A human brain can communicate with another one’s brain using quantum entanglement. Similar particles can entangle without interaction. Sensory communication between two individuals from far distances is still not known. Former studies primarily have been performed regarding brain neurons' quantum behavior. The test was performed on two individuals far from each other. These individuals were put under the same music on the basis of brain neuroplasticity property. By activating the brain reward system, aligned thinking was time scheduled in these individuals’ brains. On the basis of entanglement, compressed information was sent and received between these two individuals.

The prevailing interpretations of physics are based on deeply entrenched assumptions, rooted in classical mechanics. Logical implications include: the denial of entropy as a fundamental physical property, and the inability to explain irreversible change, random quantum measurements, or nonlocality without untestable and implausible metaphysical implications. We propose a conceptual model that is based on empirically justifiable assumptions and consistent with observations. The WYSIWYG Conceptual Model (WCM) assumes no hidden properties: “What You can See Is What You Get.” The WCM contextually defines a system’s state with respect to its actual ambient background, and it extends existing models of physical reality by defining entropy and exergy as objective contextual properties of state. The WCM establishes the irreversible dissipation of exergy and the Second law of thermodynamics as a fundamental law of physics, it recognizes physical randomness, and it provides a physical explanation for nonlocality, consistent with Special Relativity, without hidden variables, superdeterminism, or “spooky action.”

Particles in classical physics are distinguishable objects, which can be picked out individually on the basis of their unique physical properties. By contrast, in quantum mechanics the standard view is that particles of the same kind (``identical particles'') are completely indistinguishable from each other. This standard view is problematic: Particle indistinguishability is irreconcilable not only with the very meaning of ``particle'' in ordinary language and in classical physical theory, but also with how this term is used in the practice of present-day physics. Moreover, the indistinguishability doctrine prevents a smooth transition from quantum particles to what we normally understand by ``particles'' in the classical limit of quantum mechanics. Elaborating on earlier work, we here discuss an alternative to the standard view that avoids these and similar problems. As it turns out, this alternative approach connects to recent discussions in quantum information theory concerning the question of when identical particles can be considered to be entangled.

Quantum information theory and quantum computing are theoritical basis of quantum computers. Thanks to entanglement, quantum mechanical systems are provisioned to realize many information processing problems faster than classical counterparts. For example, Shor’s factorization algorithm, Grover’s search algorithm, quantum Fourrier transformation, etc. Entanglement, is the theoretical basis providing the expected speedups. It can be view in bipartite or multipartite forms. In order to quantify entanglement, some measures are defined. On the other hand, a general and accepted criterion, which can measure the amount of entanglement of multilateral systems, has not yet been found. In this work, we make a short review of recent research on the topic entanglement monotones and measures with an analitical approach.

Many real complex systems present multilayer structure where high-order metadata on one layer refers to dyadic data on a lower layer. Significant progresses to analyse high-order metadata under the assumption of community organization have been done. However, there are no planted communities in real-world networks, and the necessity of new frameworks to analyze high-order metadata regardless of community organization has been raised.Here, we propose to adopt hyperedge organization. Predicting ‘entanglements’ between a hyperedge and nodes scattered in the rest of the network might suggest structural or functional liaisons, without assumption of any community organization. We introduce a novel concept: hyperedge entanglement (HE), which associates to each hyperedge an entangled hyperedge, by means of a network operator that predicts significant ‘interactions at distance’ between network nodes and existing hyperedges. We also introduce a new challenge termed hyperedge entanglement prediction (HEP), and an algorithm to perform this task. We evaluated HEP performance on social, biological and synthetic data where, given only topology and hyperedges (such as communities or functional modules), the goal is to predict whether nodes not connected to a certain hyperedge might be candidates for a significant entanglement. Finally, as real application in diseasome systems biomedicine, we perform HEP on the human protein interactome to predict unknown gene entanglements with the COPD disease gene hyperedge. HEP predictions are validated by biological experiments, enlarging our understanding of molecular mechanisms behind COPD/aneurysm comorbidity.

In 1935 Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) studied general entangled states in the two photon experiment and pointed out the contradiction between local realism and the completeness of quantum mechanism. Most of the EPR experiments in recent years are based on the detection of polarization correlations of optical photons between spatially separated photon channels, some of which are split and directed to two spatially separated Michelson interferometers. Later, the two arms of Michelson interferometers are replaced by dual-channel Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometry enabling precise analysis of the energy-time entanglement between a pair of photons. On the other hand, F-P type detectors on gravitational radiation have caught dozens of gravitational wave (GW) events successfully. This paper proposes a combined experiment of EPR and GW, exhibiting whether the coincident rate of EPR is modulated by GW induced change of cavity length or not. Such an experiment could test the coupling of quantum mechanics and general relativity for the first time, and be a useful tool to explore the nature of quantum gravity.

The description of the microscopic world in quantum mechanics is very different from that in classical physics, and there are some points of view that are contrary to intuition and logic. The first is the loss of reality, the behavior of micro particles shows randomness and hopping. The second is the loss of certainty, the conjugate physical variables of a system cannot be determined synchronously, they satisfy the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. The third is the non-local correlation. The measurement of one particle in the quantum entanglement pair will change the state of the other entangled particle simultaneously. In this paper, some concepts related to quantum entanglement, such as EPR correlation, quantum entanglement correlation function, Bell's inequality and so on, are analyzed in detail. Analysis shows that the mystery and confusion in quantum theory may be caused by the logical problems in its basic framework. Bell's inequality is only a mathematical theorem, but its physical meaning is actually unclear. The Bell state of quantum entangled pair may not satisfy the dynamic equation of quantum theory, so it cannot describe the true state of microscopic particles. In this paper, the correct correlation functions of spin entanglement pair and photonic entanglement pair are strictly derived according to normal logic. Quantum theory is a more fundamental theory than classical mechanics, and they are not parallel relation in logic. However, there are still some unreasonable contents in the framework of quantum theory, which need to be improved. In order to disclose the real relationship between quantum theory and classical mechanics, we propose some experiments which show the wave-particle duality simultaneously and provide intuitionistic teaching materials for the new interpretation of quantum theory.

The recent Google’s claim on breakthrough in quantum computing is a gong signal for further analysis of foundational roots of (possible) superiority of some quantum algorithms over the corresponding classical algorithms. This note is a step in this direction. We start with critical analysis of rather common reference to entanglement and quantum nonlocality as the basic sources of quantum superiority. We elevate the role of the Bohr’s principle of complementarity¹ (PCOM) by interpreting the Bell-experiments as statistical tests of this principle. (Our analysis also includes comparison of classical vs genuine quantum entanglements.) After a brief presentation of PCOM and endowing it with the information interpretation, we analyze its computational counterpart. The main implication of PCOM is that by using the quantum representation of probability, one need not compute the joint probability distribution (jpd) for observables involved in the process of computation. Jpd’s calculation is exponentially time consuming. Consequently, classical probabilistic algorithms involving calculation of jpd for n random variables can be over-performed by quantum algorithms (for big values of n). Quantum algorithms are based on quantum probability calculus. It is crucial that the latter modifies the classical formula of total probability (FTP). Probability inference based on the quantum version of FTP leads to constructive interference of probabilities increasing probabilities of some events. We also stress the role the basic feature of the genuine quantum superposition comparing with the classical wave superposition: generation of discrete events in measurements on superposition states. Finally, the problem of superiority of quantum computations is coupled with the quantum measurement problem and linearity of dynamics of the quantum state update.

We present an analysis of recent experiments in femtoscopy by the STAR collaboration in terms of the protocol of entanglement witnessing involving purity measurements. The entanglement is between the charge and momentum degrees of freedom of pions and the state purity measurements ultimately rely on the bosonic nature of the detected pions. The pion experiment is intended to measure the size of nuclei and the distance between the nuclei involved, however it indirectly confirms that the states of dfferently charged pions are entangled through an entanglement witness based on the purity of various pionic states. The entangled state of pions can be modelled straightforwardly dynamically using a simple Hamiltonian. Quantum indistinguishability plays a key role in this analysis and we make comparison with the equivalent photonic experiments.

Practical entanglement distillation is a critical component in quantum information theory. Entanglement distillation is often utilized for designing quantum computer networks and quantum repeaters. The practical entanglement distillation problem is formulated as a bilevel optimization problem. A fuzzy formulation is introduced to estimate the quantum state (density matrix) from pseudo-likelihood functions (i.e., quantum state tomography). A scale-independent relationship between fuzzy relations in terms of the pseudo-likelihood functions is obtained. The entanglement distillation optimization problem was solved using the combined coupled map lattice and dual annealing approach. Comparative analysis of the results is then conducted against a standard dual annealing algorithmic implementation.

We study a localization of gravity through the matching point between non-inertial frames and local inertial frames. This localization of gravity is done through defining relative gravitational red-shift. This lead to an emergence of a timeless state in a mathematically consistent way. In this timeless state of gravity, we find a geometric interpretation of the speed of light and mass. The experimental support of the timeless state is the quantum entanglement and internal symmetries that are independent of time. Therefore gravity would be responsible for measurements independent of time including quantum entanglement. Timeless state in that sense explain why do we have gravity/gauge correspondence. We conjecture that the universe emerged from a black hole with a global $SU(3)\times SU(2)\times U(1)$ symmetry on its event horizon that produces gauge fields Electromagnetism, weak and strong nuclear force through localization of this global symmetry. Through the localization in the gravity field, the timeless measurements such as spin will be correlated with the varying of timeless measurement which is relative gravitational red-shift. We present a gravitational or geometric interpretation of spin-0, spin-1, and spin-1/2 states. We present an interpretation of why do we measure matter rather than anti-matter. We found that the Higgs scalar field is represented by the gravitational red-shift at every point in the space around the black hole. We derive the numerical value of the cosmological constant that agrees with experimental observations.

By employing the stochastic extension of the Madelung quantum-hydrodynamic description within a discrete methodology, we establish a solution using the path integral approach to explore the progression of quantum states' superposition. This investigation aims to understand the eventual establishment of a stable end-state configuration amid the backdrop of gravitational background fluctuations. The model identifies the circumstances that lead to a limited range of interaction for the quantum potential, allowing for the emergence of sizeable, classically described macroscopic phenomena. The theory unveils the lowest achievable level of uncertainty in an open quantum system and investigate its congruence with the localized behaviors of macroscopic classical systems. The study examines agreements and differences with decoherence theory and the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, and evaluates the impact of wave function decay on the measurement process.

Multipartite entanglement is a resource for application in disparate protocols, of computing, communication and cryptography. Nested entanglement provides resource-states for quantum information processing. In this paper, Matryoshka quantum resource-states, which contain nested entanglement patterns, has been studied. A novel scheme for the generation of such quantum states has been proposed using an anisotropic XY spin-spin interaction-based model. The application of the Matryoshka GHZ-Bell states for n-qubit teleportation is reviewed and an extension to more general Matryoshka ExhS-Bell states is posited. An example of Matryoshka ExhS-Bell states is given in the form of the genuinely entangled seven-qubit Xin-Wei Zha state. Generation, characterisation and application of this seven-qubit resource state in theoretical schemes for quantum teleportation of arbitrary one, two and three qubits states, bidirectional teleportation of arbitrary two qubit states and probabilistic circular controlled teleportation are presented.

This paper is in response to a critique of the author’s earlier papers on the matter of a non-local communication system by Ghirardi. The setup has merit for not apparently falling for the usual pitfalls of putative communication schemes, as espoused by the No-communication theorem (NCT) - that of non-factorisability. The enquiry occurred from the investigation of two interferometer based communication systems: one two-photon entanglement, the other single-photon path entanglement. Both systems have two parties: a sender (“Alice”) who transmits or absorbs her particle and a receiver (“Bob”) who has an interferometer, which can discern a pure or mixed state, ahead of his detector. Ghirardi used the density matrix and found that the system wasn’t factorisable; this was seen as a fulfilment of the NCT. We revisit the analysis and say quite simply that Ghirardi is mistaken. The system is rendered factorisable by a Schmidt decomposition and entanglement swapping to “which path information” of the interferometer; also one must consider the joint evolution before taking the partial trace. Ghirardi’s misuse, by the inapplicability of the NCT in this situation, renders this general prohibitive bar incomplete or entirely wrong.

By utilizing a generalized version of the Madelung quantum-hydrodynamic framework that incorporates noise, we derive a solution using the path integral method to investigate how a quantum superposition of states evolves over time. This exploration seeks to comprehend the process through which a stable quantum state ultimately emerges in the presence of fluctuations induced by the noisy gravitational background. The model defines the conditions that give rise to a limited range of interaction for the quantum potential, allowing for the existence of coarse-grained classical descriptions at a macroscopic level. The theory uncovers the smallest attainable level of uncertainty in an open quantum system and examines its consistency with the localized behavior observed in large-scale classical systems. The research delves into connections and similarities with decoherence theory and the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. Additionally, it assesses the potential consequences of wave function decay on the measurement of photon entanglement. To validate the proposed theory, an experiment involving entangled photons transmitted between detectors on the Moon and Mars is discussed. Finally, the findings of the theory are applied to the creation of larger Q-bits systems at elevated temperatures.

In this study, we investigate Quantum Entanglement Asymmetry (QEA) as a potential explanation for the matter-antimatter imbalance observed in the universe. By integrating quantum mechanics with cosmological phenomena, the study proposes a model in which quantum entanglement among particle-antiparticle pairs in the early universe leads to an asymmetry favoring matter. Through theoretical development and numerical simulations, we explore how this model predicts unique patterns in Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies and the distribution of matter, setting a foundation for empirical verification. The study aims to enhance the understanding of cosmological asymmetries and highlight the significance of quantum entanglement in the universe's evolution.

The experiment proposed by Bose et al aims to show the non classicality of gravity through entanglement. This paper seeks to establish optimal conditions under which the entanglement would be maximized. The assumptions made by Bose et al to come to the conclusion of quantized gravity would also be discussed along with alternate conclusions that could arise from the experiment.

The out-of-equilibrium dynamics of many body systems has recently received a burst of interest, also due to experimental implementations. The dynamics of both observables, such as magnetization and susceptibilities, and quantum information related quantities, such as concurrence and entanglement entropy, have been investigated under different protocols bringing the system out of equilibrium. In this paper we focus on the entanglement entropy dynamics under a sinusoidal drive of the tranverse magnetic field in the 1D quantum Ising model. We find that the area and the volume law of the entanglement entropy coexist under periodic drive for an initial non-critical ground state. Furthermore, starting from a critical ground state, the entanglement entropy exhibits finite size scaling even under such a periodic drive. This critical-like behaviour of the out-of-equilibrium driven state can persist for arbitrarily long time, provided that the entanglement entropy is evaluated on increasingly subsytem sizes, whereas for smaller sizes a volume law holds. Finally, we give an interpretation of the simultaneous occurrence of critical and non-critical behaviour in terms of the propagation of Floquet quasi-particles.

The violation of Bell's theorem is a very simple way to see that there is no underlying classical interpretation of quantum mechanics. The measurements made on the photons shows that light signal (information) could travel between them, hence completely eliminating any chance that the result was due to anything other than entanglement. Entanglement has been studied extensively for understanding the mysteries of non-classical correlations between quantum systems. It was found that violation of Bell's inequalities could be trivially calculated and for sets of nonmaximally entangled states of two qubits, comparing these entanglement measures may lead to different entanglement orderings of the states. On the other hand, although it is not an entanglement measure and not monotonic under local operations, due to its ability of detecting multipartite entanglement, quantum Fisher information (QFI) has recently received an intense attraction generally with entanglement in the focus. In this work, we visit violation of Bell's inequalities problem with a different approach. Generating a thousand random quantum states and performing an optimization based on local general rotations of each qubit, we calculate the maximal QFI for each state. We analyze the maximized QFI in comparison with violation in Bell's inequalities and we make similar comparison of this violation with commonly studied entanglement measures, negativity and relative entropy of entanglement. We show that there are interesting orderings for system states.

We consider the conjecture of the relationship between the entanglement entropy of spacetime, matter and the action in Einstein's general relativity. Our analysis suggests the possibility of regarding the entanglement entropy of spacetime and matter as the dimensionless action in general relativity by using Planck units. In this case, the action principle originates from the maximization of the entanglement entropy. We also show that the fundamental property of entanglement entropy leads to attractive characteristic of gravitational force for classical particles.

Quantum Computers are provisioned as very high performance computers using quantum mechanical aspects for information processing. Quantum Information Theory and Quantum Computing topics are popular topics in academia aiming the construction of theoretical background of Quantum Computers. The information processing units for Quantum Computers are defined as qubits but for some problems three level (trinary) systems may be applied as well. We call these three level systems as qutrits. The scope of this work is the analysis of well-defined entanglement measures Negativity and Relative Entropy of Entanglement (REE) for two qutrit (3- level/trinary) quantum systems. In this manner, for randomly generated 1000 two qutrit and 1000 two qubit states the mentioned measures are calculated and these values are compared. These comparisons are analyzed and for quantum state ordering problem, some interesting results are reported.

We consider the quantum thermodynamic origin of the gravitational force of matter by applying the spacetime entanglement entropy and the Unruh effect originating from vacuum quantum fluctuations. By analyzing both the local thermal equilibrium and quasi-static processes of a system, we may get both the magnitude and direction of Newton's gravitational force in our theoretical model. Our work shows the possibility that the elusive Unruh effect has already shown its manifestation through gravitational force.

The bipartite entanglement is comprehensively investigated in the mononuclear molecular complex (Et3NH)[Ni(hfac)2L], where HL denotes 2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-3-oxide-1-oxyl and hfacH stands for hexafluoroacetylacetone. From the magnetic point of view, the molecular compound (Et3NH)[Ni(hfac)2L] consists of an exchange-coupled spin-1 Ni2+ magnetic ion and a spin-12 nitronyl-nitroxide radical substituted nitrophenol. The nickel-radical molecular complex affords an experimental realization of a mixed spin-(12, 1) Heisenberg dimer with a strong antiferromagnetic exchange coupling J/kB= 505 K and two distinct g-factors gRad=2.005 and gNi=2.275. By adopting this set of magnetic parameters we demonstrate that the Zeeman splitting of a quantum ferrimagnetic ground-state doublet due to a weak magnetic field may substantially reinforce the strength of bipartite entanglement at low temperatures. The molecular compound (Et3NH)[Ni(hfac)2L] maintains sufficiently strong thermal entanglement even at room temperature, vanishing only above 546 K. Specifically, the thermal entanglement in the nickel-radical molecular complex retains approximately 40% of the maximum value corresponding to perfectly entangled Bell states at room temperature, which implies that this magnetic compound provides suitable platform of a molecular qubit with potential implications for room-temperature quantum computation and quantum information processing.

The paper discusses the 2022 Nobel Prize in physics for experiments of entanglement “establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science” in a much wider, including philosophical context legitimizing by the authority of the Nobel Prize a new scientific area out of “classical” quantum mechanics relevant to Pauli’s “particle” paradigm of energy conservation and thus to the Standard model obeying it. One justifies the eventual future theory of quantum gravitation as belonging to the newly established quantum information science. Entanglement, involving non-Hermitian operators for its rigorous description, non-unitarity as well as nonlocal and superluminal physical signals “spookily” (by Einstein’s flowery epithet) synchronizing and transferring some nonzero action at a distance, can be considered to be quantum gravity so that its local counterpart to be Einstein’s gravitation according to general relativity therefore pioneering an alternative pathway to quantum gravitation different from the “secondary quantization” of the Standard model. So, the experiments of entanglement once they have been awarded by the Nobel Prize launch particularly the relevant theory of quantum gravitation grounded on “quantum information science” thus granted to be nonclassical quantum mechanics in the shared framework of the generalized quantum mechanics obeying rather quantum-information conservation than only energy conservation. The concept of “dark phase” of the universe naturally linked to the very well confirmed “dark matter” and “dark energy” and opposed to its “light phase” inherent to classical quantum mechanics and the Standard model obeys quantum-information conservation, after which reversible causality or the mutual transformation of energy and information are valid. The mythical Big Bang after which energy conservation holds universally is to be replaced by an omnipresent and omnitemporal medium of decoherence of the dark and nonlocal phase into the light and local phase. The former is only an integral image of the latter and borrowed in fact rather from religion than from science. Physical, methodological and proper philosophical conclusions follow from that paradigm shift heralded by the 2022 Nobel Prize in physics. For example, the scientific theory of thinking should originate from the dark phase of the universe, as well: probably only approximately modeled by neural networks physically belonging to the light phase thoroughly. A few crucial philosophical sequences follow from the break of Pauli’s paradigm: (1) the establishment of the “dark” phase of the universe as opposed to its “light” phase, only to which the Cartesian dichotomy of “body” and “mind” is valid; (2) quantum information conservation as relevant to the dark phase, furthermore generalizing energy conservation as to its light phase, productively allowing for physical entities to appear “ex nihilo”, i.e., from the dark phase, in which energy and time are yet inseparable from each other; (3) reversible causality as inherent to the dark phase; (4) the interpretation of gravitation only mathematically: as an interpretation of the incompleteness of finiteness to infinity, for example, following the Gödel dichotomy (“either contradiction or incompleteness”) about the relation of arithmetic to set theory; (5) the restriction of the concept of hierarchy only to the light phase; (6) the commensurability of both physical extremes of a quantum and the universe as a whole in the dark phase obeying quantum information conservation and akin to Nicholas of Cusa’s philosophical and theological worldview.

The absolute time and relative time are defined in terms of the 4-D Euclidean space. Our universe is the 3-D x₁x₂x₃ quantized photon space which follows the absolute time simultaneity when the universe moves along the absolute time axis of ct. The length expansion of Dx = gDx₀ is derived under the condition of the absolute time (ct) simultaneity. From the similarity between this length expansion of Dx = gDx₀ and the energy increasing of E = gE₀, it is assumed that the energy is proportional to the particle size of Dx. The extension of this assumption to the 4-D Euclidean space gives the new definition that the particle energy (E) is the 4-D volume. Then, the particle mass energy is defined as E= mc² = cDtDV = gE₀. The masses of the elementary particles are originated from the 4-D warped volume of the photon space because the particle is the warped photon space with the velocity of v < c. Therefore, the Higgs boson concept in the standard model (SM) is not needed in the present 3-D quantized space model (TQSM). The scalar boson with the spin of zero, photon with the spin of 1 and graviton with the spin of 2 are the two-boson states. Therefore, the observed Higgs boson is reinterpreted as the two-boson state of the scalar boson with the spin of zero. The cosmic muon observation and twin paradox are explained by using the absolute time and relative time. The relative time is the observed time in the twin paradox and cosmic muon observation. In the twin paradox, a person who travels the long distance is more aged than a person on the earth in terms of the relative time ages because of the space and time conversion effect (STCE effect) of the moving space distance (x). But twins are in the same ages in terms of the absolute time without STCE effect. The fast-moving cosmic muon has the expanded half-life from the time expansion of the relative time. Also, the quantum entanglement and Pauli exclusion principle are explained. The quantum base of the photon space line connects two entangled particles. Two particles and quantum base system is fluctuated along the absolute time axis by the time clicking when one particle is measured. Another particle is instantly selected by the time clicking. This is called as the quantum entanglement. The photons which are the flat photon space with the constant speed of c along the space axis and absolute time axis have the 4-D photon velocity of c_eff = 2^0.5 c. Total 10-D Euclidean space including three 3-D quantized spaces and one absolute time axis is required for the electric charges (EC), lepton charges (CC) and color charges (CC) of the elementary particles. The 3-D photon space is very stiff along the absolute time (ct) axis and very soft along the space axes. The Coulomb force through the photons (2EM waves) of the space fluctuations is much stronger than the Gravitational force through the gravitons (G waves) of the time fluctuations between two electrons.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the influence of the maturity status on speed, explosive power and change of direction (COD) in 13-year-old football players. Ninety-eight male players (age: 13.1 ± 1.0 y) were divided into late, average, and early maturation groups. Physical fitness testing included the following variables: 10 and 30-meter sprint time and maximum speed in the 20-30 m segment of the 30-meter sprint test, the T-test time, countermovement jump height and horizontal distance in the triple jump. The data showed a significant effect of maturity status on performance in three parameters: in maximum speed in the 20-30 m section (p = 0,024), however, the only significant differences were found between the early-maturation group and average-maturation group (p = 0.033); in the COD (p = 0.024), where significant differences were confirmed between the late-maturation group and the average-maturation group (p = 0.033); in the unilateral triple jump distance of the dominant and non-dominant (p = 0,007 and p = 0.001, respectively) lower limb. For both limbs, significant differences between the late-maturation group and average maturation group (p = 0.005 and p = 0.013, respectively) as well as the late-maturation group and early-maturation group (p = 0.007 and p = 0.045, respectively) were proved. These results indicate that maximal speed, COD speed and unilateral lower limb reactive strength are moderated by biological age in football players aged 13 years.

Along with the increasing industrialization of contries and population growth, the global. With the thougth of overcoming climate change and renducing greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, interest in alternative sloar, wind, water, geothermal, tidal and ocean wave energy has significantly increased. Hydropower is one of the most used inexhaustible sources of energy on a global scale. The efficiency of water turbines can be increased by optimizing the blade cascade and the casing. For this purpose, research is conducted on specialized laboratory benches. The purpose is to determine the influencing parameters which affecting the nature of the power and cavitaion curves This paper presents the results of numerical and laboratoty studies of axial hydrokinetic turbines. A detailed analysis of the influence of the geometric parameters of the blades on the operating curves is made. A mathematica model for synthesis of the blade cascade is derived. An assessment of water energy soures has been made and sites of high energy potential have been pointed. The present material can be used for development of a methodology for calculation of efficient axial hydrokinetic turbines.

Recovery between physical efforts is essential for optimal performance in sports. Dietary supplements like cannabidiol (CBD) have been proposed to facilitate recovery and performance optimization. This systematic review aimed to: a) systematize the scientific evidence on CBD for recovery, b) associate CBD's biomedical properties with those required for optimal fatigue recovery, and c) recommend a future research agenda. Searches across databases identified 70 relevant studies from 1990-2022, including 38.6% preclinical, 31.4% clinical trials, and 30.0% reviews/meta-analyses across various populations like mice, rats, epileptics, and athletes. CBD demonstrated potentially beneficial properties for athlete recovery such as anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects with doses ranging from 5-600mg administered orally, intravenously, and via other routes. However, rigorous confirmatory research specifically in athlete populations is lacking. While CBD appears promising for facilitating recovery and performance optimization, further randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to test the acute and chronic effects of different CBD dosing regimens in athletes. Future research should focus on elucidating CBD's physiological mechanisms of action as they relate to post-exercise recovery, as well as its comparative effectiveness versus conventional medications and therapies. Advancing our understanding of CBD's role in athlete recovery could provide new therapeutic strategies to optimize recovery and performance.

For many disciplines of science, all conceivable collisional cross sections and reactions must be precisely known. Although the recent decades were a trial of large-scale research to give these data, many essential atomic and molecular cross section data still missing, and the reliability of the existing cross sections has to be validated. In this paper, we present electron stripping, electron capture, and system breakdown cross sections in carbon (C5+) ions and lithium (Li2+) ions collisions with atomic hydrogen based on the Monte Carlo models of classical and quasi-classical trajectories. According to our expectation, the QCTMC results show higher results in comparison to standard CTMC data, emphasizing the role of Heisenberg correction constraint, especially in the low energy regime. On the Other hand, at high energy, the Heisenberg correction term has less influence as a projectile momentum increase. We present the total cross sections of electron stripping, electron capture, and system breakdown in C5+ ions and Li2+ ions collisions with atomic hydrogen in the impact energy range from 10 keV to 160 keV, which is of interest in astrophysical plasmas, atmospheric sciences, plasma laboratories, and fusion research.

The efficacy of an intranasal (IN) bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) administered in the face of passive immunity was assessed. Pooled colostrum was administered by intubation to fifty (50) beef-dairy crossbred calves the day they were born. The calves were transported to a research facility and were blocked by age and sex and randomly assigned into two groups, a sham-vaccinated intranasally with a placebo (sterile water) or vaccinated with a tri-valent modified live viral (MLV) vaccine. The calves were 92 days old when vaccinated (day 0). The calves were challenged by aerosolized BRSV on day 80 and day 81 as a respiratory challenge. The study was terminated on day 88. Lung lesion scores (LLS) were significantly lower for calves vaccinated with tri-valent MLV vaccine than those for calves that were sham-vaccinated. Serum neutralization (SN) antibody against BRSV in calves vaccinated with the tri-valent MLV vaccine demonstrated an anamnestic response on day 88. After challenge, the calves sham-vaccinated with the placebo lost weight while those vaccinated with the tri-valent MLV vaccine gained weight. In this study colostrum-derived antibodies did not interfere with the immune response or protection provided by one dose of the tri-valent MLV vaccine.

This is a single center retrospective study to assess safety and tolerability of continuous inhaled iloprost use as rescue therapy for refractory pulmonary hypertension (PH) in critically ill neonates and infants. Retrospective chart review was performed on 58 infants and data was collected at baseline, 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of iloprost initiation. Primary outcomes were change in heart rate (HR), fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), mean airway pressures (MAP), blood pressure (BP) and oxygenation index (OI). Secondary outcomes were need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and death. 51 patients treated for > 6 hours were analyzed in 2 age groups, neonate (≤28 days: n=32) and infant (29-365 days: n=19). FiO2 (p

We present an analytic calculation of the cooperative decay of a one-dimensional chain of N two-level atoms in the single-excitation configuration. Whereas the subradiant decay is zero for infinite lattices, we prove that for finite lattice the subradiant decay rate decreases as 1/N. We compare the results obtained using the scalar and the vectorial model. The calculations provide simple analytic expressions for the decay rate of the excitation, for arbitrary lattice spacing.

Chestnut is an interesting productive alternative for farmers in Southern Chile. However, cli-matic variability with the occurrence of late spring and early summer frost have cause damages on young trees. Glycine‒betaine (GB) spraying on shoots of sensitive chestnut induce an increase in tolerance during subsequent chilling stress. Experiment was performed on three years-old trees (cultivar Cittá di Castello) conducted in a leader training system and sprayed with com-mercial GB (120 g hL‒1). In summer trees treated with GB showed a better recovery after the frost (‒2.34°C) occurrence for 3.5 h compared to the control. Whereas trees obtained a 28% greater growth of central axis than untreated control (January). The trunk diameter measured in January showed the highest value under GB (27.2mm) compared with the control (25.7 mm). The GB ap-plication increased by 50 and 47% highest fresh and dry weight respectively in leaves. Under GB trees reached a 28% higher net photosynthesis (AN) compared to the AN in control (11.93 µmol CO2 m‒2 s‒1). Moreover, achieved higher stomatal conductance and transpiration rate was 44 and 31% with GB compared to control trees respectively. Antioxidant performance was differentially affected by GB activating non-enzymatic mechanisms and caused a reduced lipid peroxidation. Glycine‒Betaine has become as an interesting agronomic tool that aimed to increase tolerance to environmental stresses such as low temperatures that cause damage to herbaceous shoots and leaves in young chestnut trees.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important global clinical issue, requiring not only prevention but also effective treatment. Following TBI, diverse parallel and intertwined pathological mechanisms affecting biochemical, neurochemical, and inflammatory pathways can have severe impact on the patient’s quality of life. The current review summarizes evidence for utility of amantadine in TBI in connection to its mechanism of action. Amantadine combining multiple mechanisms of action may offer both neuroprotective and neuroactivating effects in TBI patients. Indeed, use of amantadine in TBI has been encouraged by several clinical practice guidelines/recommendations. Amantadine is also available as infusion which may be of particular benefit in unconscious patients with TBI, due to immediate delivery to the central nervous system and the possibility of precise dosing. In other situations, orally administered amantadine may be used. There are several questions that remain to be addressed: Can amantadine be effective in disorders of consciousness requiring long-term treatment and in combination with drugs approved for treatment of TBI? Do the observed beneficial effects of amantadine extend to disorders of consciousness due to factors other than TBI? Well controlled clinical studies are warranted to ultimately confirm its utility in the TBI and provide answers these questions.

Few prior works study self-driving cars by deep learning with IoT collaboration. SDC-Net, which is an end-to-end multitask self-driving car camera cocoon IoT-based system, is one of the research that tackles this direction. However, by design SDC-Net is not able to identify the accident locations, it only classifies if it is a crash scene or not. In this work, we introduce an enhanced design for the SDC-Net system by 1) replacing the classification network with a detection one, 2) adapting our benchmark dataset labels built on the CARLA simulator to include the vehicles bounding boxes while keeping the same training, validation, and testing samples, 3) modifying the shared information via IoT to include the accident location. We keep the same path planning and automatic emergency braking network, the digital automation platform, and the input representations to formulate the comparative study. SDC-Net++ system is proposed to 1) output the relevant control actions, especially in case of accidents: accelerate, decelerate, maneuver, and brake, and 2) share the most critical information to the connected vehicles via IoT, especially the accident locations. A comparative study is also conducted between SDC-Net and SDC-Net++ with the same input representations: front camera only, panorama and bird-eye views, and with single-task networks: crash avoidance only, and multitask networks. Multitask network with a BEV input representation outperforms the nearest representation in precision, recall, f1-score, and accuracy by more than 15.134%, 12.046%, 13.593%, and 5%, respectively. SDC-Net++ multitask network with BEV outperforms SDC-Net multitask with BEV in precision, recall, f1-score, accuracy, and average MSE by more than 2.201%, 2.8%, 2.505%, 2%, and 18.677% respectively.

This study reveals the essential load-bearing characteristics of the steel-concrete composite floor system under fire conditions applying structural stressing state theory. Firstly, the strain data in the entire process of the fire test are modeled as state variables which can present the slab’s stressing state evolution characteristics; Then, the state variables are used to build the stressing state mode and the parameter characterizing the mode. Further, the Mann-Kendall criterion is adopted to detect the leap points in the evolution curves of the characteristic parameters during the entire fire exposure process. Also, the evolution curves of the stressing state modes are investigated to verify the leap profiles around the leap/characteristic points; Finally, the detected leap points are defined as the failure starting points and elastoplastic branching points, which is unseen in the past researches focusing on the failure endpoint defined at the ultimate load-bearing state of the composite floor system. The failure starting point and the elastoplastic branching point are the embodiment of natural law from quantitative change to quality change of a system rather than an empirical and statistical judgment. Hence, both characteristic points avoidably exist in the strain data of the composite floor system undergoing the fire process, which can be revealed through the proper modeling methods and update the existing theories and methods on structural analysis and design in fire.

Recent developments in high-performance electrode materials have been pivotal for real-time monitoring biosensors, necessitating compatibility with biomaterials and robust electrochemi-cal properties. This study explores the development of electrode materials using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), with a primary fo-cus on assessing their dispersion and electrochemical properties. Various solvents, including N N-Dimethylformamide (DMF), deionized water, ethanol, and acetone, were used for dispersion analysis by employing ultrasonic waves. The results showed that SWCNTs exhibited well-dispersed characteristics without precipitation when introduced to a DMF solution. It found that resistance values decreased as the concentration of SWCNTs increased over the range of 0.025 to 0.4 g/L, with a considerable electrical conductivity reached at concentrations ranging from 0.2 g/L to 0.4 g/L in DMF. The biosensor platform was evaluated with 1-pyrenebutanoic acid succin-imidyl este (PBSE) as the linker and glucose oxidase (Gox) and chitosan as the binding substrate. The binding of Gox with glucose resulted in a significant decrease in resistance value of the biosensor with rising their concentrations ranged from 0.001 to 0.1 M. Though this research provides founda-tional insights for the advancement of SWCNT-based high-performance electrode materials, it will pave the way for the next generation of efficient and reliable biosensors.

Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is the main etiologic agent of urinary tract infections (UTI) and possesses virulence and resistance determinants commonly harbored in mobilizable genetic elements such as plasmids or pathogenicity islands (PAI). UPEC belongs to the group of Ex-traintestinal pathogenic E. coli, however the existence of hybrid strains has been described; these possess both diarrheagenic (DEC) and extraintestinal (ExPEC) E. coli traits and are considered as "hypervirulent strains," which represents a significant health problem. This study aimed to de-termine the prevalence of UPEC PAI, ExPEC sequence types (ST), DEC genes, carbapenemase and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes, fluoroquinolones/aminoglycosides resistance genotypes and the presence of plasmids in 40 clinical isolates previously characterized as UPEC. A 72.5% of the isolates presented PAI, mainly PAI IV536 (53%). Sixty-five percent of the β-lactam-resistant isolates were positive for ESBL phenotype, and 100% of the car-bapenem-resistant isolates were carbapenemase producers. The most prevalent ESBL-associated gene was blaCTX-M-2 (60%), while among isolates resistant to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides the most frequent resistance gene was aac(6')Ib (93%). Plasmid bands were present in 57% of the isolates. Seventy percent belonged to the ST131 clonal group. The presence of molecular markers associated with DEC pathotypes was detected in 20 isolates; 60% were classified as hybrid pathotypes. These data suggest, in addition to an important pathogenic potential, the existence of hybrid pathotypes in clinical isolates of E. coli causing UTI in the Mexican population.

In directional forming processes such as rolling and extrusion, the microstructure is strongly elongated in the forming direction. This results in a preferred alignment of the crystal orientations of the initially randomly oriented grains. These preferred orientations – the texture – and elongations of the grains are the cause of the material anisotropy. This anisotropy leads to phenomena such as earing, which occur during further forming processes, e.g., during deep drawing of sheet metal. Considering anisotropic properties in numerical simulations allows to investigate the effects of texture-dependent defects in forming processes and the development of possible solutions. Purely phenomenological models for modelling anisotropy work by fitting material parameters or applying measured R-values in experiments which are applied to all elements of the part and remain constant over the duration of the simulation. In contrast, methods such as the Visco-Plastic Self-Consistent (VPSC) model, which has been used in this work, provide a deeper insight into the development of the material microstructure. By experimentally measuring the initial texture and using it as an initial condition for the simulations, it is possible to predict the evolution of the microstructure and the resulting effect on the mechanical properties during forming operations. The results of the simulations with VPSC show good qualitative agreement with tests typically used for rolled stock.

The symbiotic interaction between leguminous and Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 mainly relies on the nodulation process through Nod factors (NFs), while the type IV secretion system (T4SS) acts as an alternative pathway in this symbiosis. Two copies of T4SS (T4SS1 and T4SS2) are located on the chromosome of SUTN9-2. ΔT4SS1 reduces both nodule number and nitrogenase activity in all SUTN9-2 nodulating legumes. The functions of three selected genes (copG1, traG1, and virD21) within the region of the T4SS1 were examined. We generated deleted mutants and tested in Vigna radiata cv. SUT4. ΔtraG1 and ΔvirD21 exhibited lower invasion efficiency at the early stages of root infection but could be lately restored. In contrast, ΔcopG1 completely hindered nodule organogenesis and nitrogenase activity in all tested legumes. ΔcopG1 showed low expression of nodulation gene and ttsI, but exhibited high expression levels of T4SS genes, traG1 and trbE1. The secreted proteins from ΔT4SS1 were down-regulated compared to the wild type. Although ΔcopG1 secreted several proteins after flavonoid induction, T3SS (nopP and nopX) and C4-dicarboxylate transporter (dct) were not detected. These results confirm the crucial role of the copG1 gene as a novel key regulator in the symbiotic relationship between SUTN9-2 and legumes.

China’s leading development of a complete battery value chain for Electric Vehicles (EV) is restructuring the global automotive sector. The competitive advantage of China's EV battery industry lies on its firms’ core competency and political economic geography. Based on first-hand empirical material and data obtained from years of fieldwork in an EV battery cluster in South China, this paper identifies what the Chinese EV battery industry’s core competency is and details how it is built up from below. The current core competency of Chinese battery firms is their mass manufacturing capability to supply lithium-ion batteries vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) with stable and consistent quality as well as competitive prices. This competency is acquired by firms through technological learning at workshop level while taking use of their experiences accumulated in mass production of batteries for consumer electronics sectors. Furthermore, the rapid learning and accumulation of knowledge on battery manufacturing at large scale is also facilitated by the industrial cluster environment where firms are embedded. Supported and promoted by local government policies, Chinese EV battery clusters are composed of firms from different segments of a complete battery value chain. The findings illuminate the likely strategic strengths, weaknesses, and futures of the Chinese EV battery industry in global competition.

Fusarium stalk rot (FSR) caused by the Fusarium species complex is an economic threat to maize cultivation all over the world. We investigated the population structure and genetic diversity of Fusarium spp. obtained from five major maize-growing regions of India. The Tef-1α locus was used for phylogenetic analysis of geographically distinct isolates of Fusarium verticillioides, F. andiyazi, F. proliferatum, F. nygamai, and F. acutatum causing FSR. Geographical separation among four local populations contributed to 7.87% variance, whereas 92.12% of the variance was within popula-tions, suggesting a predominant influence of local adaptation or stochastic events like genetic drift within populations, with geographical separation playing a lesser but significant role in shaping genetic diversity. Genetic differentiation statistics between Fusarium species showed lower gene flow from haplotypes except in the population of F. acutatum and F. andiyazi having high GST values. In contrast, a high Kxy was reported, indicating elevated genetic differentiation between populations. The haplotype network analysis revealed the presence of eight distinct haplotypes which reflected pathogenic evolution and adaptive potential of Fusarium spp. The results offer a comprehensive framework for discussing the implications of genetic diversity in pathogen management and the evolutionary dynamics of the Fusarium spp. causing FSR of maize in the Indian subcontinent.

Mutations affecting codon 172 of the isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) gene define a subgroup of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinomas (SNUCs) with a relatively favorable prognosis and a globally hypermethylated phenotype. They are also recurrent (along with IDH1 mutations) in gliomas, acute myeloid leukemia, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Commonly reported mutations, all associated with aberrant IDH2 enzymatic activity, include R172S, R172T, R172G, and R172M. We present a case of SNUC with a never-before-described IDH2 mutation, R172A. Our report compares the methylation pattern of our sample to other cases from the GEO database. Hierarchical clustering suggests a strong association between our sample and other IDH-mutant SNUCs and a clear distinction between sino-nasal normal tissues and tumors. Principal component analysis (PCA), using 100 principal components explaining 94.5% of the variance, shows the position of our sample within 1.02 standard deviation of the other IDH-mutant SNUCs. Molecular modeling analysis of the IDH2 R172A versus other R172 variants provides a structural explanation to how they affect the protein active site. Our findings thus suggest that the R172A mutation in IDH2 confers a gain of function similar to other R172 mutations in IDH2, resulting in a similar hypermethylated profile.

This work focuses on short-term forecasting of PV output power. The multilayer perception (MLP), convolutional neural networks (CNN), and k-nearest neighbour (kNN) neural networks have been used singly or in a hybrid (with other algorithms) to forecast solar PV power or global solar irradiance with good success. Their performances in forecasting PV power have been compared with other algorithms but not with themselves. The study aims to compare performance of a number of neural network algorithms in solar PV energy yield forecasting under different weather conditions. The performance of MLPNN, CNN and kNN are being compared using solar PV (hourly) energy yield data for Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The choice of location is part of the study parameters to provide insight into renewable energy power integration in specific areas in south Africa that may be prone to extreme weather conditions. The kNN algorithm was found to have RMSE value of 4.95% and MAE value of 2.74% at its worst performance, and RMSE value of 1.49% and MAE value of 0.85% at its best performance. It outperformed the others by a good margin and kNN could serve as a fast, easy, and accurate tool to forecast solar PV output power.

Microfiltration membranes derived from semi-crystalline polymers face various challenges when synthesized through the extrusion–casting technique, including the use of large quantities of polymer, long casting times, and the generation of substantial waste. This study focuses on synthesizing these membranes using spin-casting followed by stretch-induced pore formation. Recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and virgin polyethylene powder, combined with a calcium carbonate filler, were used as the source materials for the membranes. The influence of the polymer-filler ratio with and without stretching on the morphology, tensile strength, and water flow rate was investigated. Optimal conditions were determined, emphasizing a balance between pore structure and mechanical integrity. The permeable membrane possessed a mean pore diameter of 500 nm, exhibited a tensile strength measuring 32 MPa, allowed water to flow at a rate of 19 ml/min, and had a water contact angle of 126°. These membranes effectively eliminated suspended particles from water, with their performance evaluated against that of commercially available membranes. This research outlines a synthesis route for microfiltration membranes tailored to semi-crystalline polymers and their plastic forms, utilizing the spin-casting technique.

Hyperspectral imaging, a rapidly evolving technique, furnishes exhaustive information on Earth's surface reflectance over an extensive spectrum of wavelengths. We have developed a more precise method for analyzing spectral data by meticulously selecting plant leaf pixels and employing a relative reference approach. This enhanced technique correlates camera pixel values with light intensity, bypassing the need for complex equations and thereby providing clearer insights into vegetation vitality. The findings of this study not only enhance the precision of hyperspectral imaging but also bolster our capability for ecological monitoring and understanding environmental health. A novel algorithm based on the red-edge slope was established to classify images, exploiting the spectral reflectance data gleaned from the hyperspectral Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter (LCTF) camera. Compared with conventional SVM and K-means algorithms, our novel algorithm demonstrated commendable performance, achieving an overall accuracy of 90% with a Kappa Coefficient of 0.86. This comparison highlights the novel algorithm's relative strength and potential for large-scale satellite and drone imagery analysis applications. The advancements facilitated by this research are instrumental in ecological assessments, conservation efforts, and resource management strategies, signaling a leap forward in the era of environmental monitoring and analysis.

People experiencing homelessness are at risk from a number of co-morbidities including traumatic brain injury, mental health disorders and various infections. Little is known about the rehabilitation needs of this population. This study took advantage of unique access to a specialist ‘Access’ GP practice for people experiencing homelessness and a local inclusion health initiative to explore the five year period prevalence of these conditions in a population of people experiencing homelessness, through electronic case record searches; and identify barriers and facilitators to healthcare provision for this population in the context of an interdisciplinary and multi specialist inclusion health team, through semi structured interviews with 12 staff working in primary and secondary care who interact with this population. The five year period prevalence of TBI, infections and mental health disorders was 9.5%, 4% and 22.8% respectively. Of those who had suffered a brain injury only 3, had accessed rehabilitation services. Themes from thematic analysis of interviews included: lack of resource, stigmatisation, under recognised multi-morbidity (including from brain injury) as barriers, trauma-informed, person-centred, adaptable, &amp; integrated and collaborative models of care as facilitators. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data suggests a potential role for rehabilitation medicine in inclusion health initiatives.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to apply the Composite Radiographic Index modified (CRIm) in CBCT scans of patients with Medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) in order to detect its validity, and corelate the radiologic findings with the clinical staging of the disease. Methods: This study included 43 patients with MRONJ diagnosis and CBCT scans performed in the School of Dentistry and approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Clinical staging for every patient (0-3) was provided according to AAOMS 2022 guidelines. In cases of patients with both jaws affected, each jaw was evaluated independently resulting to 52 CBCT scans. The 52 CBCT scans were assessed under standardized viewing conditions by 2 observers who evaluated independently the following 8 radiologic features: lytic changes, sclerosis, periosteal reaction, sequestration, non-healing extraction sockets and other findings (sinus implication, inferior alveolar canal involvement, jaw fracture). The CRIm index was constructed to assess the extent of osseous changes. The radiologic features were scored as absent (0), localized/single (1), extensive/multiple (2), yielding a theoretical range of 0–12. For statistical analysis Fisher’s exact test and Spearman’s correlation coefficient were performed. Results: A statistically significant association of clinical stage with lytic changes, sequestration and inferior alveolar canal involvement was found. Also, a statistically significant correlation of clinical stage with CRIm index classification was obtained. Conclusions: The CRIm index tends to increase as the clinical stages of MRONJ advance, suggesting a correlation between the clinical stage of MRONJ and the CRIm index.

High dimensional datasets are highly likely to have redundant, irrelevant, and noisy features that negatively affect the performance of the classification algorithms. Selecting the most relevant features and reducing the dimensions of datasets by removing the undesired features is a dimensional reduction technique called Feature Selection (FS). In this paper, we propose an FS approach based on the Black Hole Algorithms (BHO) with a mutation technique called MBHO. Generally, BHO contains two major phases. At the exploitation phase, a set of stars are modified based on some rule and according to some objective function, the best star is selected as the black hole which attracts other stars. Furthermore, when a star gets closer to the event horizon, it will be swallowed and a new one will be randomly generated in the search space which thus is the exploration phase. However, randomness may cause the algorithm to fall into the trap of local optima, and to overcome such complications, inversion mutation is used. Furthermore, we modify a widely utilized objective function in most of the proposed works for wrapper feature selection by combining two new terms that are based on the correlation among the selected subset of features and the features and the classification label. We also utilize a transfer function, known as the V2 transfer function, to convert continuous values into discrete ones to enhance search. We assess our approach via extensive evaluation experiments using fourteen benchmark datasets. We benchmark the performance of a wrapper FS approach called Binary Cuckoo Search (BCS), and three filter-based FS approaches (namely Mutual Information Maximisation (MIM), Joint Mutual Information (JMI), and minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (mRMR)). Our evaluation has shown that the proposed model is an effective approach for FS, in selecting better features that enhance the performance metrics on the classifiers. Thus, MBHO can be utilized as one alternative to the existing state-of-art-approaches. We release the source codes of our implementation for the community to build on with new methods and datasets.

In recent years, there has been an intensification of weather variability worldwide as a result of climate change. Some regions have been affected by drought, while others have experienced more intense rainfall. The incidence and severity of mouldy grain and mycotoxin contamination during the growing and harvesting seasons have increased as a result of these weather conditions. Addi-tionally, torrential rains and wet conditions may cause delays in grain drying, leading to mold growth in the field. In July 2023, a wheat field in Lecco (Lombardy, Italy) was affected by torren-tial rains that led to the development of the Claviceps fungi. In the field, dark sclerotia were identi-fied on some ears. Wheat ears, kernels and sclerotia were collected and analyzed by LC-MS/MS at IZSLER, Food Chemical Department, in Bologna. The wheat ears, kernels and sclerotia were ana-lyzed for 12 ergot alkaloids (EAs) according to (EU) Regulation 2023/915 (er-gocornine/ergocorninine; ergocristine/ergocristinine; ergocryptine/ergocryptinine; ergome-trine/ergometrinine; ergosine/ergosinine; ergotamine/ergotaminine), after QuEChERS (Z-Sep/C18) purification. The analyzed sclerotia showed significant differences in total alkaloids content that varies between 0.01-0.5% (w/w), according to the results of 2017 EFSA scientific report. EAs de-tected in sclerotia were up to 4951 mg/kg, in wheat ears up to 33 mg/kg, and in kernels were 1 mg/kg. Additional mycotoxins including ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisins, T2-HT2 toxins, and aflatoxins were investigated in wheat kernels, after purification with immu-noaffinity columns (IAC). The analysis revealed the presence of deoxynivalenol in wheat kernels at a concentration of 2251 µg/kg. It is expected that climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events. In order to mitigate the potential risks associated with mycotox-in-producing fungi and to ensure the protection of human health, it is suggested to implement of-ficial controls in the field.

: Climate change necessitates urgent actions to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel-based energy generation. Among various strategies, the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions are critical for reducing emissions from point sources such as power plants and heavy industries. In this context, cryogenic carbon capture (CCC) via desublimation has emerged as a promising technology. While CCC offers high separation efficiency, minimal downstream compression work, and integration potential with existing industrial processes, challenges such as low operating temperatures and equipment costs persist. Ongoing research aims to address these hurdles in order to optimize the desublimation processes for widespread implementation. This review consolidates diverse literature works, providing insights into the strengths and limitations of CCC technology, including the latest pilot plant scale demonstrations. The transformative potential of CCC is first assessed on a theoretical basis, such as thermodynamic aspects and mass transfer phenomena. Then, recent advancements in the proposed process configurations are critically assessed and compared through key performance indicators. Furthermore, future research directions for this technology are clearly highlighted.

Spontaneous tumours in higher plants can develop depending on plant genotype without any pathogen invasion. Spontaneous tumour formation on the taproots is consistently observed in certain inbred lines of radish (Raphanus sativus var. radicula Pers.). In this work, we have sequenced the genomes of two closely related radish inbred lines that differ in their ability to spontaneously form tumours. We have identified numerous single nucleotide variants (amino acid substitutions, insertions or deletions) that are likely to be associated with the spontaneous tumour formation. Furthermore, we performed the identification of CLE and WOX genes the genomic sequences of the radish inbred lines and, as a result, identified two unique radish CLE genes which probably encode proteins with multiple CLE domains. The results obtained provide a basis for investigating the mechanisms of plant tumour formation and also for future genetic and genomic studies of radish.

This study aimed to develop a laboratory-scale direct air capture unit for evaluating and comparing amine-based adsorbents under temperature vacuum swing adsorption conditions. The experimental campaign conducted with the direct air capture unit allowed for the determination of equilibrium loading, CO2 uptake capacity, and other main performance parameters of the investigated adsorbent Lewatit VP OC 1065®. The investigations also helped to understand the co-adsorption of both CO2 and H2O on the tested material, which is crucial for improving temperature vacuum swing adsorption processes. This was achieved by obtaining pure component isotherms for CO2 and H2O as well as three different co-adsorption isotherm models from literature. It was found that the weighted average dual-site Toth model emerged as the most accurate and reliable model for simulating this co-adsorption behavior. Its predictions closely align with experimental data, particularly in capturing the adsorption equilibrium at various temperatures. It was also observed that this lab-scale unit offers advantages over thermogravimetric analysis when conducting adsorption experiments on the chosen amine. The final aim of this study is to provide a pathway to develop devices for testing and developing efficient and cost-effective adsorbents for direct air capture.

Ultra-wide field optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT) has been recently introduced into clinical ophthalmological practice. To date, there is little data on the reference values of retinal thickness (RT) and choroidal thickness (CT) measured with this technique. This study aimed to analyze the variance of RT and CT in healthy eyes with UWF-OCT tests performed with the largest available scan size of 23 x 20 mm. The data were analyzed with reference to the patients' age, gender, and the axial length of the eyeball. The results of UWF-OCT scanning enabled us to picture the shape of the retina and choroid in a large portion of the eyeball. Both anatomical entities become significantly thinner at the periphery. The peripheral CT is greater in the upper and temporal sectors; the RT is higher in the nasal compared to the temporal sectors. Both choroid and retina lose thickness with age, however, CT and RT do not show a statistically significant correlation with the axial length after adjusting for age and gender. Age-related variations in thickness are especially prominent in the choroid. The CT in UWF-OCT testing is significantly greater in females while the RT is greater in males. UWF-OCT testing provides additional information on the anatomical structure of the retina and choroid compared to standard-field OCT

TLC and HPTLC in normal (NP) and reversed (RP) phase systems combined with densitometry were used to analyze caffeine, propyphenazone and paracetamol. Normal phase analyses were performed on five different stationary phases (chromatographic plates), testing three mobile phases. Reversed-phase analyses were performed on four different chromatographic plates using three mobile phases. Thus, it was checked whether analyses using TLC chromatographic plates could be as sensitive as those performed on HPTLC plates. For all analyzed biologically active substances, the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated, i.e. a parameter that describes the method sensitivity. It has been shown that using both TLC and HPTLC plates, it is possible to develop chromatographic conditions that enable the detection of caffeine, propyphenazone and paracetamol in amounts ranging from a dozen to several dozen µg/spot. In the reversed-phase (RP) system, lower LOD values for all tested compounds were obtained using TLC than HPTLC. However, using analyses in the normal phase system (NP), similar (of the same order) LOD values are obtained for caffeine, propyphenazone and paracetamol, both when using TLC and HPTLC plates. Therefore, for economic reasons, TLC plates should be recommended for analyses of caffeine, propyphenazone and paracetamol, which are several times cheaper than HPTLC plates.

In the realm of educational technology, Data Analytics (DA) is reshaping teaching and learning. This paper investigates the impact of DA on education, specifically comparing Student Information Systems (SIS) and Learning Management Systems (LMS). Data-driven insights from SIS and LMS platforms enable educators to tailor instructional strategies to individual student needs effectively. While SIS manages student data for administrative tasks, LMS offers tools for content delivery and collaboration. Using the strengths of SIS and LMS, educators can optimise teaching and learning experiences, tracking student progress, and fostering collaboration. The comparison emphasises their distinct roles: SIS manages administrative tasks, while LMS focusses on content delivery and collaboration. Using both systems, educators improve the teaching and learning experience, leveraging DA for continuous improvement. In summary, this paper underscores the transformative role of DA in education, framed within the context of comparing the SIS and LMS functionalities. By examining the intersection of data-driven decision making and educational technology, educators are equipped with the tools and knowledge to harness the power of data for meaningful and impactful teaching and learning.

This paper utilizes the 2020 financial data of A-share listed companies, both ST and non-ST, as the data sample. The model is constructed employing the Factor-Logistic fusion algorithm. Eight key indicator factors were selected from the frameworks of profitability, solvency, operating capacity, development potential, shareholder retained earnings, cash flow and asset growth. An independent indicator system was subsequently established to address the issue of collinearity among risk indicators. The results of model are presented in the form of probabilities, enhancing the interpretability of model. The weights of the features indicate the influence of different features on the final outcome. The model achieves a prediction accuracy of over 89%, with an AUC score exceeding 95%. Finally, by applying the principles of interval estimation theory in statistical hypothesis testing, the risk levels are categorized as A-level representing significant risk, B-level representing moderate risk, C-level representing minor risk and D-level representing no risk. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive definition of a universal financial risk management warning model for enterprises, applicable to all enterprises in China.

We use binary string to represent a natural number and show the composite procedure of odd-number and even-number functions, thus we propose full binary directed tree to represent the set of natural numbers and give another partition the natural number set to three sets: pure odd, pure even and mixed number. For the Collatz conjecture we make use of the parity of a natural number to analyse the sequence of iteration (or composite) of Collatz function and reduced Collatz function analog to the inverse function. We give tabular and binary strings to the algebra expression to state the sequence of Collatz, this is the key topic to proof the conjecture: the discrete powers of 2 can be changed to ultimately continuous powers of 2, finally get to pure even number and to the smallest number 1. The sequence created by the infinite iterations of the Collatz function becomes the ultimately periodic sequence if any natural number is the beginning value, proving the conjecture that has been held for 87 years.

This research aimed to study and compare prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) problem and perceived discomfort among port crane operators consisting of quay and rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes working in the Laem Chabang Deep-sea Port, Thailand. Direct interviews for a cross-sectional analysis was selected for this unique job with a small amount of sample size. A standardized modified version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was lunched for 26 male participants, consisting of 11 quay and 15 RTG, where a priori power analysis using G*Power suggested the minimum as 24 for the hypothesis test. Socio-demographic characteristics showed no significant difference among them. The NMQ revealed lower back as the highest prevalent body part (76.9%) followed by neck, shoulders and upper back at the same percentage (23.1%) for all port crane group, with up to 96.2% reporting MSK problem over the past 12 months. And Borg scale rating, assessing the perceived discomfort, revealed lower back with the highest score (2.38) followed by upper back (0.65), shoulders (0.54) and neck (0.5). Remarkably, the comparation between the quey and RTG crane operators on the MSK prevalence (χ2 test) and perceived discomfort levels (Kruskal-Wallis test), regarding different 9 body parts, revealed a significant difference between the two on upper back with quay crane having more problem than the RTG at p &lt; 0.05. while the rest of them were mainly in the same direction. MSK contributors such as: working awkward posture, mental stress, height, trolley distance and vibration are considerably the main causes of this. However, the larger in scale of exposure to those for the quey crane compared to the RTG might have led to the distinguishing MSK problem found in this study which require thoroughly deliberation for the particular solutions.

This article explores the intricate relationship between Human-Data Interaction (HDI) and Data Virtualization (DV), two integral fields that are redefining how we engage with and manage data in the digital age. Positioned at the intersection of technology and user-centric design, this study examines how DV can transcend traditional data management boundaries to significantly enhance data accessibility, legibility, and agency, thus fostering more ethical and meaningful interactions across various sectors. Opening with a detailed exposition on the evolving role of HDI, the paper contextualizes the importance of user-centric data practices within contemporary digital challenges. HDI’s principles are pivotal as they advocate for user empowerment in data interactions, ensuring that data processes are not only transparent but also negotiable and aligned with users’ needs and ethical standards. DV emerges as a transformative solution that inherently supports these principles by integrating diverse data sources into a cohesive and accessible format, thereby eliminating many of the inefficiencies found in conventional data management systems. Through a series of nuanced case studies, the paper provides empirical evidence of DV’s effectiveness across diverse domains. In healthcare, DV facilitates a holistic approach to patient care by providing seamless access to comprehensive medical records, thereby enabling faster, more accurate diagnostic and treatment processes. In the financial sector, DV proves instrumental in enhancing the detection and management of fraud, integrating transactional data across global platforms in real-time to allow for swift, proactive interventions. In education, DV supports personalized learning by synchronizing data from various educational tools, thus allowing for tailored educational experiences that respond dynamically to student performance and engagement metrics. Moreover, the paper critically addresses the ethical considerations and privacy concerns that arise with the integration of HDI and DV, particularly as data interactions become more pervasive and complex. By proposing forward-thinking research directions, it seeks to refine these technologies to better serve societal needs while addressing potential risks and governance issues. In conclusion, this study significantly contributes to the discourse on HDI by advocating for DV as an essential, innovative tool that enhances the clarity, fairness, and efficacy of data interactions. By demonstrating how DV can transform large-scale data sets into user-friendly formats that support decision-making and improve operational efficiencies, the paper underscores DV’s potential to advance a range of industries and enhance the daily lives of individuals interacting with digital systems.

The Pantanal region in the state of Mato Grosso suffers from intensive biomass burning at the dry season. A great volume of anthropogenic emissions affects the ecosystem, damaging the richest fauna and flora internationally recognized. The collect and characterization of natural aerosols is important to accompany the variations in the composition and concentration of these particles, this work determined the total mass concentration of fine inhalable particles, concentration of aerosol compound Black Carbon (BC) and the presence of 25 chemical elements in the samples. Maximum total mass inhalable fine (PM2.5) and BC concentration was, respectively, 83.66 μg m-3 and 4.52 μg m-3, and the median values of both was 36.62 ± 31.69 μg m-3 and 1.83 ± 1.65 μg m-3. The Pb element concentration demonstrated a great maximum value of 25 ng m-3, around twenty-one times bigger than a similar study realized ten years ago in the same area. The results indicate a low correlation between aerosols concentration and environmental parameters, nonetheless, we verify a considerable increase in concentration of PM2.5, BC and chemical elements S, K, Fe, Si and heavy metals compared with previous studies.

India, a megadiverse nation, harbors significant biodiversity, particularly in tropical moist deciduous forests. However, these forests and valuable medicinal plants face habitat loss and overexploitation threats. While indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants exists, a comprehensive ethnomedicinal study still needs to be included, especially for Uttar Pradesh's Terai region. This study focuses on the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary, a haven for medicinal plants within the Terai. We aim to document the knowledge of local healers regarding wild medicinal plants used in phytotherapy. We will employ quantitative indices and compare our findings with data from other regions to identify novel medicinal plant uses. This enriched database can serve as a springboard for future pharmacological research. Suhelwa's diverse geography and climate contribute to its rich medicinal flora, making it a prime candidate for exploring the potential of traditional knowledge for drug discovery and sustainable income generation for local communities.

The NW-SE trending dextral strike-slip faults on the north side of the Tian Shan play an important role in accommodating the crustal shortening, which mainly includes the Karatau fault, Talas-Fergana fault, Dzhalair-Naiman fault, Aktas fault, Dzhungarian fault (also named Bolokenu-Aqikekuduk fault) and Chingiz fault. The classic viewpoint is that the strike-slip fault is the adjustment product caused by the difference of the crustal shortening from west to east. Another viewpoint attributes the dextral strike-slip fault to large-scale sinistral shearing. The Alakol Lake Fault is situated along the northern margin of the Dzhungarian Gate, stretching for roughly 150 km from Lake Ebinur to Lake Alakol. Our team utilized aerial photographs, Satellite Stereo-imagery, and field observation to map the distribution of the Alakol Lake fault. Our findings provided evidence supporting the assertion that the fault is a dextral strike-slip fault. In reference to its spatial distribution, Lake Alakol is situated in a pull-apart basin that lies between two major dextral strike-slip fault lines: the Chingiz and Dzhungarian faults. The Alakol Lake Fault serves as a connecting point for these two faults, resulting in the formation of a mega NW-SE dextral strike-slip fault zone. According to our analysis of the dating samples taken from the alluvial fan, as well as our measurement of the displacement of the riser and gully, it appears that the Alakol Lake fault has a dextral strike-slip rate of 0.8-1.5mm/yr. The strike-slip rate of the Alakol Lake fault is comparatively higher than that of the Chingiz fault in the northern region (~0.7 mm/yr), but slower than that of the Dzhungarian fault in the southern (3.2-5 mm/yr). The Chingiz-Alakol-Dzhungarian fault zone shows a gradual decrease in deformation towards the interior of the Kazakhstan platform. We contend that the rate of deformation observed is better explained by the crustal shortening adjustment model, rather than the large-scale sinistral shearing model.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the deadliest human cancers with very lim-ited treatment options available. The malignant behavior of GBM is manifest in a tu-mor which is highly invasive, resistant to standard cytotoxic chemotherapy and is strongly immunosuppressive. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently been in-troduced in the clinic and have yielded promising results in certain cancers. GBM however is largely refractory to these treatments. The immune checkpoint CD47 has recently gained attention as potential target for intervention as it conveys a “don’t eat me” signal to tumor associated macrophages via the inhibitory SIRP alpha protein. In preclinical models, administration of anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies have shown impressive results with GBM and other tumor models. Several well characterized on-cogenic pathways have recently been shown to regulate CD47 expression in GBM cells and Glioma Stem cells (GSCs) include EGFR, beta catenin and LRIG2. Other macro-phage pathways involved in regulating phagocytosis including TREM2 and glycan binding proteins are discussed as well. Finally, Chimeric Antigen Receptor Macro-phages (CAR)-M could be leveraged for greatly enhancing phagocytosis of GBM and repolarization of the microenvironment in general. Here we comprehensively review the mechanisms that regulate about macrophage phagocytosis of GBM cells.

Spatial and temporal variation of the free electron concentration in the ionosphere affects SAR interferograms, in particular at low radar frequencies. In this work the identification, estimation and compensation of ionospheric path delay phases in PALSAR-3 and NISAR-L interferograms is discussed. Both these L-band sensors acquire simultaneously SAR data in a main spectral band and in an additional, spectrally separated, narrower second band to support the mitigation of ionospheric path delays. The methods presented permit separating the dispersive and the non-dispersive phase terms based on the double-difference interferogram between the two available spectral bands and the differential interferogram of the main band. The applicability of the proposed methods is demonstrated using PALSAR-3-like data that was simulated based on PALSAR-2 SM1 mode data.

Investments in small and medium-sized anaerobic digestion facilities have the potential to boost biogas production in Greece and other EU countries. This study aimed to evaluate the economic feasibility of anaerobic digestion facilities equipped with combined heat and power (CHP) units ranging from 50 to 400 kW, while treating livestock waste. For this purpose, data were gathered from various livestock operations (dairy cattle, poultry, swine, dairy sheep and goat) regarding their annual production, revenues, electricity and fuel usage, and waste generation. Waste samples were then collected and analyzed to assess their biochemical methane production potential. The capital and operational costs of anaerobic digestion facilities, from 50 and 400 kW, were calculated using the equations developed within the “eMT cluster” project. Findings indicate that current feed-in tariffs (FIT) of 0.21 € kWh-1 are insufficient to incentivize investment in anaerobic digestion facilities with capacities below 250 kW, highlighting the need for increased FIT rates or capital expenditure subsidies. Recommendations include shifting towards simplified technology and business models with reduced farmer involvement, coupled with supportive legislative framework and long-term electricity price guarantees. These measures are expected to foster the implementation of anaerobic digestion projects in the animal husbandry sector.

The efficacy and cost-effectivness of Multigene Panel Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in directing patients towards genomically matched therapies remains uncertain. This study investigated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who underwent NGS analysis on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples. Data from 179 patients were analyzed, revealing no mutations in 39 patients (21.8%), one mutation in 83 patients (46.4%), and two or more mutations in 57 patients (31.8%). KRAS mutations were found in 87 patients (48.6%), including KRAS G12C mutations in 5 patients (2.8%), PIK3CA mutations in 40 patients (22.4%), BRAF mutations in 26 patients (14.5%). Less common mutations were identified: ERBB2 in 5 patients (2.8%) and SMO in 4 patients (2.2%). Additionally, MAP2K1, CTNNB1, and MYC were mutated in 3 patients (2.4%). Two mutations (1.1%) were observed in ERBB3, RAF1, MTOR, JAK1, and FGFR2. No significant survival differences were observed based on mutation numbers. 40% of patients had druggable molecular alterations, but only 1.1% received genomically guided treatment, suggesting limited application in standard practice. Despite this, expanded gene panel testing can identify actionable mutations, aiding personalized treatment strategies in metastatic CRC, although current eligibility for biomarker-guided trials remains limited.

In the symptomatic treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, high dosages of zinc oxide (ZnO) were conventionally employed. However, concerns regarding the potential for microbial resistance and ecological detriment have arisen due to the excessive application of this compound. These concerns highlight the urgency to minimize the use of ZnO and to explore sustainable nutritional solutions. Hydrolysable tannins (HTs), known for their role in traditional medicine for acute gastrointestinal issues, emerge as a promising alternative. This study examined the combined effect of food-grade HTs and lower ZnO concentration on relevant biological functions of Caco-2 cells, a widely used model of the intestinal epithelial barrier. We found that, when used together, ZnO and HTs (ZnO/HTs) enhanced tissue repair and improved epithelial barrier function, normalizing the expression and functional organization of tight junction proteins. Finally, the ZnO/HTs combination strengthened enterocyte defence against oxidative stress induced by inflammation stimuli. In conclusion, combining ZnO and HTs may offer a suitable and practical approach for decreasing ZnO levels in veterinary medical applications.

Abstract Cerebral microbleed(s) (CMBs) are increasingly being viewed not only as a marker for cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) but also as having an increased risk for the development of stroke (hemorrhagic/ischemic) and aging-related dementia. Recently, brain endothelial cell activation and dysfunction and blood-brain barrier dysfunction and/or disruption have been shown to be associated with SVD, enlarged perivascular spaces, and the development and evolution of CMBs. CMBs are a known disorder of cerebral microvessels that are visualized as 3-5mm, smooth, round or oval, and hypointense (black) lesions seen only on T2*-weighted gradient recall echo or susceptibility-weighted sequences on MRI images. CMBs (a global problem) are known to occur with high prevalence in community-dwelling older individuals. Since our current global population is the oldest recorded in history and only expected to continue to grow, we can only expect the health care burdens associated with CMBs to also grow. CMBs should raise a red flag regarding the increased risk of large symptomatic neurologic intracerebral hemorrhages. Importantly, CMBs are also currently regarded as markers of diffuse vascular and neurodegenerative brain damage. Thus, it is essential that we try to learn as much as we can about their development, evolution, and their relation to impaired cognition, dementia, and neurodegeneration.

Lifestyle interventions can prevent type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, some in-dividuals do not experience anticipated improvements despite weight loss. Bi-omarkers to identify such individuals at early stages are lacking. IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 were shown to predict T2DM onset in prediabetes. We assessed if these markers also predict the success of lifestyle interventions, thereby possibly guid-ing personalized strategies. We analyzed fasting serum levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 in relation to changes in metabolic and anthropometric parameters, including intrahepatic li-pids (IHL) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume measured by MRI, in 345 high-risk prediabetic participants (54% female; aged 36-80 years). Participants were enrolled in three randomized dietary intervention trials and assessed both at baseline and one year post-intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 28), significance set at p

Myocardial fibrosis is a pivotal pathophysiological step of various cardiovascular diseases, which eventually leads to heart failure and death. Cardiac fibroblasts activation and subsequently differentiate into myofibroblasts are pivotal pathophysiological step in myocardial fibrosis. Phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (PGAM1) directly interacts with α-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) and participate in fibrosis regulation. Allosteric inhibitor of PGAM1 could attenuates fibrosis through break the interaction of PGAM1 and ACTA2. In this study, we aimed to screen and identify novel ligand of PGAM1 in natural product library. Firstly, various natural products were screened via DARTS assay and Carthamus tinctorius L. was identified as a target pool for molecular docking. Then, in silico screening assay identified baicalein as a novel ligand. In addition, baicalein could directly bind to the PGAM1 protein with a KD value of 34.6 μM. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed that baicalin and PGAM1 interactions were stable. These findings indicate that PGAM1 is a direct pharmacological target of baicalein. Immunoblot analysis further demonstrated that baicalin inhibits the activation of fibroblasts in vitro. Finally, the anti-myocardial fibrosis effect of baicalein was verified in vivo. Taken together, our findings suggest that baicalein is a novel PGAM1 templates for developing new therapeutics against myocardial fibrosis.

Quantum computing represents a paradigm shift in computational power, promising exponential speedups for solving certain classes of problems. However, harnessing the full potential of quantum computers requires effective utilization of data science techniques. In this review paper, we explore the intersection of data science and quantum computing, focusing on the role of data analytics in advancing quantum computing applications. We begin with an overview of quantum computing fundamentals, including quantum mechanics principles and quantum algorithms. We then delve into topics such as quantum data representation, manipulation, and machine learning algorithms tailored for quantum computing environments. Additionally, we discuss quantum error correction and noise mitigation strategies essential for reliable quantum computation. Furthermore, we survey the landscape of quantum software development tools and frameworks, highlighting their importance in facilitating quantum algorithm design and optimization. Through case studies and examples, we demonstrate the practical applications of data science techniques in quantum computing, including quantum cryptography and quantum-enhanced data analysis. Finally, we identify future research directions and challenges in the field, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between the data science and quantum computing communities to unlock the full potential of quantum data science.

The space exploration landscape has transformed dramatically over the past several decades, with a significant rise in the number of annual launches. Key factors driving this increase include technological advancements, the miniaturization of satellites, and the surge in commercial satellite deployments for communication, Earth observation, and remote sensing. This paper examines the evolution of space activities from the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 to recent developments in commercial spaceflight and international collaborations. The paper discusses notable milestones in space exploration history, including early space missions, Apollo Moon landings, and the development of space stations like the International Space Station. It highlights the shift from state-led space programs to a more diverse landscape, characterized by private sector involvement and international partnerships. The "Space 4.0" phase, beginning around 2006, has seen the entry of commercial players like SpaceX, leading to a significant upsurge in orbital launches. Statistical data reveals an upward trend in launch activity, with over 200 launches in 2023 alone, driven by large satellite constellations like SpaceX's Starlink and the steady growth of China's space program. The increasing launch rate poses challenges such as space debris, emphasizing the need for mitigation strategies. Looking ahead, the paper projects a continued increase in launch activity, with over 150 launches expected annually by 2026 and 200-300 launches by 2040. Commercial space ventures, deep space exploration, lunar activities, and space tourism drive this growth. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing space debris and promoting the long-term sustainability of space activities, which is crucial as humanity's presence in space continues to expand.

Alena Tensor is a recently discovered class of energy-momentum tensors that provides a mathematical framework in which the description of a physical system in curved spacetime and its description in a flat spacetime with fields are equivalent. As demonstrated in previous publications, in curved spacetime this tensor reproduces Einstein Field Equations and in flat Minkowski spacetime, it describes physical system with fields that can be widely configured. Thanks to the obtained compliance with QM and QED, the use of the discussed tensor may significantly simplify Quantum Field Theory equations and a new interpretation of the Schrödinger equation is possible. In the article it has also been shown that the use of Alena Tensor for the electromagnetic field takes into account effects related to the particle's spin, Abraham–Lorentz effect and, in the curvilinear description, this excludes non-physical phenomena such as the black hole singularity. The article contains a method for verifying Alena Tensor within QM, proposing an explanation for the discrepancy between the Dirac and Klein-Gordon solutions. It also discusses prospects for the application of Alena Tensor in unification theories against the background of existing research directions.

This study assessed the performance of low-dose CT lung scans across various acquisition parameters and examined the impact of iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms on image quality for lung cancer screening. The performance of multi-slice CT scanners was assessed by using a Catphan 600 phantom, specifically within the CTP404 test module that contains materials like Teflon, Delrin, Acrylic, Polystyrene, LDPE, PMP, Air, and water. Three protocols were selected and categorized into standard, low dose, and ultra-low dose. The standard protocol featured a tube voltage of 100 kVp for single-detector CT, a pitch of 0.75, detector collimation of 0.60 mm, and a gantry rotation time of 0.33 seconds, with 5 mm slice thickness. Images were reconstructed using standard kernels like B80f and 170f, combined with either FBP or various IR algorithms. Findings indicated that the noise power spectrum (NPS) peak value (HU2mm2) increased with higher IR levels, with FBP showing the highest peak. Additionally, NPS spatial frequency diminished as IR levels rose. Optimizing contrast and spatial resolution for both background and regions of interest involved adjusting the target transfer function (TTF) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), crucial for protocol optimization. Proper adjustment of IR levels is vital, as higher levels can alter image texture and affect NPS spatial frequency. The results of this study showed that the use of IR algorithms in low-dose CT lung scans significantly improved image quality, particularly in terms of noise reduction and spatial resolution. However, the choice of acquisition parameters also played a crucial

Diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, especially among children. Recent epidemiological studies conducted in developing countries identified Shigella species as the most predominant pathogenic bacteria responsible for diarrhea. Antimicrobial therapy is necessary for Shigella infections; however, the rapid emergence of resistance against existing antimicrobials in Shigella spp. poses a serious global health problem. To identify alternative antimicrobial compounds with activity against Shigella species, the pathogens responsible for bacterial diarrhea. In this study, we have applied antibacterial phenotypic screening to identify potent anti-Shigella compounds across a broad chemical diversity, including selected acetaminophen derivatives containing benzothiazoles backbone, and their combination with certain antibiotics. In continuation to our effort in searching potent antimicrobial compounds, we have found this time around that two acetaminophen derivatives containing benzothiazoles backbone (4a and 4b) could inhibit the growth of Shigella flexneri with common MIC value of 12.5 µg/ml. These compounds were established through a time-kill kinetics’ study to be bactericidal. Meanwhile, the 2-aminobenzothiazoles (1a and 1b) used for the synthesis of compounds 4 (a & b) were found to be poorly active (MIC: 100 µg/ml) against this pathogen. Combination studies of 4a and 4b with the least susceptible antibiotics (ceftriaxone and cotrimoxazole) demonstrated synergistic anti-Shigella activity. The present study demonstrates that the azobenzothiazole dyes 4 (a & b) can be repurposed as potential anti-Shigella compounds, which can serve as scaffolds for the development of new agents against infectious diarrhea caused by Shigella and other enteric pathogens, especially in developing countries.

This study constructs an evaluation system of high-quality utilization of urban land (HUUL) and comprehensively adopts the entropy method, the kernel density estimation, and the geodetector model to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution and driving factors of the HUUL levels of 284 Chinese cities from 2006 to 2020. The measurement results show that during 2006-2020, the HUUL level showed an obvious upward trend, and the eastern region > the central region > the overall region > the western region > the northeastern region. According to the kernel density map, except for the region of the west, there is a trend of different degrees of enlargement of the difference in the main peak position of the HUUL level among cities in the other three regions, and there are individual cities in the eastern and western regions with much higher HUUL levels than the others; According to the results of factor detection, it can be seen that innovative utilization and open utilization are the endogenous dominant factors that promote the improvement of HUUL level, and the level of economic development is the exogenous dominant factor that supports the im-provement of high-quality utilization of urban land.

This article develops duality principles and numerical results for a large class of non-convex variational models. The main results are based on fundamental tools of convex analysis, duality theory and calculus of variations. More specifically the approach is established for a class of non-convex functionals similar as those found in some models in phase transition. Finally, in the last section we present a concerning numerical example and the respective software.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening condition that requires a prompt diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Although serum troponin T and creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) are established biomarkers for ACS, it may take several hours to reach diagnostic values for ACS. In this study, we attempted to explore novel biomarkers for ACS with higher sensitivity than that of troponin T and CK-MB. The metabolomic profiles of 18 patients with ACS upon hospital arrival and those of the age-matched control (HC) group consisted of 24 healthy volunteers were analyzed using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Volcano plots showed 24 metabolites whose concentrations differed significantly between the ACS and HC groups. Using these data, we developed a multiple logistic regression model for the ACS diagnosis, in which lysine, isocitrate, and tryptophan were selected as minimum-independent metabolites. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value for discriminating ACS from HC was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.00). In contrast, those for troponin T and CK-MB were 0.917 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.812-1.00) and 0.988 (95% CI: 0.966-1.00), respectively. This study showed the potential of combining three plasma metabolites to discriminate ACS from HC with a higher sensitivity than that of troponin T and CK-MB.

Considering the unquestionable role of education in economic development, it has an impact at a macroeconomic level—contributing to enhancing productivity and innovation, reducing poverty and promoting social cohesion—and at a personal level—ensuring the improvement of knowledge, skills and individual capabilities and promoting social values like empowerment and equality. Notably, quality education is recognized as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which, jointly with other behaviors and attitudes, could impact the development of societies in other fields like health and well-being, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability and even peace and stability—all of them also listed as SDGs. However, the capacity, or not, to reach higher levels of compliance with quality in education (SDG 4) varies from country to country, according to the 2023 Sustainable Development Report results. Thus, the present study used a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to assess the conditions for attaining higher levels of quality education based on the different indicators used to measure SDG 4. The analysis will allow comparisons of results among different countries and provide information about the initiatives that could be relevant to increasing quality education worldwide and for policymakers.

The use of e-scooters and e-bicycles has been on the rise with an increased medical and financial burden. Our purpose was to identify risk factors for increased medical charges and recommend appropriate steps. We studied a retrospective cohort presenting to a level 1 urban trauma center from January 2018 through July 2019 due to micro-mobility platforms. The primary outcome for comparison was total billing cost and a regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with higher cost. A total of 4073 patients were identified. The majority of which were males (67%), aged 20-30 years (41%). Helmet use reported in only 39.8%. Radiologic studies were performed more often in the e-bicycle group. Total billing charges amounted to 28.3 million New Israeli Shekels ($7.9 million). Average total cost was higher for e-bicycle injuries and in non-helmet users. Other factors associated with higher cost were age, and time of day 12:00-18:00. We recommend that urban cities invest in infrastructure in advance to micro-mobility introduction, regulate the use of e-platforms, designate resources for education on personal protective equipment and prepare medical centers in advance.

Background and Objectives. Prevalence of GERD is increased among individuals with obesity and RYGB is considered as the most effective procedure to control GERD and obesity. However, some patients continue to have GERD after RYGB. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and the risk factors of GERD after RYGB. Material and Methods. This prospective study included 180 patients operated with RYGB and followed for on average of 12.2 (0.6) years. 126 (70%) patients agreed to participate in online consultations and provided data on weight, GERD symptoms, filled GERD-HRQL, TFEQ-18 and GSRS questionnaires. Results. The average age before surgery was 42.7 (10.5) years and BMI was 45.2 (6.4) kg/m2. 128 (71.1%) were females and preoperative GERD was diagnosed in 74 (41.1%) patients. At 12 years follow-up the mean %EBMIL and %TWL were 60.37 and 25.73, respectively. The median %WR was 18.0 (39.0). The GERD was present in 30 (23.8%) patients, of whom 12 (40%) continued to have GERD symptoms and 18 (60%) developed de novo GERD. The GERD-HRQL score significantly decreased from 3.0 (8.0) at baseline to 2.0 (5.0) (p=0.028) at 12 years. GSRS Diarrhea and Indigestion median scores increased significantly, from 1.33 (0.67) to 1.5 (2.42) (p 3.2.

To mitigate pyrethroid resistance in mosquito vectors of emerging and re-emerging human pathogens, there is an urgent need to discover insecticides with novel modes of action. Natural alternatives, such as extracts derived from plants, may serve as substitutes for traditional synthetic insecticides if they prove to be sustainable, cost-effective, and safe for non-target organisms. Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a sustainable plant known to produce various secondary metabolites with insecticidal properties, including terpenoids and flavonoids. The goal of this study was to assess the larvicidal activity of hemp leaf extract on 1st instar mosquito larvae from both pyrethroid-susceptible (PS) and pyrethroid-resistant (PR) strains of Aedes aegypti Another goal was to identify which components of the extracts were responsible for any observed larvicidal activity. We found that methanol extract of hemp leaves induced similar concentration-dependent larvicidal activity against PS (LC50: 4.4 ppm) and PR (LC50: 4.3 ppm) strains within 48 hours. Partitioning of the dried leaf extract between methanol and revealed that full larvicidal activity was restricted to the methanol fraction. Analysis of this fraction by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance showed it to be dominated by cannabidiol (CBD). Larvicidal assays using authentic CBD confirmed this compound was primarily responsible for the toxicity of hemp leaf extract against both strains. We conclude that hemp leaf extracts and CBD have the potential to serve as viable sources for the development of novel mosquito larvicides.

Background and Objectives: Peripheral vertigo is one of the most common symptoms for which patients are seen by a neurologist in the emergency room. Symptoms of peripheral vertigo can range from lightheadedness to an illusion of spinning. On average, vertigo is diagnosed for older patients as its predicting factors from medical history are yet to be determined. The objective of the study was to predict peripheral vertigo based on medical history and risk factors. Materials and Methods: A prospective case-control study at the Neurology Department of Lithuanian University Hospital was conducted. 71 patients diagnosed with vertigo and 43 controls was included. They completed questionnaires and underwent evaluation by neurologists or otolaryngologists, with statistical analysis performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Results: 58% of vertigo patients were diagnosed with peripheral vertigo, with significant predictors including age (&gt;60), motion sickness, height intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux disease and dyslipidemia, leading to the development of a risk assessment table for the peripheral vertigo prediction. Conclusions: This study suggest that early identification of these predictors could enhance peripheral vertigo management, while further research with larger cohorts is needed to validate and expand upon these findings, emphasizing the importance of considering medical history and risk factors for predicting peripheral vertigo and improving patient care.

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) represent a subtype of glia giving rise to oligodendrocytes, the myelin forming cells in the central nervous system (CNS). While OPCs are highly proliferating during development, they become relatively quiescent during adulthood, when their fate is strictly influenced by the extracellular context. In traumatic injuries and chronic neurodegenerative conditions including those of autoimmune origin, oligodendrocytes undergo apoptosis, and demyelination starts. Adult OPCs become immediately activated, they migrate at the lesion site and proliferate to replenish the damaged area, but their efficiency is hampered by the presence of a glial scar, a barrier mainly formed by reactive astrocytes, microglia, and the deposition of inhibitory extracellular matrix components. If, on one hand, glial scar limits the lesion spreading, it also blocks tissue regeneration. Therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing astrocyte or microglia activation and shifting them toward a neuroprotective phenotype have been proposed, whereas the role of OPCs has been largely overlooked. In this review, we have considered glial scar from the perspective of OPCs, analysing their behaviour when lesions originate and exploring the potential therapies aimed at sustaining OPCs to efficiently differentiate and promote remyelination.

Understanding speech in noise is particularly difficult for individuals occupationally exposed to noise due to a to a mix between noise-induced auditory lesions and energetic masking of speech signal. For years, the monitoring of conventional audiometric thresholds has been the usual way to check and preserve the auditory function. But the highlighting of supra-threshold deficits, notably speech in noise understanding difficulties, has pointed out the need for new monitoring tools. The present study aims to identify the most important variables that predict speech in noise under-standing in order to suggest a new way of regular monitoring. Physiological (distortion products of otoacoustic emissions, electrocochleography) and behavioral (amplitude and frequency modula-tion detection thresholds, conventional and extended high frequency audiometric thresholds) variables were collected in a population of individuals presenting a relative homogeneous occu-pational noise exposure. Those variables were used as predictors in a statistical model (random forest) to predict scores of three different speech in noise tests and a self-report of speech in noise ability. The extended high frequency threshold appears to be the best predictor and therefore an interesting candidate for a new way of monitoring noise exposed professionals.

Τhis study aims to assess changes in the fovea avascular zone (FAZ) in treatment naïve patients receiving aflibercept or ranibizumab injections for diabetic macular edema (DME). This is a prospective study recruiting patients with treatment-naïve DME. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing, OCT and OCT-angiography (OCTA) imaging were performed at baseline and 1 month after each injection. Injections of either aflibercept or ranibizumab were administered monthly for 6 consecutive months. FAZ in the superficial (SCP) and the deep capillary plexus (DCP) using OCTA was recorded for each visit. Fifty eyes from 50 patients with a mean age of 67.010.7 years were included in the study Twenty-five patients received aflibercept and 25 received ranibizumab. BCVA was 40.810.0 and increased to 52.17.9 ETDRS letters at the last visit (p&lt;0.001). CRT was 295.634.0 at baseline and 247.929.7 at the last study visit (p&lt;0.001). SCP FAZ was 350.679.5μm2 at baseline and 339.071.3μm2 after 6 monthly injections (p=0.132). DCP FAZ was 558.6199.0μm2 at baseline and 459.5156.1μm2 after 6 monthly injections (p&lt;0.001). There was no effect of the choice of ranibizumab or aflibercept on DCP FAZ change (p=0.277). In conclusion, treatment with 6 monthly injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept led to an increase in BCVA and a decrease in CRT and DCP FAZ area. Both drugs led to an improvement in DCP ischemia.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting intakes of saturated fat and added sugars (SF/AS) to 88% of the representative sample of U.S. adults. The top sources of SF were cheese, pizza, ice cream, and eggs. The leading sources of AS were soft drinks, tea, fruit drinks, and cakes and pies. This analysis reflects a parsimonious approach to reliably identify foods and beverages that contribute to SF/AS intakes in U.S. adults.

Invasive species are non-native organisms that are introduced to a particular environment with a potential to spread from the place of introduction and cause biodiversity loss. This research was done in Gullele Botanical Garden with the objective of advancing management strategies for invasive and potentially invasive species by examining their abundance, distribution, impacts. Proportional number of plots with a size of 10m by 10m was laid at each land use types to collect vegetation and environmental data. The impact rank was analysed as a data frame using the R-statics packages, which shows the lower and higher impact rate ranges for the sampled land use types. ArcGIS was used to map the spatial distributions of each species. A total of 2550 individuals from 12 families comprising 16 invasive and potentially invasive species have been recorded in 40 sample plots across all sampled land use types. The highest species abundance appeared near the roadside among the sampled plots. Acacia decurrens, Cyathula uncinulata, and Acacia melanoxylon were the three most predominant species, had a substantial contribution to the high impact on the native species. Either intentionally by planting for their advantageous qualities or unintentionally associated with other seeds or other vectors, invasive and potentially invasive species were introduced into the garden. Although there are various techniques to control invasive species, mechanical controlling mechanisms like hand-weeding, uprooting, cutting, and rehabilitation with native species, along with regular monitoring, are highly recommended for the current challenge in the garden.

Deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithms employs convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for CT image reconstruction to produce CT images with a very low noise level, even at low radiation dose. The aim of this study was to assess whether the DLIR algorithm reduces the CT effective dose (ED) and im-proves CT image quality in comparison with filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We identified all consecutive patients referred to the ICU of a single hospital who underwent at least two consecutive chest and/or abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scans within a time period of 30 days using DLIR and subsequently FBP or IR algorithm (Advanced Mod-eled Iterative Reconstruction model-based algorithm [ADMIRE], or Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction 3D [AIDR 3D]) for CT image reconstruction. The radiation ED, noise level, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were compared between the different CT scanners. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test was used for statistical comparison. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. A total of 83 patients (mean age, 59 ± 15 years [standard deviation]; 56 men) were included. DLIR vs FBP reduced ED (18.45 ± 13.16 mSv vs 22.06 ± 9.55 mSv, P < 0.05), while DLIR vs FBP and vs ADMIRE and AIDR 3D IR algorithms reduced image noise (8.45 ± 3.24 vs 14.85 ± 2.73 vs 14.77 ± 32.77 and 11.17 ± 32.77\, P < 0.05) and increased SNR (11.53 ± 9.28 vs 3.99 ± 1.23 vs 5.84 ± 2.74 and 3.58 ± 2.74, P < 0.05). CT scanners employing DLIR reduced radiation ED and im-proved SNR compared to CT scanners using FBP, whereas CT scanners using DLIR improved SNR com-pared to CT scanners using FBP or IR algorithms in ICU patients.

This study investigates the concentrations of physicochemical and heavy metal contaminants in the groundwater of the Middle Awash Basin, Ethiopia, to inform targeted water management strategies. A total of 32 groundwater samples were collected from 16 stations via piezometers and boreholes at the end of both the dry (June 2021) and wet (October 2021) seasons. Utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), and in situ metering, 22 physicochemical and 24 heavy metal parameters were analyzed. The data revealed significant levels of contamination; notably, sample GW11 had extraordinarily high concentrations of total dissolved solids (10,826 mg/L), strontium (908 µg/L), molybdenum (802.4 µg/L), zinc (6060 µg/L), and electrical conductivity (15,645 µS/cm), while GW12 exhibited elevated levels of aluminum (2615 µg/L), zinc (4446 µg/L), and arsenic (117.2 µg/L). Contaminants such as arsenic, vanadium, gallium, lithium, rubidium, chromium, manganese, copper, and zinc were found enriched in groundwater near Lake Beseka, influenced by agricultural runoff from sugarcane plantations and agro-industry activities. Over half of the groundwater sources were unsuitable for drinking, posing significant health risks to local communities that rely heavily on these sources due to limited access to clean surface water. The findings emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive groundwater management and remediation plans in the Middle Awash region to ensure safe and sustainable water use, particularly addressing the variation in contamination levels influenced by Lake Beseka. These measures are critical to protect public health and support local development in the face of ongoing environmental and anthropogenic pressures.

The broad global distribution of freshwater clams belonging to the genus Corbicula is driven by multiple hermaphroditic lineages. These lineages, characterized by shared morphological traits and phenotypic plasticity, pose challenges to morphological identification. Genetic markers, such as the mitochondrial COI gene, play a crucial role in delineating these lineages and their ranges. Morphotypes represent observed phenotypic variations, while lineages are defined based on genetic markers. Here, we comprehensively review Corbicula's distribution in Argentina, dis-criminate extant lineages based on both morphological and genetic (COI) data, and describe variation in internal and external morphology using 15 Argentine populations. Haplotype net-works identified two mitochondrial lineages: A/R morphotype (FW5 haplotype) and C/S mor-photype (FW17 haplotype). Strikingly, despite having similar vectors, origins, and invasive stages, Corbicula lineages exhibit virtually segregated distributions. However, intermediate morphotypes and both mitochondrial haplotypes are found in sympatry in northeastern Argen-tina, suggesting the presence of hybrids due to maternal genome retention. These findings con-tribute to the clarification of the identity and distribution of Corbicula lineages in Argentina, where the genus has been found for over half a century. Similar studies are needed in other areas to better understand the invasion patterns of a successful and plastic group.

Prostate Cancer remains a prevalent health concern, emphasizing the critical need for early diagnosis and precise treatment strategies to mitigate mortality rates. Accurate prediction of cancer grade is paramount for timely interventions. This paper introduces an approach to prostate cancer grading, framing it as a classification problem. Leveraging ResNet models on multi-scale patch-level digital pathology and the Diagset dataset, the proposed method demonstrates notable success, achieving an accuracy of 0.999 in identifying clinically significant prostate cancer. The study contributes to the evolving landscape of cancer diagnostics, offering a promising avenue for improved grading accuracy and, consequently, more effective treatment planning. By integrating innovative deep-learning techniques with comprehensive datasets, our approach presents a step forward in the pursuit of personalized and targeted cancer care.

Cities require flexible and participatory planning methodologies to address complex and evolving urban challenges. In Italy, the legislative framework is defined at the Regional level, according to the National laws and jurisprudence. The Lombardy region introduced the Planning Document (PD) in the Territorial Government Plan (PGT), as a strategic tool capable of adapting to changes. Based on a strategic vision, this document is useful to guide concrete actions for urban transformation, actively involving stakeholders, including citizens. The PD has the role to translate the political program into an urban planning design. So, the role it has is both technical and political. The political dimension is usually deepened in the strategic component of the document. Following the formation process of the whole city plan, the authors define the key strategies in the PD for a healthier urban future for the city of Voghera. It emerges as a balanced urban development that combines economic growth, environmental preservation, and community well-being. In the paper the authors synthesize the Voghera’s PD as an example of strategic planning that interacts with the practical planning actions and that guides both the public and the private decisions about the city development towards a healthier city.

The physics of Hubble's law, motivated by the anomalous acceleration of Pioneer 10/11, suggests that the Hubble constant corresponds to a gravitational field of the Universe. The Hubble constant inferred from Pioneer 10/11 data is $\sim 69$ km/s/Mpc. The anomalous acceleration of Pioneer 10/11 can be interpreted as an observational evidence for Mach's principle. The redshift is an apparent value. Its intrinsic value has a limit resulting to $v

Preschoolers with disabilities and their family caregivers are missed out in many public health initiatives especially in low-income countries. Yet they can benefit from early intervention to promote their development from soon after birth and to provide a better quality of life for their families. In this paper, we describe how a community-based approach has been implemented with minimal funding in two areas in Zimbabwe: a township in Harare and in rural areas of Manicaland Province. Our aim in sharing this information – allied with references to research studies recently undertaken in Africa – is that it will enable similar supports to be replicated in other communities by local personnel. A logic model is used to describe the situation in which the two projects work, the various inputs they have provided to their community and the different forms of support they have offered to the children and their caregivers. The project outputs are listed in terms of the number of beneficiaries helped and activities undertaken. The outcomes achieved for the children, the family and communities are reported. The sustainability and extensions of community-based projects to address unmet needs are discussed. The main conclusion is that disadvantaged communities can be energized to address the needs of their most marginalized residents.

The institutionalization of people with intellectual disabilities has been a common international response across cultures and generations that persists to this day. This chapter recounts its inheritance and manifestation in modern service provision. An institutional mind-set persists among clinicians and managers despite policies that emphasise the rights of persons with intellectual disability and anti-discriminatory practice. Alternative provision is rooted in person-centred practice; with a growing body of evidence for the improved quality of life that results from it. A reflective activity encourages readers to examine a recent case when they were associated with an institutional placement and what alternatives might have been sought. Yet alliances with other professionals, self-advocates and family carers will be needed to effect real and lasting changes in our service cultures and even then, the long shadows of institutional care may still persist.

This study explores the current landscape of social value (SV) research in the construction industry, analyzing global trends and identifying future research directions. Using bibliometric analysis, research published in Elsevier Scopus database from 2013 to 2023 was extracted using the keywords "social value" AND "construction industry." Results indicate a focus on social value indicators, socioeconomic impacts, project management, innovative practices, and cross-sector collaborations. The study also reveals a lack of attention to SV in African countries' construction sectors. By highlighting research areas and identifying gaps, this study contributes to academic literature, suggesting the need for guidelines, particularly in developing countries, and advocating for further research on SV in the built environment and strategies for global social value creation.

Background and Objectives: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. In recent decades, the therapeutic landscape has undergone significant changes, with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) emerging as a promising treatment for recurrent cases. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the long-term efficacy and safety of SRS in recurrent medulloblastomas across both pediatric and adult patients at a single institution. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological records of patients who underwent CyberKnife SRS for recurrent cranial medulloblastomas at our institution between 1998 and 2023. Follow-up data were available for 15 medulloblastomas in 10 patients. The cohort comprised 8 pediatric patients (ages 3-18) and 2 adult patients (ages 19-75). Median age at the time of SRS was 13 years, median tumor volume accounted for 1.9 cc, median biologically equivalent dose (BED) was 126 Gy, and single-fraction equivalent dose (SFED) was 18 Gy. The SRS was administered at 75% of the median isodose line. Results: Following a median follow-up of 39 months (range: 6-78), 53.3% of the medulloblastomas progressed, 13.3% regressed, and 33.3% remained stable. The 3-year local tumor control (LTC) rate for all medulloblastomas was 65%, with lower rates observed in the adult cohort (50%) and higher rates in pediatric patients (67%). The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 70%, with significantly higher rates in pediatric patients (75%) compared to adult patients (50%). The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 58.3%, with higher rates in pediatric patients (60%) compared to adult patients (50%). Two pediatric patients developed radiation-induced edema, while two adult patients experienced radiation necrosis at the latest follow-up, with both adult patients passing away. Conclusion: Our study provides a complex perspective on the efficacy and safety of CyberKnife SRS in treating recurrent cranial medulloblastomas across pediatric and adult populations. The rarity of adverse radiation events (ARE) underscores the safety profile of SRS, reinforcing its role in enhancing treatment outcomes. The intricacies of symptomatic outcomes, intertwined with factors such as age, tumor location, and prior surgeries, emphasize the need for personalized treatment approaches. Our findings underscore the imperative for ongoing research and the development of more refined treatment strategies for recurrent medulloblastomas. Given the observed disparities in treatment outcomes, a more meticulous tailoring of treatment approaches becomes crucial.

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a pathogenic fungus that grows mostly on birch species (Betula pendula and B. pubescens) and has traditionally been used as an anti-cancer medicine. The study aimed to compare the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of chagas growing on both Betula spp. on various cancer cell lines. The freeze dried extracts contained triterpenes inotodiol, lanosterol betulin and betulinic acid typical to conks growing on Betula species. The cytotoxic activity of chaga growing on Betula pendula and B. pubescens 80% ethanolic extracts against thirty-one human cancer cell lines has been evaluated by a sulforhodamine B assay. The strongest inhibitions were observed with chaga (growing on B. pendula) extract on the HepG2 and CAL-62 cell line, and with chaga (from B. pubescens) extract on HepG2 cell line, with IC50 values of 37.71, 43.30, and 49.99 μg/mL, respectively. The chaga extracts from B. pendula exert somewhat stronger effects on most cancer cell lines studied than B. pubescens extracts. This study highlight the potential of chaga as a source of bioactive compounds with selective anti-cancer properties, encouraging further exploration of its therapeutic mechanisms and potential applications in cancer treatment.