating geometric shapes that are used in a variety of applications, such as textile fabric pattern and texture design, architecture, art, and engineering. In this paper, design of patterns using three-dimensional spirals are explored. The work began by discussing the mathematical properties of spirals and their applications. Then, several techniques for designing textile patterns are presented, including the use computer algorithms. Finally, examples of patterns that have been designed using spirals are presented. A comparative analysis was made with available literary sources. Guidelines for applying the obtained results in practice and guidelines for continuing this development are proposed.

Introduction: Masticatory pressure increases in the distal areas of the dentition. This should be considered when restoring partially edentulous patients with a metal-free fixed partial denture (FPD). An alternative abutment preparation design can be used in order to increase the materials’ volume in the most fracture-prone “connector area” of an FPD. The increased size of the connection might positively influence the constructions’ mechanical durability, thereby increasing its success and survivability.Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of two preparation designs of the distal abutment on the fracture resistance of three-unit, monolithic, ZrO2 FPDs.Materials and methods: 3D printed replicas of a partially edentulous mandibular segment and a ZrO2, milled in full-contour, three-unit FPDs were used for this investigation. Two experimental groups (n=10 ) were defined based on the preparation design of the distal abutment tooth – classical shoulder preparation 0.8 mm deep, and endocrown preparation with a 2-mm retention cavity. The bridge – mandibular segment replica assembly was done with relyXU200(3M ESPE, USA), light-cured for 10 seconds per side with D-light Duo (GC, Europe). After cementation the test specimens were subjected to loading in a universal testing machine Zwick (Zwick-Roell Group, Germany). Statistical analysis was performed using R and includes descriptive statistics, t-test for quantitative and chi-squared test for qualitative variables.Results: The results showed no difference between the two studied groups in the maximum force required to fracture the test specimens [t=−1.8088 (17.39), p-value=0.087; P>0.05]. 95% of the fracture lines were located in the distal connector.Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that both tested preparation designs show similar results in terms of the load required to fracture the test specimens. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the distal connector is the weakest area of an all-ceramic 3-unit FPD in the posterior area.

Here the authors propose an RNA interference-based switch for dynamic control of AAV transgene expression. In this approach, transgene expression may be silenced by RNAi and subsequently recovered using REVERSIR oligonucleotides.

The immune suppressive tumour microenvironment drives recurrence and metastatic disease in prostate cancer. Here authors provide a detailed analysis of the microenvironment via single cell RNA sequencing and high-resolution spatial transcriptomics to identify tumour-dependent changes compared to healthy tissue.

Abstract The influence of erythrocytes and oxygen concentration on kidneys during long-term normothermic kidney perfusion is under debate. This study compares acellular and erythrocyte-based NMP with focus on oxygen delivery to the tissue as well as the effects of high oxygenation on tissue integrity. Pig kidneys were connected to NMP for six hours. The first group (n = 6; AC500) was perfused without addition of oxygen carriers, arterial perfusate pO2 was maintained at 500 mmHg. In the second group (n = 6; RBC500) washed erythrocytes were added to the perfusate at pO2 of 500 mmHg. Third group (n = 6; RBC200) was perfused with erythrocyte containing perfusate at more physiological pO2 of 200 mmHg. Addition of RBC did not relevantly increase oxygen consumption of the kidneys during perfusion. Likewise, there were no differences in kidney functional and injury parameters between AC500 and RBC500 group. Expression of erythropoietin as indicator of tissue hypoxia was comparable in all three groups. Cell free NMP at supraphysiological oxygen partial pressure seems to be a safe alternative to erythrocyte based perfusion without adverse effect on kidney integrity and provides a less cumbersome application of NMP in clinical practice.

The purpose of this article is to present possibilities for obtaining a new type of probiotic yoghurt enriched by adding hemp press cake flour (HPCF) in different amounts (2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%). Hemp press cake is a by-product that remains after the cold pressing of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). The Principal component analysis showed that the amounts of 4 to 10% had a significant effect, and the amount of 2% HPCF had no effect on the physicochemical characteristics of probiotic yoghurt. By the resulting regression model and linear programming algorithm was determined the amount of 4.04% HPCF as the most appropriate in probiotic yoghurt, which was also confirmed in the sensory analysis. The amount of total polyphenols and antioxidant activity significantly increased with the addition of hemp press cake flour from 41.46 mg GAE/mL and 32.2% DPPH inhibition to 111.16 mg GAE/mL to and 55.6% DPPH inhibition in probiotic yoghurt with 10% HPCF.

The analysis of available literature sources shows that, in most cases, when obtaining enriched lactic acid products, a fixed amount of rose hip supplement was used, and this amount was not specified. Organoleptic analysis is also missing in many of the publications. Further research is needed to establish the optimal amount of ground rosehip (Rosa canina L.) fruit in the production of lactic acid products using statistical data analysis methods. As a result of the analyzes carried out in the development, the physico-chemical, organoleptic and color characteristics of a lactic acid drink enriched with coarsely ground rose hips and rose hip flour were determined. The informativeness of these characteristics was established, using appropriate statistical methods for the type of data processed. The appropriate amounts of both additives are defined. For the lactic acid drink obtained with coarsely ground rosehip berries, the optimal amount is 2.76 %, and with the addition of rosehip flour it is 0.53 %. The proposed tools can be used in the development of methods for the valorization of waste products from food production and their addition to dairy products.

Butter biscuits contain a large amount of fat to be oxidized during storage. The addition of biologically active substances from various natural sources to butter biscuits improves not only the physico-chemical but also their organoleptic properties. In this study, amaranth flour was used to obtain butter biscuits, in various quantities (5, 10, 15 and 20 %), in order to improve their physicochemical and sensory characteristics. An analysis of a total of 32 features describing changes in the physicochemical, geometric, organoleptic and optical properties of butter biscuits with the addition of amaranth was made. It has been determined that 12.87 % of amaranth flour improves the physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics of butter biscuits. It has been proven that the geometric characteristics, moisture content, active acidity, electrical conductivity, consistency, taste, two-color and one spectral index are sufficiently taken into account in the change in butter biscuits depending on the amount of amaranth flour added. The obtained results can be used to improve suitable and appropriate methods for the analysis of butter biscuits with vegetable additives. Also, the results can be used as preliminary basic data for future evaluations and studies related to the express automated analysis of biscuits. Amaranth flour, due to its special chemical composition and the main content of dietary fiber, can be used to obtain butter biscuits with functional properties.

Abstract Abrupt return to normothermia has been shown a genuine factor contributing to graft dysfunction after transplantation. This study tested the concept to mitigate reperfusion injury of liver grafts by gentle warming‐up using ex vivo machine perfusion prior to reperfusion. In a single center randomized controlled study, livers were assigned to conventional static cold storage (SCS) alone or to SCS followed by 90 min of ex vivo machine perfusion including controlled oxygenated rewarming (COR) by gentle and protracted elevation of the perfusate temperature from 10°C to 20°C. Primary outcome mean peak aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was 1371 U/L (SD 2871) after SCS versus 767 U/L (SD 1157) after COR (p = 0.273). Liver function test (LiMAx) on postoperative day 1 yielded 187 μg/kg/h (SD 121) after SCS, but rose to 294 μg/kg/h (SD 106) after COR (p = 0.006). Likewise, hepatic synthesis of coagulation factor V was significantly accelerated in the COR group immediately after transplantation (103% [SD 34] vs. 66% [SD 26]; p = 0.001). Fewer severe complications (Clavien‐Dindo grade ≥3b) were reported in the COR group (8) than in the SCS group (15). Rewarming/reperfusion injury of liver grafts can be safely and effectively mitigated by controlling of the rewarming kinetics prior to blood reperfusion using end‐ischemic ex vivo machine perfusion after cold storage.