Why Are Cytomegalovirus-Encoded G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Essential for Infection but Only Variably Conserved?

Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) encode viral G-protein-coupled receptors (vGPCRs) that have diverged from their cellular homologues to perform new functions. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes four vGPCRs: UL33, UL78, US27, and US28, which contribute to viral pathogenesis, cellular signalling, and latency. While the role of US28 in chemokine signalling and viral latency is well characterised, the functions of other vGPCRs remain incompletely understood. Rodent cytomegaloviruses only have homologues to UL33 and UL78, while primates have two to five additional GPCRs which are homologues of US27 and US28. Different CMVs appear to have evolved vGPCRs with functions specific to infection of their respective host. As non-human CMVs are used as model organisms to understand clinical cytomegalovirus disease and develop vaccines and antivirals, understanding the differences between these vGPCRs helps researchers understand critical differences between their models. This review aims to address the differences between CMV vGPCRs, and how these differences may affect models of CMV disease to facilitate future research

An Improved Second-Order Generalized Integrator Phase-Locked Loop with Frequency Error Compensation

In distributed energy grid-connected systems, fast and accurate grid synchronization technology is crucial for system stability. This article proposes an improved phase-locked loop (FECSOGI-PLL) based on frequency error compensation. By introducing an unbiased adaptive frequency compensation mechanism, the SOGI resonant frequency is adjusted in real time to accurately track the input signal. A linear time invariant (LTI) model of the FECSOGI-PLL was established in the article, and its wider stability domain was clarified based on the Routh–Hurwitz criterion. The strong robustness of its fast response under non-ideal conditions, such as frequency jumps and amplitude drops, was verified through simulation and experiments. The core innovation of this study lies in the first implementation of unbiased adaptive regulation of the SOGI resonant frequency through the frequency error compensation mechanism, as well as the system design method based on the extended stability domain, providing theoretical support and engineering practice reference for high robustness power grid synchronization technology

Does Cannabis Use Contribute to Schizophrenia? A Causation Analysis Based on Epidemiological Evidence

Cannabis abuse has been linked to acute psychotic symptoms as well as to the development of schizophrenia. Although the association has been well described, causation has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we investigated whether cannabis or cannabinoid use is causal for the development of schizophrenia, conducting a systematic literature review according to the PRISM guidelines. Epidemiological studies and randomized clinical trials investigating the links between cannabis and psychosis-like events (PLE) and schizophrenia were identified (according to PRISM guidelines), and relevant studies were included in a Forest plot analysis. Confounder analysis was performed using a funnel plot, and the Hill causality criteria were used to estimate causation. A total of 18 studies fulfilled the search criteria; 10 studies were included in a forest plot. All studies reported an increased risk for PLE or schizophrenia, and nine of the ten studies, a significant increase; the overall OR was calculated to be 2.88 (CI 2.24 to 3.70), with a twofold-higher risk calculated for cannabis use during adolescence. Confounder effects were indicated by a funnel plot. The Hill criteria indicated a high likelihood for the contribution of cannabis to schizophrenia development. Cannabinoids likely contribute to chronic psychotic events and schizophrenia, especially if taken during adolescence. This effect likely increases with a high cannabis THC concentration and increased frequency of cannabis use, and is stronger in males than in females. This points to the possibility of a selective cannabis toxicity on synaptic plasticity in adolescence, as compared to adult cannabis use. Cannabis use should be regulated and discouraged, and prevention efforts should be strengthened, especially with reference to adolescence

Prognostic Factors of Postoperative Mortality in Patients with Complicated Right Colon Cancer

The incidence of right colon cancer presenting in a stage with complications is significant. There are major differences in therapeutic approach between elective colon cancer surgery and emergency surgery. Complications such as hemorrhage, obstruction, and perforation require careful evaluation of prognostic factors, with morbidity and mortality rates being much higher compared to elective colon surgery. We retrospectively analyzed a group of 95 patients admitted in an emergency to the County Emergency Hospital St. Apostol Apostol Andrei Galati with complicated tumors of the right colon—occlusive, perforated, or hemorrhagic. A series of clinical and biological parameters were followed in order to identify the prognostic factors in the occurrence of death. We analyzed the specialized literature, comparing our study with other similar research from the most important databases. The postoperative death rate in patients with complicated right colon cancer was high. Most complications were occlusive, followed by hemorrhagic and perforative

Frontal Polymerization of Epoxy Resins: Kinetic Modeling, Rate Regulation and Curing Process Simulation for Space Manufacturing Applications

Frontal polymerization (FP) technology has attracted significant attention as an efficient, low-energy curing method for thermosetting resins. By enabling self-sustaining polymerization reactions, FP significantly reduces curing time and minimizes external energy dependence, making it ideal for in-orbit manufacturing applications. In contrast to traditional curing methods, which are limited by high energy consumption and low efficiency, FP offers a more efficient and flexible alternative. Nonetheless, the FP process is sensitive to material composition, processing and environmental factors, requiring systematic studies to enhance performance. This work focuses on reaction mechanisms, curing kinetics and processing factors of a self-developed FP epoxy resin system. The revealed curing mechanism and kinetics reveals a high initiation energy barrier and rapid curing characteristics, showing appropriate reaction inertness before initiation and stable reaction without continuous external energy input. The influences of initiator concentration and epoxy resin type on polymerization rate and the properties of cured resin were examined. Additionally, a curing simulation method validated by the experiment were employed to analyze the effects of mold material, resin cross-sectional area, initial temperature and environmental conditions on polymerization behavior. The results provide valuable insights for optimizing FP, advancing the understanding of the curing process and improving resin performance in space-based applications

Geospatial Analytics of Urban Bus Network Evolution Based on Multi-Source Spatiotemporal Data Fusion: A Case Study of Beijing, China

Bus networks are a crucial support for urban commuting. By studying the evolutionary characteristics of bus networks, we can uncover their development patterns, coverage efficiency, and changes in regional balance, providing a scientific basis for sustainable urban development and the optimization of transportation resources. This study systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the bus network in Beijing from 2006 to 2024 using specific spatial analysis tools to analyze spatiotemporal evolution characteristics. By analyzing spatial coverage rates of transit stations using road network and administrative division data, the study reveals the convenience of bus networks in different regions. By combining the research methodology of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report, a 500-m service radius for bus stops was assessed. A complex network model was used to extract the nodes and edges of the bus network, and the betweenness centrality (BC) characteristics were analyzed. The findings indicate that Beijing’s bus network has gradually expanded from the central urban areas to peripheral regions, with notable expansion in Tongzhou and Yanqing, resulting in an improved balance in the distribution of stations and routes and the emergence of Tongzhou as a new bus hub. The diffusion characteristics of the bus network are significantly influenced by administrative boundaries and the layout of the ring roads. Bus routes and stops are highly concentrated in the central urban areas and within the Second Ring Road, while as the number of ring roads increases, various network indices gradually decrease. The distribution of bus stops shows notable clustering and an uneven directional development. Beijing’s bus stop distribution exhibits significant clustering characteristics, and the areas with a high Population Conveniently Served by Buses (PCSB) are predominantly concentrated in the central urban areas, with a large gap compared to the outer suburban districts. These conclusions expand on the exploration of isolated and static characteristics of the bus network structure, revealing the dynamic mechanisms and evolution patterns of Beijing’s bus network. They provide guidance and recommendations for improving the bus network and offer more comprehensive support for urban planning and resource allocation

Reactive Balance in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Prospective Motion Analysis Study

Background/Objectives: Traditional fusion leads to a loss of spine mobility across the fused vertebrae. Vertebral body tethering (VBT) was developed with the goal of increasing flexibility and maintaining some spinal mobility. However, it is not known if the additional mobility leads to significant functional improvement. This prospective motion analysis study evaluates functional outcomes, specifically gait stability, in pre-operative, post-fusion, and post-VBT patients by using postural perturbations on a treadmill. Methods: Overall, 79 subjects underwent a computer-controlled treadmill study with postural perturbations, which simulated trips and slips. The subjects were harnessed for safety. Overall, 21 subjects were healthy controls, 18 patients were at least one-year post-VBT, 15 patients were at least one-year post-fusion, and 25 were pre-operative scoliosis patients. Subject weight, height, and treadmill acceleration were recorded and used to determine anteroposterior single (ASSTs, PSSTs) and multiple (AMSTs, PMSTs) stepping thresholds to describe the maximum torque a patient could withstand before failing to recover from the simulated trip. Independent t-tests were run to compare groups under the advice of a master statistician with expertise in orthopedic surgery. Results: Pre-operative scoliosis patients had lower PSSTs than healthy controls (uncorrected p = 0.036). No significant differences were observed between pre-operative and post-operative groups for both fusion and VBT. There was no significant difference in ASST, AMST, or PMST between any of the groups. Conclusions: The lower PSST in pre-operative scoliosis patients compared to healthy controls may reflect impaired reactive balance and potentially increased fall risk. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in reactive balance measures between pre-operative and post-operative scoliosis patients or between post-fusion and post-VBT patients

Assessing and Forecasting Natural Regeneration in Mediterranean Landscapes After Wildfires

Forest ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin are significantly affected by summer wildfires. Drought, extreme temperatures, and strong winds increase the fire risk in Greece. This study explores the potential of NDVI for assessing and forecasting post-fire regeneration in burnt areas of the Peloponnese (2007) and Evros (2011). NDVI data from Landsat 7 and 9 were analyzed to identify the stages of the regeneration process and the dominant vegetation species at each stage. Comparing pre-fire and post-fire values highlighted the recovery rate, while the trendline slope indicated the regeneration rate. This combined analysis forms a methodology that allows drawing conclusions about the vegetation type that prevails after the fire. Validation was conducted using photointerpretation techniques and CORINE land cover data. The findings suggest that sclerophyllous species regenerate faster, while fir forests recover slowly and may be replaced by sclerophylls. To predict vegetation regrowth, two time series models (ARMA, VARIMA) and two machine learning-based ones (random forest, XGBoost) were tested. Their performance was evaluated by comparing the predicted and actual numerical values, calculating error metrics (RMSE, MAPE), and analyzing how the predicted patterns align with the observed ones. The results showed the overperformance of multivariate models and the need to introduce additional variables, such as soil characteristics and the effect of climate change on weather parameters, to improve predictions

Preassembly Cryogenic Drilling in Carbon Fiber Sandwich Sheets with Inner Foam Core

A study of cryogenic drilling in sandwich composites was carried out. The materials used were carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer sandwich sheets with an inner foamed polyvinyl chloride core, composites with applications including protection structures of polar engineering equipment. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of drilling at low temperatures using this composite by analyzing the thrust forces and the inlet and outlet diameters of the hole due to their influence on hole quality and their importance in a preassembly operation. Experimental tests were performed in laminates with thicknesses of 12 mm and 6 mm, drilling with liquid nitrogen (LN2) as a refrigerant to reach temperatures below −120 °C under cutting conditions of 2000–6000 rpm for drill bit rotation speeds and 200–600 mm/min for feed rates. Variables such as thrust forces and circularity error were measured, and a design of experiments, analysis of variance, and regression models allowed us to identify the influence of cutting conditions and foam thickness. Optimal cutting conditions were identified and contrasted: 2100–3100 rpm for drill bit rotation speeds and 200–320 mm/min for feed rates. The diameters achieved low deviations, H7 and H8 tolerances for inlet and outlet diameters, respectively, which allows for avoiding additional preassembly operations, which can be important during plate assembly using LN2 and in maintenance operations. Although good results have been obtained with other materials such as glass-fiber- and carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers, this sandwich material is lighter

Species Diversity of Benthic Marine Diatoms from a Natural Protected Area in Cuba

For the Cuban littorals in the Caribbean Sea, information on benthic diatoms is scarce, and hitherto non-existent for natural protected areas. Thus, to describe the structure of benthic diatom associations (BDAs) from a marine protected area in Cuba, sediment samples were collected in Playa Las Gaviotas (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cayo Santa María) during dry (November) and rainy (July) seasons. Diatoms were separated, mounted in synthetic resin and identified under light microscopy. Species diversity of the BDA was estimated using Shannon (H′), Simpson (1 − λ) and Pielou evenness (J′) indices. We identified 354 taxa including 200 new records for Cuba; the nomenclature of 45 previously recorded taxa was updated. The currently recorded species richness of marine benthic diatoms for Cuba is 595. The most abundant taxa were Amphora cf. copulata, A. proteus, Diploneis smith var. pumila, Halamphora turgida, H. coffeiformis, Navicula zostereti, Nitzschia marginulata var. didyma and Psammodictyon panduriforme. The best-represented genus was Mastogloia with 70 taxa. Similarity values indicated homogeneous distribution of epipelic diatom taxa along the sandy bottom, suggesting a single diatom association. Mean values of H′ ranged from 4.91 bit/taxon in November to 4.95 bit/taxon in July. Structure analysis suggests a stable BDA with high species diversity characteristic of productive, pristine environments