PurposeThis study aims to compare the dosimetric characteristics of 3D-printed bolus materials acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA) with recently introduced natural rubber (NR) bolus.Materials and MethodsWe employed Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate ABS, PLA, and NR boluses of thicknesses 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm under 6, 9, and 16 MeV electron beam irradiation. Percentage depth dose (PDD) data was analyzed to evaluate dosimetry parameters. Dosimetric stability under varying air-gap conditions was assessed by analyzing PDD curves under air-gap sizes of (0, 1, 3, 5 mm).ResultsNR and ABS showed similar dosimetric profiles, whereas PLA showed enhanced deeper-tissue protection and provided 0.7–10.2% higher surface dose (SD). PLA also exhibited the highest stability, with SD and R90 deviations limited to 1% and 1.2%, respectively, under varying air-gap sizes. At 6 and 9 MeV, a 0.5 cm bolus failed to provide a single dose of 90% of maximum dose for nearly all tested materials.ConclusionNR demonstrated comparable dosimetric performance to ABS, serving as a viable substitute. PLA was optimal for maximizing SD and distal tissue sparing while exhibiting the lowest air-gap sensitivity. For tumors located several centimeters deep from the surface, 16 MeV electron beams were suitable. Furthermore, Dual hotspots were identified a substantial risk of localized normal tissue toxicity.

Efficient sampling of low-energy conformational states remains a central challenge in protein folding simulations. In this study, we investigated the performance and limitations of standard Monte Carlo (MC) and parallel tempering Monte Carlo (PTMC) methods in exploring protein energy landscapes using two representative systems: the small peptide Met-enkephalin and the FBP28 WW-Domain protein. For Met-enkephalin, standard MC simulations achieved equilibrium at higher temperatures but showed insufficient sampling in low-energy regions. In contrast, PTMC significantly improved sampling efficiency across a wide temperature range, particularly in the low-energy regime, enabling robust exploration of the energy landscape. PTMC successfully identified the global minimum structure of Met-enkephalin with an energy of -11.23 kcal/mol and a root-mean-square deviation of 1.18 Å from the reference structure. The applicability of PTMC to larger proteins was further examined through extensive simulations of the WW-Domain, revealing pronounced energy fluctuations and folding–unfolding transitions at higher temperatures, while sampling at lower temperatures remained limited. The number of visits per unit energy range for two consecutive temperatures have also monitored to check the exchange rate and conformational sampling of the entire landscape. The average energy and specific heat with respect to temperature have also calculated to check the folding unfolding transition of WW-Domain. These results demonstrated the superiority of PTMC over standard MC for protein folding studies; however, they also highlighted challenges associated with larger protein systems.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypical autoimmune disease characterized by immune dysregulation and multi-organ damage. Recent advances have underscored the critical involvement of extracellular matrix (ECM) biophysical properties in shaping immune cell behavior and metabolic states that contribute to disease progression. This review systematically delineates the pathological remodeling of ECM biophysics in SLE, with a focus on their roles in mechanotransduction, immune-metabolic interplay, and organ-specific tissue injury. By integrating current evidence, we highlight how ECM-derived mechanical cues orchestrate aberrant immune responses and propose new perspectives for targeting ECM-immune crosstalk in the development of organ-specific, mechanism-based therapies for SLE.

<p>Range of motion in exercises is one of the foundations for greater activation of a muscle group. The objective of this investigation was to compare the structural and functional capacity of the triceps brachii between three groups with different angles (90°, 110°, and 130°) in a unilateral elbow extension exercise. The sample consisted of 25 subjects with a mean age of 24.12 ± 3.83 years, mean height of 1.78 ± 0.10 m and mean body weight of 78.01 ± 15.70 kg. The following variables were collected pre- and post-intervention: triceps brachii circumference, one repetition maximum, and electromyography during dynamic exercise. Over eight weeks, subjects performed this exercise, performing 3 sets of 12 repetitions for each arm, with days of rest in between. The results showed that the 110° angle provided greater muscle activation compared to the other angles. There was no difference between the triceps brachii circumference and the root mean square (RMS) between the groups. It was concluded that, although the 110° angle showed a tendency for greater muscle activation, the RMS and arm perimeter data did not show significant differences between all the angles evaluated (90°, 110°, 130°).</p>

<p>Historically, essential oils (Eos) have been applied in diverse ways, with modern science confirming their antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. <italic>Origanum vulgare</italic> (oregano) is a notable source of EOs, being particularly rich in compounds like thymol, carvacrol, and β-caryophyllene, which contribute to its potent antibacterial effects. These include disruption of bacterial cell membranes, interference with quorum sensing, and inhibition of biofilm formation. Oregano EO has shown effectiveness against both antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant bacterial strains, such as <italic>Escherichia coli</italic>, <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic>, and <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</italic>. The components of this EO disrupt membrane integrity, ion transport, membrane surface charge, biofilm formation, and other biophysical parameters, eventually leading to cell death. Research highlights its potential in combatting antibiotic resistance, either alone or in synergy with traditional antibiotics. Additionally, oregano EO holds promise as a natural therapeutic agent. Continued study of its complex chemical interactions will further elucidate its full potential in antimicrobial therapy. This review article presents the possible mechanisms of the antimicrobial action of oregano essential oil and its application prospects.</p>

<p>Throughout history, medicinal plants have been the primary source for preventing and treating infectious diseases and other health issues. The flowering plant <italic>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</italic>, also called river red gum, is a member of the Myrtaceae family and has numerous traditional uses. The objectives of the present study were to identify the essential oil components of <italic>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</italic> using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), and to determine the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial activities of ethanol, aqueous, and essential oil extracts from <italic>E. camaldulensis</italic> leaves. Addtionally, the essential oil constituents that were identified underwent an <italic>in silico</italic> analysis. The efficacy of various extracts in combat pathogens and free radicals was assessed through the utilization of the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picryl Hydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), α-glucosidase inhibition, and disk diffusion methods. In terms of radical scavenging, reducing power, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, the essential oil showed strong antioxidant activity at 84.01 %, 20.1 mmol/g, and 78.2 %, respectively. The essential oil showed a potent antimicrobial action against <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> and <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</italic>, with 12 and 14 mm inhibitions, respectively, which were higher than ampicillin's 9 and 6 mm inhibitions, respectively. The GCMS analysis showed that the following chemicals were the most common: cis-11-hexadecenal (10.2%), trans-13-octadecenoic acid (9.5%), and 6-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (Z)-(8.8%). The α-glucosidase enzyme was targeted in a docking study to investigate the antidiabetic properties of the 42 phytochemicals found in the essential oil extract. The compound, namely 5.alpha.-Androstan-16-one, showed the highest binding affinities of −8.6 Kcal/mol during the docking screening of the 42 identified phytochemicals against α-glucosidase. These two compounds show potential as competitive α-glucosidase inhibitors. <italic>E. camaldulensis</italic> will be a particularly useful source to improve health and fight communicable and non-communicable diseases. Nonetheless, human evaluations of <italic>E. camaldulensis</italic> safety and effectiveness are necessary, and more well-planned clinical trials are needed to confirm our <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in silico</italic> findings.</p>

<abstract> <p>Monobulb garlic, distinguished by its elevated allic.in content, has garnered heightened consumer interest due to its perceived health benefits. However, the challenge lies in scaling up production to meet this demand. This study investigates the potential enhancement of monobulb garlic growth by employing a novel approach that combines corona glow discharge plasma radiation technology and organic fertilizers. By employing a factorial complete randomized design with nine treatments and three repetitions, the research evaluates the impact of varying durations of plasma radiation (0, 15, and 30 minutes) and levels of organic fertilizers (0, 31.25, and 62.5 grams). Key growth parameters, including plant height, leaf count, root length, and root quantity, were measured. Results indicate that the optimal combination for growth enhancement involves 30 minutes of radiation coupled with 31.25 grams of organic fertilization. In conclusion, the integration of corona glow discharge plasma radiation technology and organic fertilization proves effective in promoting the growth of monobulb garlic plants.</p> </abstract>

<abstract> <p>In this study, we discuss the passivity analysis for Markovian jumping Neural Networks of neural-type. The results are demonstrated using phases of linear matrix inequalities as well as an improved Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) of the triple integral terms and quadruple integrals. The information of the mode-dependent of all delays have been taken into account in the constructed Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional and novel stability criterion is derived. The value of selecting as many Lyapunov matrices that are mode-dependent as possible is demonstrated. The effectiveness and decreased conservatism of the aforementioned theoretical results are eventually demonstrated by a numerical example.</p> </abstract>

<abstract> <p>The metal ion is ubiquitous in the human body and is essential to biochemical reactions. The study of the metal ion complexes and their charge transfer nature will be fruitful for drug design and may be beneficial for the extension of the field. In this regard, investigations into charge transport properties from ligands to metal ion complexes and their stability are crucial in the medical field. In this work, the DFT technique has been applied to analyze the delocalization of electrons from the water ligands to a core metal ion. At the B3LYP level of approximation, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was performed for the first five distinct complexes [Mg(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>6</sub>]<sup>2+</sup> and [[Mg(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>6</sub>](H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>n</sub>]<sup>2+</sup>; n = 1-4. All these complexes were optimized and examined with the higher basis set 6-311++G(d, p). In the complex [Mg(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>6</sub>]<sup>2+</sup>, the amount of natural charge transport from ligands towards the metal ion was 0.179e, and the greatest stabilization energy was observed to be 22.67 kcal/mol. The donation of the p orbitals in the hybrid orbitals was increased while approaching the oxygen atoms of H<sub>2</sub>O ligands in the 1<sup>st</sup> coordination sphere with the magnesium ions. The presence of water ligands within the 2<sup>nd</sup> coordination sphere increased natural charge transfer and decreased the stabilizing energy of the complexes. This may be due to the ligand-metal interactions.</p> </abstract>