Directed energy deposition (DED) parameters were determined for near-β alloy Ti-55511 by employing statistical design of experiments (DOE) methods. Parameters resulting in fully dense freeform deposits were identified using two sequential DOEs. Single laser tracks were printed with several laser power, traverse rate, and powder feed rate settings in an initial DOE to identify promising build parameters. Capture efficiency and effective deposition rate were used to characterize and rank the single track deposits. The best parameters were then used to print solid cube with various X-Y and Z-overlaps (different hatch spacing, HS, and layer thickness, ZS) in a second DOE. Suitable deposition parameters were selected based on cube density and microstructure and were used to fabricate larger tensile samples for mechanical testing. Multiple parameter sets were found to provide dense Ti-55511 deposits with acceptable mechanical properties and parametric models showed statistical significance.

In the present study. At first, some properties of r-fuzzy soft β-closed sets are introduced on fuzzy soft topological spaces based on the paper Aygunoglu et al. (Hacet. J. Math. Stat. 2014, 43, 193-208). Also, we define the closure and interior operators with respect to the classes of r-fuzzy soft β-closed and r-fuzzy soft β-open sets, and investigate some of their properties. In addition, the concept of r-fuzzy soft β-connected sets is introduced and characterized with help of fuzzy soft β-closure operators. Thereafter, some properties of a fuzzy soft β-continuity are studied. Furthermore, we introduce and study the concepts of fuzzy soft almost (weakly) β-continuous functions, which are weaker forms of a fuzzy soft β-continuity. Also, the relationships between these classes of functions are specified with the help of some illustrative examples. Finally, we explore new types of fuzzy soft functions called, fuzzy soft β-irresolute (strongly β-irresolute, β-irresolute open, β-irresolute closed and β-irresolute homeomorphism) functions, and discuss some properties of them. Also, we show that fuzzy soft strongly β-irresolute → fuzzy soft β-irresolute → fuzzy soft β-continuity, but the converse may not be true.

Beta-lactam resistant bacteria, commonly resident in tertiary hospitals, have emerged as a worldwide health problem because of ready-to-eat vegetable intake. We aimed to characterize the genes providing resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from five commercial salad brands for human consumption in Mexico City. 25 samples were collected, grow in blood agar plates, the bacteria were biochemistry identified and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done, the carried family genes were identified by endpoint PCR and the specific genes were confirmed with WGS by NGS. 12 positive cultures were identified and their microbiological distribution was as follows, 8.3% for Enterobacter aerogene (n=1), 8.3% for Serratia fonricola (n=1), 16.7% for Serratia marcesens (n=2), 16.7% for Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=2), and 50% (n=6) for Enterobacter cloacae. The endpoint PCR results showed 11 colonies positive for blaBIL (91.7%), 11 for blaSHV (91.7%), 11 for blaCTX (97.7%), 12 for blaDHA (100%),4 for blaVIM (33.3%), 2 for blaOXA (16.7%), 2 for blaIMP (16.7%), 1 for blaKPC (8.3%) and 1 for blaTEM (8.3%) gene, all samples were negative blaROB, blaCMY, blaP, blaCFX and blaLAP gene. The sequencing analysis revels a specific genotypes for Enterobacter cloacae (blaSHV-12, blaCTX-M-15, blaDHA-1, blaKPC-2); Serratia marcescens (blaSHV-1, blaCTX-M-3, blaDHA-1, blaVIM-2); Klebsiella pneumoniae (blaSHV-12, blaCTX-M-15, blaDHA-1); Serratia fonticola (blaSHV-12, blaVIM-1, blaDHA-1) and Enterobacter aerogene (blaSHV-1, blaCTX-M-1, blaDHA-1, blaVIM-2, blaOXA-9). Our results indicate that beta-lactam resistant bacteria have acquired integrons with a different number of genes that providing panresistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, oxacillins, cefalosporins, monobactams, carbapenems and imipenems.

Introduction The monitoring of cerebral perfusion in patients with brain damage is a major clinical challenge. Monitoring cerebral oxygenation (rSO2) by NIRS was introduced at the turn of the 1980s, and many clinicians believed it was a valuable method for assessing cerebral perfusion and subsequent measures to optimize cerebral flow. The main problem of NIRS usage is the presence of the intermediate structures-skin, skull, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid-and their influence on the outcome of the test. Therefore, it seems that NIRS assessment performed on a patient during brain death attempts, can give an idea of the magnitude of the influence of these intermediate structures on the monitoring result. Case We present a retrospective analysis of cerebral oxygenation measurements of a patient undergoing a brain death diagnostic procedure. A clinical situation where the cerebral blood flow is stopped can give an idea of the specificity of the method, particularly the impact of the influence of intermediate structures on the monitoring outcome. In this case, the NIRS result is increased by the oxygenation of the patient before the apnoea test. The influence of chromophores in the tissues surrounding the CNS, reflections and scattering of the light wave spectrum have a very significant effect on the final result of cerebral saturation measurement. Discussion The majority of research observations describing changes in cerebral perfusion or its optimisation may be burdened by the problem described, i.e. the significant influence of measured oxygenation from intermediate structures. The specificity of NIRS to assess cerebral perfusion requires careful analysis. The therapeutic implications of monitoring cerebral oxygenation with NIRS are of great importance and, from the example presented and the literature provided, the method should be used with caution. It has been shown that in a patient with brain death, the result of NIRS oxygenation measurements depends on the surrounding structures of the brain.

porous silicon-based photodetectors have attracted more researches due to their high luminous efficiency, good stability and low cost. In this paper, a PbS quantum dots/porous silicon hybrid structure has been fabricated. The PbS quantum dots (QDs) partly infiltrated into the porous silicon (PSi) layer and partly deposited on its surface, which could increase the absorption of near-infrared wavelength range and extend the light absorption in silicon for wavelengths longer than 1100 nm. After that, A metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) device is fabricated and its response spectrum could extend to the 1200 nm at -3 V. As a silicon-based photodetector (PD), one can envision its role for operation from visible light to short-wavelength infrared range.

Epsilon-near-zero nanoantennas can be used to tune the far-field radiation pattern due to their exceptionally large intensity-dependent refractive index. Here, we propose hybrid optical antenna based on indium tin oxide (ITO) to optically tune the deflection of radiation. In particular, a hybrid structure antenna of ITO and dielectric material, which makes the deflection angle changes 17 ∘ as incident intensities increases. Finally, the array of ITO or hybrid nanodisks can enhance the unidirectionality to be needle-like, with the angular beam width α< 8∘ of main lobe. The deflection angle of radiation pattern response with needle-like lobe pave the way for further studies and applications in beam steering and optical modulation where dynamic control of the nanoantennas is highly desirable.

The study presents an assessment of climate suitability for outdoor leisure activities in Romania using the Holliday Climate Index (HCI) for the near future (2021-2040), focusing on unfavorable and good climate conditions. The analysis employs data from an ensemble model in the context of RCP45 and RCP85 climate change scenarios. The results indicate that the number of days with low weather suitability is decreasing in almost the entire country, especially during the warm season, while during the winter and spring extended regions may be characterized by a higher number of days favorable for outdoor activities than during the current climate. An estimation of the impact of climate changes on tourism flux in Romania is further carried out, suggesting that the increasing attractivity of climate conditions may lead to an increased number of tourist overnights in the near future, more pronounced in rural destinations.

In European Seveso Legislation for the control of the hazard of major accidents (Directive 2015/12/UE), the Safety Management System SMS is an essential obligation for managers and the authorities are required to periodically verify its adequateness through periodical inspections at Seveso sites. One of the pillars of the SMS is the collection and analysis of documents on accidents, near misses and possibly anomalies, in order to identify weaknesses and implement continuous improvement. In Italy, for a few years, the documents, gathered from all Italian Seveso sites by the inspectors, have been archived and used for research purposes. The archive currently contains some 4000 reports, collected in five years by some 100 inspectors throughout Italy. The paper discusses in the detail the challenges faced to extract the knowledge hidden in the documents and make it usable through the design of a robust model. For this aim, Machine Learning techniques have been used as a preprocessing of the reports for extracting the concepts and their relations, organized into an entity-relation model. The effectiveness of this methodology and its potentiality are pointed out by investigating a few hot topics, exploiting the information contained in the repository.

The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators) found that diabetes significantly increases the overall burden of disease, leading to a 24.4% increase in disability-adjusted life years. Persistently high glucose levels in diabetes can cause structural and functional changes in proteins throughout the body, and the accumulation of protein aggregates in the brain is associated with the progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD).To address this burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program was developed based on the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine. The prospectively registered clinical trials (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04626453, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04812288) involved two groups: an Intervention group of older sedentary adults with T2DM and a Control group of healthy older adults who could be either active or sedentary. The completion rate for the 2-month exercise program was high, with participants completing on an average of 89.14% of the exercise sessions. This indicated that the program was practical, feasible, and well-tolerated, even during the COVID pandemic. It was also safe, requiring minimal equipment and no supervision. The exercise instructions were easy to understand, making them suitable for older adults with cognitive decline.The near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based brain and muscle oxygenation study provided evidence on brain overactivation among older adults with T2DM, supporting the compensatory theory. It also demonstrated that the 2-month combined exercise intervention effectively reduced brain overactivation and contributed to improved cognitive function. Operational modal analysis showed an exercise-related effect on the very low-frequency hemodynamic oscillations cluster, which may be associated with better vascular muscle and/or perivascular neurogenic regulation. Furthermore, we personalized the exercise duration and interval based on muscle oxygenation during physical tasks, leading to improvements in muscle oxidative capacity within just two months. This finding has practical implications for physical therapists, as they can target muscle oxygenation changes during physical tests to prescribe appropriate exercise doses for enhancing physical performance.

Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by loss of β cell mass and/or -function, resulting in hyperglycemia. Approx. 537 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes – a number which is expected to increase. Diabetes is primarily treated by exogenous insulin, which comes with the challenges of maintaining glycemic control to prevent ketoacidosis and severe complications. The need for a curative treatment has initiated the research in β cell regeneration. Several studies in mice have identified essential genes for β cell fate, which can be manipulated in other cells to induce generation of new β cells. Zebrafish, a regeneration-positive animal model, has shown several different sources of new β cells, including regeneration by self-replication, neogenesis by duct-associated progenitor cells, and transdifferentiation of other endocrine islet cells. The animal models used in this research area are either limited by their low regenerative ability (mice), or their small size and remoteness from humans (zebrafish). There is a need for new animal models of diabetes, in which the molecular pathways of endogenous regeneration can be studied. This study proposes the axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum) as a model for studying the regeneration of β cells. The axolotl has shown great regenerative capability, as they have proven capable of regenerating amputated limbs, and hearts with myocardial infarction, among other organs. This study aims to establish a diabetic axolotl model, investigate their regenerative ability in the pancreas, and examine the potential systemic effects of the induced disease. In a pilot study, five different protocols using STZ (streptozotocin) were tested, and the most optimal protocol was found. Furthermore, the glucose tolerance test was optimized to characterize the glycemic state of the animals. The effect of the treatment on blood glucose levels was measured to characterize the development and decline of the disease. The histological changes in the pancreas were examined. Moreover, the systemic effects of the STZ treatment were investigated in blood and urine. The study indicated that it is possible to induce diabetes in the axolotl, but variations between the animals should be minimized, or the sample size should be increased to conduct a satisfying experiment, as it was not possible to induce diabetes in all animals. Regeneration was not observed histologically, but a restoration of blood glucose levels was seen over the span of the experiment. Lastly, edema formation was observed in some of the STZ-treated animals, but the cause of edema remains undetermined.

Cardiac fibrosis is a pathological process associated with development of heart failure. TGF-β and WNT signaling have been implicated in pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis, however little is known about molecular cross-talk between these two pathways. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of exogenous canonical WNT3a and non-canonical WNT5a in TGF-β-activated human cardiac fibroblasts. We found that WNT3a and TGF-β induced -catenin-dependent response, whereas WNT5a prompted AP-1 activity. TGF-β triggered profibrotic signature in cardiac fibroblasts, and co-stimulation with WNT3a or co-activation of the β-catenin pathway with GSK3β inhibitor CHIR99021 enhanced collagen I and fibronectin production and development of active contractile stress fibers. In the absence of TGF-β, neither WNT3a nor CHIR99021 exerted profibrotic response. On a molecular level, in TGF-β-activated fibroblasts WNT3a enhanced phosphorylation of TAK1 and production and secretion of IL-11 but showed no effect on Smad pathway. Neutralization of IL-11 activity with the blocking anti-IL-11 antibody effectively reduced profibrotic response of cardiac fibroblasts activated with TGF-β and WNT3a. In contrast to canonical WNT3a, co-activation with non-canonical WNT5a suppressed TGF-β-induced production of collagen I. In conclusion, WNT/β-catenin signaling promotes TGF-β-mediated fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition by enhancing IL-11 production. Thus, the uncovered mechanism broadens our knowledge on molecular basis of cardiac fibrogenesis and defines novel therapeutic targets for fibrotic heart diseases.

In this work, we present preliminary results of radar observations of near-Earth Objects (NEOs) carried out by European radio telescopes in the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA) project “NEO observation concepts for radar systems”, which was aimed to derive the functional requirements of a radar system, evaluate the available European assets to perform NEO radar observations and carry out test radar campaigns. In the first part of the project, we carried out the performance analysis of a possible European planetary radar system. Instrumental features, as much as issues like the impact of weather conditions on signal propagation at different radio frequencies, were considered. This paper is focused on the test campaigns, performed in the years 2021-22 in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which led to the observation of several asteroids including 2021 AF8, (4660) Nereus and 2005 LW3, which allowed us to derive astrometric measurements, as well as to measure physical properties, such as rotation periods, and detect an asteroid’s satellite. The obtained results demonstrate that European radio astronomical dishes, although employed only as receivers (in bistatic or multistatic configurations) and for a limited amount of time, are able to provide a significant contribution to the constitution of a European network to increase the opportunities for NEO monitoring and studies, if a transmitting antenna - equipped with a suitable high-power transmitter - were made available.

Near Inertial Oscillations (NIOs) are ocean oscillations forced by intermittent winds. They are most energetic at mid-latitudes, particularly in regions of atmospheric storm tracks. Wind-driven, large-scale NIOs are quickly scattered by ocean mesoscale eddies (with sizes ranging from 100 to 400 km), causing a significant portion of the NIO energy to propagate into the ocean interior. This kinetic energy pathway illustrates that the wind energy input to NIO, estimated at 5 TeraWatts, is critical for maintaining deep ocean stratification and thus closing the total kinetic energy budget, as emphasized by numerous modelling studies. However, this wind energy input to NIO remains poorly observed on a global scale. A remote sensing approach, which observes winds and ocean currents co-located in time and space with high resolution, is necessary to capture the intermittent air-sea coupling. The current satellite observations do not meet these requirements. This study assesses the potential of a new satellite mission concept, Ocean DYnamics and Surface Exchange with the Atmosphere (ODYSEA), to recover wind-forced NIOs from co-located winds and currents. To do this, we use an Observation System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) based on hourly observations of ocean surface currents and surface winds from five surface moorings covering latitudes from 15∘ to 50∘. ODYSEA wind and current observations are expected to have a spatial resolution of 10 km with about 12-hour sampling frequency in mid-latitudes. Results show that NIOs can be recovered with high accuracy using the ODYSEA spatial and temporal resolution, only if observations are made in a wide-swath of 1,800 km. A narrower swath (1,000 km) may lead to significant aliasing.

The initial dilution generated by the final disposal of untreated wastewater through a submarine outfall in Santa Marta was examined with a near-field dilution model. Northward and eastward seawater velocity, salinity, and temperature profiles from a 3D hydrodynamic model were used to provide the oceanic conditions to calculate the dilution. At the wastewater discharge site, the upwelling phenomenon occurs two times a year, the major from December to March and the minor in July, eliminating the stratification condition of seawater. The results of the dilution model showed that in these periods the plume reaches the water surface achieving dilutions greater than 100. In addition, the external wave effect on the initial dilution of submarine outfall discharge in Santa Marta was determined. Surface waves increase dilution during the dry period of the year when trade winds increase the surge and start the upwelling phenomenon. The Dilution with/without waves factor is up to 1.90 for the center of the plume on the water column.

This paper presents the design, fabrication and characterization of Schottky erbium/silicon photodetectors working at 1.55 µm. These erbium/silicon junctions are carefully characterized using both electric and optical measurements at room temperature. A Schottky barrier ΦB of ~673 meV is extrapolated; the photodetectors show external responsivity of 0.55 mA/W at room temperature under a 8 V of reverse bias applied. In addition, the device performance is discussed in terms of normalized noise and noise equivalent power. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first Er/Si photodetectors designed for operation in free space at 1.55 µm. The proposed devices will pave the way towards development of Er-based photodetectors and light sources to be monolithically integrated in the same silicon substrate and both operating at 1.55 µm.

Using the method of the beta function, Sun has recently evaluated some series of the type $\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}(ak+b)x^k/\binom{mk}{nk}$. By factorization of the polynomial $t^{m-n}(1-t)^n-x$, we will give a general method to find new $\pi$-series.

Antibiotic resistance, particularly beta-lactam resistance, is a major problem worldwide. Imipenemase or IMP-type metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) has become a more prominent enzyme, especially in Asia, since it was discovered in the 1990s in Japan. There are currently more than 91 variants of IMP-type enzymes. The most commonly identified variant of IMP-type enzymes is IMP-1 variant. IMP-type MBLs have been identified in more than 10 species in Enterobacterales. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most frequent carrier of IMP-type enzymes worldwide. In Asia, IMP-type MBLs have been distributed in many countries in the region. This work investigated a variety of currently available IMP-type MBLs in both global level and regional level. Out of 88 variants of IMP-type MBLs reported worldwide, only 32 variants were found to have susceptibility profiles. Most of the IMP-type MBLs were resistant to Carbapenems, especially Imipenem and Meropenem, followed by the 3rd generation cephalosporins, and interestingly, monobactams. Our results comprehensively indicated the distribution of IMP-type MBLs in Asia and raised the awareness of the situation of antimicrobial resistance in the region.

December 4, 2020 marks 90 years since the concept of neutrinos was proposed as a consequence of the observed discrepancies in several experiments on radioactive decays of various isotopes. There have been great many developments in our understanding of this elusive particle over the past nine decades, also leading to several Nobel Prizes awarded to work on neutrino physics. But there are many aspects of the neutrinos that are still not completely understood, including even its actual rest mass. The neutrino still remains an enigma and we have yet to learn a lot about its different properties. This article summarises the overall picture of the current understanding of the neutrino, right from its inception.

Abstract: Composite sintered bodies comprising silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles dispersed in β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) were prepared. The addition of nano-sized colloidal SiO2 to the β-TCP produced well-dispersed secondary phase nanoparticles that promoted densification by suppressing grain growth and increasing volume shrinkage of the sintered bodies. The SiO2 was found not to react with the β-TCP at 1120 °C and the substitution of silicon for phosphorous to produce a solid solution did not occur. This lack of a reaction is ascribed to the absence of avail-able calcium ions to compensate for the increase in charge associated with this substitution. The SiO2 nanoparticles were found to be present near the intersections of grain boundaries in the β-TCP. A β-TCP composite sintered body containing 4.0 wt% SiO2 exhibited a bending strength comparable to that of cortical bone and hence could potentially be used as a bone filling material.

Abstract: Due to their rapid evolution and their impact on health care, be-ta-lactamases, protein degrading beta-lactam antibiotics, are used as generic model of protein evolution. Therefore, we investigated the mutation effects in two distant beta-lactamases TEM-1 and CTX-M-15. Interestingly we found a site with a complex pattern of genetic interactions. Mutation G251W in TEM-1 is in-activating the protein’s function just as the reciprocal mutation W251G in CTXM-15. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that mutation G has been entrenched in TEM-1 background: while rarely observed throughout the phylogeny it is es-sential in TEM-1. Using a rescue experiment in TEM-1 G251W mutant, we could identify sites that alleviates the deviation from G to W. While few of these muta-tions could potentially involve local interactions, most of them were found on distant residues in the 3D structure. Many well-known mutations having an impact on protein stability, such as M182T, were recovered. Our results there-fore suggest that entrenchment of an amino acid may rely on diffuse interactions among multiple sites with a major impact on protein stability.

Background: Visual acuity (VA) assessments are crucial in ophthalmology but traditionally rely on in-clinic evaluations. The emergence of telemedicine has spurred interest in creating dependable self-administered VA tests for use beyond standard clinical environments. This study evaluates the practicality and validity of a self-administered Near VA card test against traditional Snellen and Rosenbaum Pocket Vision Screener (RPVS) methods for home monitoring and enhancing clinical workflow. Methods: In a cross-sectional study a near VA card (Hadassah Self-Visual Acuity Screener-HSVA) was developed with written and videotaped instructions for self-use. Patients with a minimal best corrected VA (BCVA) of 1.0 LogMAR in at least one eye were recruited from Ophthalmology and Optometry clinics. Outcomes included mean BCVA difference between the self-administered and those obtained by the examiner, and correlations among BCVA values obtained by Snellen, RPVS, HSVA and previous distance BCVA according to the patient electronic medical records. Results: A total of 275 participants (mean age: 42.5±19.4 years, range: 18-89 years, 47% female) were included. Test-retest reliability analysis for the HSVA demonstrated very good correlation and repeatability (n=38 patients.; Rs=1.0, P

The study aimed to evaluate the association between the changes in ventilatory variables (tidal volume (Vt), respiratory rate (RR), and lung ventilation (VE)) and deoxygenation of m.intescostales (∆SmO2-m.intercostales) during a maximal incremental exercise in nineteen male competitive marathon runners. The ventilatory variables and oxygen-consumption (VO2) were recorded breath-by-breath by exhaled gas analysis. A near-infrared spectroscopy device (MOXY) located in the right-hemithorax allowed recording SmO2-m.intercostales. To explore changes in oxygen levels in muscles with high demand during exercise, a second MOXY records SmO2-m.vastus laterallis. The triphasic model of exercise intensity was used for evaluating changes in SmO2 in both muscle groups. We found that ∆SmO2-m.intercostales correlated with VO2-peak (r=0.65; p=0.002) and the increase of VE (r=0.78; p=0.001), RR (r=0.54; p=0.001), but not Vt (p=0.210). The interaction of factors (muscles X exercise-phases) in SmO2 expressed as an arbitrary unit (a.u) was significant (p=0.005). At VT1 were no difference (p=0.177), but SmO2-m.intercostales was higher at VT1 (p<0.001) and VO2-peak (p<0.001). In competitive marathon runners, the m.intercostales deoxygenation during incremental exercise is directly associated with the aerobic capacity and increased lung ventilation and respiratory rate, but not tidal volume. Besides, it shows less deoxygenation than m.vastus laterallis at intensities above the aerobic ventilatory threshold.

In this work we theoretically investigate the responsivity/noise equivalent power (NEP) trade-off in graphene/semiconductor Schottky photodetectors (PDs) operating in the near-infrared regime and working at room temperature. Our analysis shows as the responsivity/NEP ratio is strongly dependent on the Schottky barrier height (SBH) of the junction and we derive a closed analytical formula for maximizing it. In addition, we theoretically discuss as the SBH is linked to the bias applied to the junction in order to show how these devices could be optimized in practice for different semiconductors. We discover that graphene/n-silicon (Si) Schottky PDs could be optimized at 1550nm showing a responsivity and NEP of 133mA/W and 500fW/Hz, respectively, by a low reverse bias of only 0.66V. Moreover, we show that graphene/n-germanium (Ge) Schottky PDs optimized in term of responsivity/NEP ratio could be employed at 2000nm with a responsivity and NEP of 233mA/W and 31pW/Hz, respectively. We believe that our insights are of great importance in the field of silicon photonics for the realization of Si-based PDs to be employed in power monitoring, lab-on-chip and environment monitoring applications.

Heavy metals pollution in the Straits of Malacca warrants the development of rapid, simple and sensitive assays. Enzyme-based assays are excellent preliminary screening tool with near real-time potential. The heavy-metal assay based on the protease ficin was optimized for mercury detection using Response Surface Methodology. The inhibitive assay is based on ficin action on the substrate casein and residual casein is determined using the Coomassie dye-binding assay. Heavy metals strongly inhibit the hydrolysis. A Central Composite Design (CCD) was utilized to optimize detection. The results show a marked improvement for the concentration causing 50% inhibition (IC50) for mercury, silver and copper. Compared to One-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) optimization, RSM gave an improvement of IC50 from 0.060 (95% CI, 0.0300.080) to 0.017 (95% CI, 0.0160.019), from 0.098 (95% CI, 0.0770.127) to 0.028 (95% CI, 0.0220.037) and from 0.040 (95% CI, 0.035.045) to 0.023 (95% CI, 0.0200.027), for mercury, silver and copper, respectively. A near real-time monitoring of mercury concentration in the Straits of Malacca at one location in Port Klang was carried out over a 4-h interval for a total of 24 h and validated by instrumental analysis with the result revealing an absence of mercury pollution in the sampling site.

Recently, Troyan et al (2019 arXiv:1908.01534) and Kong et al (2019 arXiv:1909.10482) extended near-room-temperature superconductors family by new yttrium superhydride polymorphs, YH_n (n = 4,6,7,9), which exhibit superconducting transition temperatures in the range of T_c = 210-243 K at pressure of P = 160-255 GPa. In this paper, temperature dependent upper critical field data, B_c2(T), for highly-compressed mixture of YH₄+YH₆ phases (reported by Kong et al 2019 arXiv:1909.10482) is analysed to deduce the ratio of T_c to the Fermi temperature, T_F. Our analysis shows that in all considered scenarios the YH₄+YH₆ mixture has the ratio 0.01 ≤ T_c/T_F ≤ 0.04. As the result, YH₄+YH₆ falls in the unconventional superconductors band in the Uemura plot. It is also found that the characteristic temperature of the order parameter amplitude fluctuations, T_fluc, in the YH₄+YH₆ mixture is only several percent above observed T_c, and thus the superconducting transition in yttrium superhydride polymorphs is fundamentally limited by thermodynamics fluctuations.

Background: Maternal near-miss refers to a situation where a woman who nearly died but survived from severe life-threatening obstetric complications that occurred during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. It has been estimated that up to 9 million women survive obstetric complications every year. According to studies done around the world most mothers suffer from Near Miss due to the factors which includes, low socioeconomic status, patient related, health provider related, and health related and health institution related issues. Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the proportion of maternal near misses and its associated factors in Selected Public Health Institutions of Keffa, Bench-Maji and Sheka Zones of South Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional state, South West Ethiopia, 2017. Methodology: Hospital based cross-sectional study design was employed and simple random sampling techniques (Lottery Method) was used to select the study institution and Systematic sampling technique was used to select 845 study participants every 5^th interval. Information was collected by using pre-tested and structured interviewer administered questioner. Using SPSS version 21 software, descriptive statistics and bivariate logistic regression analysis was done and variables with p-value <0.2 were transferred to multivariate analysis and during Multivariate logistic regression analysis Variables with P-value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant and AOR with 95% CI were used to control for possible confounders and to interpret the result. The results were summarized by tables, graphs and charts. Result: There were 5530 Live Births, 227 Sever Acute Maternal Morbidity cases of this 210 were Maternal Near-Misses cases and 17 were maternal deaths, 364 Maternal Near-Misses Events. The overall Maternal Near-Misses Proportion is 24.85%. The maternal Near-Misses outcome ratio was 41 cases/1,000 live births (LB); mortality ratio was 12.35cases/1 maternal death and 74.8/1000LB of mortality index. Parity, residence, distance of living place from hospital, ANC Follow up, duration of labor, and administrative related problems were found to have statistically significant associations. Conclusion: The proportion of Maternal Near-Misses is relatively high when compared to other regional studies and efforts should be done to lower the near-misses.

We present a comprehensive database of near-shore wind observations that were carried out during the experimental campaign of the RUNE project. RUNE aims at reducing the uncertainty of the near-shore wind resource estimates from model outputs by using lidar, ocean, and satellite observations. Here we concentrate in describing the lidar measurements. The campaign was conducted from November 2015 to February 2016 at the west coast of Denmark and comprises measurements from eight lidars, an ocean buoy and three types of satellites. The wind speed was estimated based on measurements from a scanning lidar performing PPIs, two scanning lidars performing dual synchronized scans, and five vertical profiling lidars, of which one was operating offshore on a floating platform. The availability of measurements is highest for the profiling lidars, followed by the lidar performing PPIs, those peforming the dual setup, and the lidar buoy. Analysis of the lidar measurements reveals good agreement between the estimated 10-m wind speeds, although the instruments used different scanning strategies and measured different volumes in the atmosphere. The campaign is characterized by strong westerlies with occasional storms.

Several efforts have been made to estimate the prevalence of different types of antibiotic resistance in different regions of Nigeria. The study investigated the prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae encoding genes for CTX-M, TEM, and SHV-1 extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) enzymes isolated from urine samples of non-hospitalized patients with suspected UTI in Lagos State, Nigeria. A 4-month retrospective study, spanning from May 2023 to August 2023, was conducted. K. pneumoniae was isolated from urine samples using standard microbiological methods. The modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to test for antibiotic susceptibility, and Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines were followed for interpretation. The double-disk synergy method was used to confirm the phenotypic identity of ESBL producers, and the results were interpreted in accordance with CLSI guidelines. The phenotypic method was utilized for ESBL screening, employing the standard disk diffusion method. The CTX-M ESBL gene, TEM gene, and SHV gene were found using multiplex PCR. Results revealed that 41 K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to third-generation Cephalosporins; the isolates showed resistance to ceftazidime in 100% of cases and ceftriaxone in 80.49% of cases respectively. It was determined that 8 (19.51%) of the isolates produced ESBL. Among Klebsiella isolates, the frequencies of the SHV, TEM, and CTX-M genes were 31 (75.61%), 4 (9.76%), and 10 (24.39%), in that order. Four isolates (9.67%) had the SHV, TEM, and CTX-M genes, while eight (19.51%) of the isolates possessed both the SHV and CTX-M genes. This investigation demonstrates high frequency, wide range of patterns and coexistence of ESBL genes in K. pneumoniae isolates from outpatient UTI patients. Although several phenotypic tests have been used for ESBL detection, testing directly for the presence of ESBL genes is always more accurate. The majority of the isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBL producers had the SHV gene identified.

Weak interaction processes continue to be hot topics in fundamental physics research. In this paper, we briefly review some recent advances in the theoretical study of beta and double-beta decays that include both the nuclear and atomic part of these processes. On the nuclear side, we present a statistical approach for the computation of the nuclear matrix elements (NME) for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ). A range of NME values, the most probable value for NME, and the associated theoretical uncertainty are given. Correlations with other related observables are shown as well. On the atomic side, we first briefly review the methods used to get the electrons’ wave functions. Further, we use them for the computation of some relevant kinematic quantities such as Fermi functions, electron spectra and angular correlation between the emitted electrons. Then, we present applications of these calculations to the experimental data analysis related to the search of the Lorentz invariance violation in two-neutrino double-beta (2νββ) decay and description of the decay rates and decay rate ratios for allowed and unique forbidden electron capture (EC) processes.

Based on a rich data set of recoveries donated by a debt collection business, recovery rates for non-performing loans taken from a single European country are modelled using linear regression, linear regression with Lasso, beta regression and inflated beta regression. We also propose a two-stage model: beta mixture model combined with a logistic regression model. The proposed model allows us to model the multimodal distribution we find for these recovery rates. All models are built using loan characteristics, default data and collections data prior to purchase by the debt collection business. The intended use of the models is to estimate future recovery rates for improved risk assessment, capital requirement calculations and bad debt management. They are compared using a range of quantitative performance measures under K-fold cross validation. Among all the models, we find that the proposed two-stage beta mixture model performs best.

The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the articles that addressed the effect BA or carnosine supplementation on physical exercise (PE)-induced oxidative stress (OS). Before May 2018 we searched throughout PubMed, CAPES Periodic and SPORTDiscus human model peer review, randomized control studies with chronic BA or carnosine supplementation on PE-induced OS. A total of 128 citations were found. Only four articles met criteria for inclusion. All four studies used healthy young sedentary, recreationally active or athletic participants. After a chronic BA or carnosine supplementation, the studies evaluated PE-induced OS both immediately and several hours after exercise (0.5 to 48 h). In response to PE-induced OS, when compared to placebo, BA/carnosine supplementation increased total antioxidant capacity [TAC; Effect Size (ES) = 0.35, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.06 to 0.65, p = 0.02] and glutathione (GSH; ES = 0.75, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.19, p = 0.0007) concentrations while decreased direct OS markers (ES = −1.19, 95% CI −1.48 to −0.80, p < 0.01) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (ES = − 0.58, 95% CI −1.10 to −0.06, p = 0.03). BA or carnosine supplementation did not prevent the increase in indirect OS markers (ES: 0.06, 95% CI −0.38 to 0.500, p = 0.80). In humans, following PE-induced OS, initial treatment trials of BA or carnosine supplementation seemed to increase TAC and GSH concentrations, while decreasing SOD activity. Also, albeit mitigating the acute increase in direct OS markers (reactive nitrogen and oxygen species), treatment did not decrease measured values of indirect OS markers (peroxidation or molecule oxidation).

'Huangguan' pear has significant social and economic value, and phosphorus, as one of the three main mineral elements of plants, has an irreplaceable effect on the normal growth of 'Huangguan' pear trees. The objective of this study was to predict the content of phosphorus in the pulp and peel of ‘Huangguan’ pears nondestructively and conveniently by using near-infrared spectroscopy (900–1700 nm) technology. First, twelve algorithms are used to preprocess the original spectral data, and the partial least squares regression algorithm and the gradient boosting regression tree algorithm are used to build a full-band prediction model based on the original spectral data and the processed spectral data. The characteristic wavelengths were extracted using genetic algorithms, followed by establishing a characteristic wavelength prediction model. The prediction accuracy of the models was evaluated according to the coefficient of determination R² and the relative analysis error RPD. The study found that the best prediction model for predicting phosphorus content in the pulp of 'Huangguan' pear was MSC-GA-PLSR, which had R²=0.843 and RPD=1.857 in the modelling set and R²=0.989 and RPD=7.041 in the prediction set. The best prediction model for predicting phosphorus content in the peel of ‘Huangguan’ pear was SG+SNV+FD-GA-PLSR, which had R²=0.991 and RPD=7.470 in the modelling set and R²=0.974 and RPD=4.414 in the prediction set, and the effect was good and met expectations. The results demonstrated that near-infrared spectroscopy could successfully achieve nondestructive detection of phosphorus content in the pulp and peel of 'Huangguan' pears.

In this paper, we propose a methodology for analyzing the near-field coupling between two surface mount device (SMD) inductors using a 3-dimensional electromagnetic (3D-EM) model. To develop the 3D-EM model, we first extract the effective permeability of core magnetic material in the SMD using the loss tangent in the equivalent circuit model. Then the effective permeability is used in the magnetic material for the 3D-EM modeling of SMD inductor. The validity of the proposed 3D-EM model is confirmed by comparing the impedance and S-parameters obtained from both measured and EM-simulated values for the two near-field coupled SMDs. Finally, the near-field coupling effects between the two adjacent SMD inductors are visualized in terms of magnetic coupling path visualization (CPV) using the proposed 3D-EM model, which demonstrates its usefulness for near-field coupling analysis.

Near space environment is the airspace at an altitude of 20 km-100 km, where complex conditions such as low temperature, low pressure, high wind speed and solar radiation exist. As one of the important meteorological parameters, temperature is crucial for space activities, but the influence of the complex environment makes the error of conventional temperature measurement methods large. Therefore, a new microbridge temperature sensor was designed that can reduce solar radiation and achieve a fast response. And through simulation analysis, the three factors influencing the temperature errors of Joule heat, solar radiation heat and aerodynamic heat were investigated. And the influence of temperature error is reduced by optimizing the installation position of the sensor. Through the temperature error model, the error value in the actual measurement value is removed, to realize the high accuracy detection of near-space temperature.

Near-surface humidity (Qa) is a key parameter that modulates oceanic evaporation and influences the global water cycle. Remote sensing observations act as feasible sources for long-term and large-scale Qa monitoring. However, existing satellite Qa retrieval models are subject to apparent uncertainties due to model errors and insufficient training data. Based on in situ observations collected over the China Seas over the last two decades, a deep learning approach named Ensemble Mean of Target deep neural networks (EMTnet) was proposed to improve the satellite Qa retrieval over the China Seas for the first time. The EMTnet model outperforms five representative existing models by nearly eliminating the mean bias and significantly reducing the root-mean-square error in satellite Qa retrieval. According to its target deep neural networks selection process, the EMTnet model can obtain more objective learning results when the observational data are divergent. The EMTnet model was subsequently applied to produce a 30-year monthly gridded Qa data over the China Seas. It indicates that the climbing rate of Qa over the China Seas under the background of global warming are probably underestimated by current products.

As solar energy is a low-cost and clean energy source, there has been a great deal of interest in how to harvest it. To absorb solar energy efficiently, we have designed a broadband metamaterial absorber based on the principle of Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity and surface plasmon resonances (SPRs). We propose a broadband perfect absorber consisting of a four-layer structure of silica-tungsten-silica-titanium (SiO2-W-SiO2-Ti) for the incident light wavelength range of 300–2500 nm. The structure achieves perfect absorption of incident light in the wavelength range of 351.8–2465.0 nm (absorption >90%), with an average absorption of 96.3%. The advantage of our proposed structure is that it combines the characteristics of both high and broadband absorption and has a high overall absorption efficiency for solar radiation. It is also independent of polarization and insensitive to incident angle. We investigated how absorption was affected by different structures, materials, geometrical parameters, and refractive indices for different dielectric materials, and we explored the reasons for high absorption. This structure is refractory and ultra-thin, and it offers a good trade-off between bandwidth and absorption. It therefore has premium application prospects and value.

The use of crime mapping has been used by the police to inform deployment of resources for many decades. Such approaches are commonly used to underpin crime control strategies designed to prevent or reduce acquisitive crimes such as domestic burglary. In recent decades there has been a shift away from simple hot spot identification to more complex geospatial mapping methodologies, such as near repeat analysis which was developed through research regarding burglary victimisation. One of these newly emerging methodologies is built upon the ecological, optimal forager theory (OFT). Research using this theory to examine domestic burglary offending intimated potential for positive results in predicting areas at risk of future crime. This led to a number of police services using crime analysis methodologies built upon OFT to underpin their deployment of resources in an effort to prevent or reduce domestic burglary through increased capable guardianship. However, to date, there has been no detailed examination of how the police services implemented such approaches. As such, this study seeks to fill this gap by examining OFT strategies implemented within 5 police services. By interviewing participants directly involved in the programs the study gathers views and perspectives of its relative success. As a result, we identify that participants felt the strategies produced limited impact on recorded burglary crime. We discuss how despite some positive by-products of the strategies, failure to comprehensively apply the theoretical foundations of OFT, and a variety of implementation failures have undermined the various programs, ultimately impacting their effectiveness.

Understanding how the deformed bed topography induced by near-bank vegetation impacts the hydrodynamics is significant for understanding the maintenance condition of bed morphology and further fluvial evolution. This issue has rarely been addressed by current studies. This study with a 2D hydro-morphological model investigates the hydrodynamics over flat and deformed beds with a near-bank vegetation patch. By varying the patch density, the generalized results show that the hydrodynamics for the deformed bed differs a lot from those for the flat bed. It is found that deformed bed topography leads to an apparent decrease in longitudinal velocity and bed shear stress in the open region and longitudinal surface gradient for the entire vegetated reach. However, the transverse flow motion and transverse surface gradient in the region of the leading edge and trailing edge is enhanced or maintained, suggesting the strengthening of secondary flows. Interestingly, the deformed bed topography tends to alleviate the turbulent effect caused by the junction-interface horizontal coherent vortices, indicating that the turbulence-induced flow mixing is highly inhibited by the deformed bed. Alternatively, the enhanced secondary flows might provide compensation for the flow mixing for the deformed bed, confirmed by a faster recovery of the redistributed water discharge for the vegetated and open regions to the normal value (50%). The interior flow adjustment through the patch for the deformed bed requires a shorter distance, which links the vegetative drag length with a logarithmic relation. The tilting bed topographic effect in the open region to accelerate the flow may account for the faster flow adjustment.

Chloroquine was among the first of several effective drug treatments against malaria until the onset of chloroquine resistance. In light of diminished clinical efficacy of chloroquine as an antimalarial therapeutic, there is potential in efforts to adapt chloroquine for other clinical applications, such as in combination therapies and in diagnostics. In this context, we designed and synthesized a novel asymmetrical squaraine dye coupled with chloroquine (SQR1-CQ). In this study, SQR1-CQ was used to label live Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) parasite cultures of varying sensitivities towards chloroquine. SQR1-CQ positively stained ring, mature trophozoite and schizont stages of both chloroquine–sensitive and chloroquine–resistant P. falciparum strains. In addition, SQR1-CQ exhibited significantly higher fluorescence, when compared to a chloroquine-BODIPY (borondipyrromethene) conjugate. We also achieved successful SQR1-CQ labelling of P. falciparum directly on thin blood smear preparations. Drug efficacy experiments measuring half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) showed lower concentration of effective inhibition against resistant strain K1 by SQR1-CQ compared to conventional chloroquine. Taken together, the versatile and highly fluorescent labelling capability of SQR1-CQ and promising preliminary IC50 findings potentiates it to be further developed as a promising diagnostic bioimaging tool with drug efficacy against chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum.

The main objective of this paper is to introduce a further extension of extended (p, q)-beta function by considering two Mittag-Leffler function in the kernel. We investigate various properties of this newly defined beta function such as integral representations, summation formulas and Mellin transform. We define extended beta distribution and its mean, variance and moment generating function with the help of extension of beta function. Also, we establish an extension of extended (p, q)-hypergeometric and (p, q)-confluent hypergeometric functions by using the extension of beta function. Various properties of newly defined extended hypergeometric and confluent hypergeometric functions such as integral representations, Mellin transformations, differentiation formulas, transformation and summation formulas are investigated.

A new generalization of extended beta function and its various properties, integral representations and distribution are given in this paper. In addition, we establish the generalization of extended hypergeometric and con uent hypergeometric functions using the newly extended beta function. The properties these extended and con uent hypergeometric functions such as integral representations, Mellin transformations, dif- ferentiation formulas, transformation and summation formulas are also investigated.

Hemoglobinopathies are a group of disorders in which the hemoglobin molecule has abnormal production or structure. The hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells (RBC) are impacted by the blood disease known as sickle cell disease (SCD), and Thalassemia is one of the major monogenic disorders that reduces hemoglobin production( Kohne et al ., 2011). This disorder results in a large number of red blood cells being destroyed, leading to anemia. India bears a huge burden of hemoglobinopathies; thalassemia is the most prevalent (Mondal SK et al., 2016). A key component of thalassemia prevention is a successful screening procedure to identify Thalassemia carriers. Effective screening programs have numerous obstacles, especially in environments with limited resources. Machine learning (ML) has been used to solve technical and domain-specific problems in a variety of prognostic and diagnostic medical jobs. In this work, we aimed to identify and analyze the most common mutation of β--thalassemia and sickle cell disease from the north Indian population by employing Machine learning-based algorithms. To accurately predict the carrier state from a simple blood test, and to predict pathogenic hemoglobin variants in a group of individuals, these results demonstrate the application of integrated bioinformatics and machine learning approaches. This study contributes to the validation of the models based on data from several individuals and hemoglobinopathies.

Background: Cutaneous melanoma arises from skin melanocytes and has a high risk of metastatic spread. Despite better prevention, earlier detection, and the development of innovative therapies melanoma incidence and mortality increase annually. Major clinical risk factors for melanoma include fair skin, an increased number of nevi, the presence of dysplastic nevi, and a family history of melanoma. However, several external inducers seem to be associated with melanoma susceptibility such as environmental exposure, primarily unprotected sun experience, alcohol consumption, and heavy metals. In recent years, epidemiological studies have highlighted a potential risk of β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), the most studied organochlorine pesticide, on cancer induction including melanoma. Methods: We evaluated in vitro the impact of this pollutant on epidermal and dermal cells, attempting to describe mechanisms that could render cutaneous cells more prone to oncogenic transformation. Results: We demonstrated that β-HCH impacts melanocyte biology with a highly cell-type specific signature that involves perturbation of AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and AMPK activation that converges in lowering energy reserve, cell proliferation, and pigment production. Conclusion: In conclusion, long-term exposure to persistent organic pollutants damages melanocyte metabolism in the function of the melanin content with a consequent reduction of melanogenesis indicating a potential augmented skin cancer risk.

We discuss the issues with tentative generalisations of the process matrix formalism from finite-dimensional mechanical systems all the way to quantum field theory. We present a detailed overview of possible open problems that arise when one attempts to move from particle ontology into the realm of field ontology, i.e., when one transitions from mechanics to field theory framework. These issues need to be addressed, and problems solved, if one aims to expand the scope of applicability of the process matrix formalism, and therefore its usefulness. This is far from a trivial and straightforward endeavour, but rather a task for a whole future research programme.

Background and Objectives: Stroke is a main leading cause for mortality and morbidity worldwide. Treat-ment of this pathology is still under development and its risk factors remain the main target to be reached. Therefore, we aim to determine the role of interleukin 1 beta in atheromatosis, as risk factor for stroke and the reole of this biomarker in stroke prognosis. Materials and Methods: The study conducted enrolled 56 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke in the anterior (AVT) and posterior vascular territory (PVT). All patients had venous blood collected at admission and 7 days after the onset of the cerebral ischemia in order to determine plasma concentration for interleukin 1 beta. At the same time an extracranial carotid ultrasound was performed. Results: Interleukin 1 beta collected at admission was positively correlated with NIHSS at admission (Pearson index 0,424) and both measurements were corelated with carotid stenosis (Spearmen correlation index 0,529, respectively 0,653). Conclusion: Interleukin 1 beta could be a reliable biomarker for stroke prognosis and carotid atheromatosis development.

Beta-carotene is a fat-soluble antioxidant commonly found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, and palm oil. Despite various liquid chromatography methods are proposed to detect and measure the sera carotenoid level, a long retention time to elute this marker is needed. This study attempted to develop a rapid reverse phase method in eluding beta-carotene in human sera. The researchers managed to elute the antioxidant in 2.2 minutes by applying a combination of a C8 column, mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile mixed with methanol in 70:30 proportion, and an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography system. The outputs had a good calibration curve (R²=0.959) and low coefficient of variation (0.2%), suggesting this protocol is reliable. A column with a lower carbon chain such as C8 allows the beta-carotene molecule to flow through the column faster. Besides, selecting solvents with high elution strength coupled with an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography system which equipped with high pressure can force the beta-carotene through the column in a shorter duration compared to previous reported methods. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt this protocol in epidemiological studies where beta-carotene is screened as a dietary biomarker associated with disease of interest by using human sera in the population level.

As the globe becomes more urban, the question how much natural biodiversity can subsist in cities becomes increasingly urgent to answer, and also how is urban diversity structured? To contribute to an answer, we studied the metacommunity of bees in a North European metropolitan area. The system consisted of 13 sites in the city of Aarhus, Denmark, censused from April to September during one year. Bees were sampled monthly in pan traps and a set of traits was related to their presence. In total, 40 species were collected–29 solitary species (40% of all sampled individuals), ten Bombus species (28%), and Apis mellifera (32%). Most sampled bees were soil-nesting, pollen generalists, and relatively common. Habitat diversity within a set of concentric circles with trap as centre and radius from 50 m to 1000 m was related to bee a diversity per site (total bee spp. with and without honeybee, solitary bees, and bumblebees). The relationship was only significant within the 1,000 m circle, and solitary bee diversity did not even correlate with habitat diversity at this large spatial scale level. The bee-site (space) and bee-month (time) networks were analyzed with respect to nestedness, modularity, and spatio-temporal b diversity. The two networks were weakly nested and strongly modular, being composed of five and six modules of tightly linked bees. Total b diversity, b_TOTAL, is the sum of species turnover, b_TURN, and species loss/gain or nestedness, b_NEST; and for both space and time, b_TURN was more important than b_NEST. Furthermore, b_TOTAL was higher than season b_TOTAL. Thus, the urban bee metacommunity was well-structured in both space and time and the high b_TURN indicated, that the network was strongly modular. We suggest the main reason is the high spatio-temporal patchiness of habitats, sustaining many unique species.

Nowadays, we can observe a worldwide trend towards the development of synthetic biomaterials. Numerous researches have been carried out in order to better understand the cellular behavior involved in the inflammation and bone healing processes related to living tissues. The aim of this study is to evaluate the tissue behavior of two different types of biomaterials: synthetic nano-hydroxyapatite / beta-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite in non-critical bone defects in rat calvaria. Twenty four rats underwent surgery in which two 3 mm defects in each cavity were performed. The rats were divided into 2 groups: Group 1, using xenogen hydroxyapatite (Bio oss ™); Group 2, using synthetic nano-hydroxyapatite / beta-tricalcium phosphate (Blue Bone ™). Sixty days after the surgery, the calvaria bone defect was filled with biomaterial, the animals were sacrificed and marked with Masson's trichrome and PAS staining, and immunohistochemistry (TNF-α, MMP-9) and electron microscopy analyzes were performed. Histomorphometric analysis indicates a greater presence in the protein matrix in Group 2, in addition to higher levels of TNF-α, MMP-9. The ultrastructural analysis shows an association of material with fibroblasts in the tissue regeneration stage. Paired statistical data indicates that Blue Bone ™ can improve bone formation / remodeling when compared to biomaterials of xenogenous origin.

This review was carried out to identify different beta-lactamase resistance genes reported in published literature from Nigeria and to determine the proportion estimates of the important beta-lactamase resistance genes in Nigeria. Sixty-three (63) articles were included in this review based on the eligibility criteria. All the beta-lactamases reported were detected from the Gram-negative bacteria, most especially from Enterobacteriaceae (n=53). Thirty-six different beta-lactamase genes have been reported from Nigeria. These genes belong to the narrow-spectrum, AmpC, extended-spectrum, and carbapenemase beta-lactamase resistance genes. Eight (8) genes (bla_DHA, bla_CTXM-1, bla_CTXM-14, bla_GES-1, bla_VEB-1, bla_OXA-1, bla_OXA-2, and bla_TEM-1) were shared between animals and humans, 5 genes (bla_SHV-1, bla_SHV-2, bla_SHV-11, bla_SHV-12, and bla_NDM-1) were common to both humans and environment while none of the genes was unique to both animals and environment. Four genes including bla_CMY, bla_TEM-1, bla_AmpC, and internationally pandemic bla_CTXM-15 gene were unique to animals, humans, and the environment. No carbapenemase gene was reported from animals yet. The pooled proportion estimate of ESBL genes in Nigeria was 31% (95% CI: 26-36%, P<0.0001), while the estimate of bla_CTXM-15 gene in Nigeria was 46% (95% CI: 36-57%, P<0.0001). The proportion estimate of AmpC genes was 32% (95% CI: 11-52%, P<0.001), while the estimate for carbapenemases was 8% (95% CI: 5-12%, P<0.001). This study has provided information on the beta-lactamases distribution in Nigeria. This is necessary for a better understanding of molecular epidemiology of clinically important beta-lactamases especially the extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases in Nigeria.

Beta thalassemia major (β-TM) disorder characterized by the lack, or severe reduction in the production of hemoglobin β-globin chains. The standard protocol for the management of β-TM is blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy to reduce the iron overload state. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between two iron regulatory hormones, hepcidin (HEPC) and erythroferrone (ERFE) levels and iron status parameters (ISPs) in Iraqi patients with β-TM. ISPs and hormones were measured in sixty patients and compared with thirty healthy controls. The results indicated significant changes in different iron status parameters, while ferritin (FRT) with the ~11 fold increase showed the most change. Significant reduction in HEPC and increase in ERFE levels were detected in patients as compared to the control group, while no direct correlation was identified with the other measured ISPs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the z-score of the composite of ERFE+FRT has a full diagnostic ability for β-TM. In conclusion, our finding indicated the correlation between different ISPs, FRT as the leading predictor of iron overload and tow main iron regulatory hormones.

The stock beta coefficient literature extensively discusses the proper methods for the estimation of beta as well as its use in asset valuation. However, there are relatively few references with respect to the appropriate time horizon that investors should utilize when evaluating the risk-return relationship of a stock. We examine the appropriate time horizon for beta estimation differentiating our results by sector according to the Industry Classification Benchmark. We employ data from the NYSE and we estimate varying lengths of beta employing data from 30 to 250 trading days. The constructed beta series is then examined for the presence of breaks using the endogenous structural break literature. Results show evidence against the use of betas that employ more than 90 trading days of data provisional to the sector under study.

Cholesterol, a crucial component of cell membranes, influences various biological processes, including membrane trafficking, signal transduction, and host-pathogen interactions. Disruptions in cholesterol homeostasis have been linked to congenital and acquired conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous research from our group has demonstrated that herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) induces an AD-like phenotype in several cell models of infection. This study explores the interplay between cholesterol and HSV-1-induced neurodegeneration. The impact of cholesterol was determined by modulating its levels with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MβCD) using the neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-MC and N2a. We have found that HSV-1 infection triggers the intracellular accumulation of cholesterol in structures resembling endolysosomal/autophagic compartments, a process reversible upon MβCD treatment. Moreover, MβCD exhibits inhibitory effects at various stages of HSV-1 infec-tion, underscoring the importance of cellular cholesterol levels not only in the viral entry pro-cess but also in subsequent post-entry stages. MβCD also alleviated several features of AD-like neurodegeneration induced by viral infection, including lysosomal impairment and intracellu-lar accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau. In conclusion, these findings highlight the connection between cholesterol, neurodegeneration, and HSV-1 infection, providing valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of AD.

Given a fuzzy normed space $ \left( X,N \right) $‎, ‎we will introduce the notion of fuzzy near best approximation within a relative distance $ \rho \geq 0 $‎. ‎Some basic properties are characterized and also many examples for illustration are presented‎.

Earth’s near space is a region between 20 and 100 km above sea level, which is characterized by low temperature, low atmospheric pressure, harsh radiation, and extreme dryness. These conditions are analogous to the surface of Mars and the atmosphere of Venus, and thus make it a unique natural lab for astrobiologists. To address the important astrobiological questions of the effects of the near space environmental conditions on biology and of the survival strategies of representative organisms in this planetary analog, teams from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a scientific balloon platform named the Chinese Academy of Sciences Balloon-Borne Astrobiology Platform (CAS-BAP) and carried out a series of experiments in lower near space since 2019. Here, we describe the Biological Samples Exposure Payload (BIOSEP) loaded on CAS-BAP with respect to its structure and function. The primary role of BIOSEP is to expose biological/chemical samples to the planetary analog environments of Earth’s lower near space. Exposed samples will be returned to laboratories for morphological, physiological, chemical, and genetic analyses. The development of BIOSEP and associated biological exposure experiments will improve our understanding of the livelihood of potential Mars lives and the potential habitability of the atmosphere regions of other planets in the Solar System and beyond.

Introduction: Successful R0 resection is crucial for the survival of patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) or liver metastases. Up to date, surgical resection lacks a sensitive, real-time intraoperative imaging modality to determine R0 resection. Real-time intraoperative visualization with near-infrared light fluorescence (NIRF) using indocyanine green (ICG) may have the potential to meet this demand. This study evaluates the value of ICG visualization in PLC and liver metastases surgery regarding R0 resection rates. Materials and Methods Patients with PLC or liver metastases were included in this prospective cohort study. ICG 10mg was administered intravenously 24 hours before surgery. Real-time intraoperative NIRF visualization was made with the SpectrumTM Fluorescence Imaging Camera System. First, all liver segments were inspected with the fluorescence imaging system and intraoperative ultrasound for identification of the known tumor as well as additional lesions, compared to preoperative MRI. PLC, liver metastases, and additional lesions were then resected according to oncological principles. Of all resected specimens the resection margins were analyzed with the fluorescence imaging system for ICG positive spots right after resection. Histology of additional detected lesions as well as ICG fluorescence compared to histological resection margins were assessed. Results Of the 66 included patients median age was 65.5 years (IQR 58.7 - 73.9), 27 (40.9%) were female and 18 (27.3%) were operated laparoscopically. Additional ICG positive lesions were detected in 23 (35.4%) patients of which nine (29%) were malignant. In patients with no fluorescent signal at the resection margin, R0 rate was 93.9%, R1 rate was 6.1%, and R2 rate was 0% compared to a ICG positive resection margin with a R0 rate of 64.3%, R1 rate of 21.4%, and R2 rate of 14.3% (p=0.005). One and two year overall survival were 95.2% and 88.4%, respectively. Conclusion The here presented study provides significant evidence that ICG NIRF guidance helps to identify R0 resection intraoperatively. This offers a true potential to verify radical resection and improve patients´ outcome. Furthermore, implementation of NIRF guided imaging in liver tumor surgery allows to detect a considerable amount of additional malignant lesions.

The optical properties and physiology of biological tissue, as well as how near-infrared (NIR) light interacts with the tissue, both play a significant role in interpreting the tissue probing optical measurements, and in solving the inverse problem of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based medical imaging modalities such as diffuse optical tomography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy. This paper discusses the optical properties of tissue, specifically in the NIR wavelength range, which influence NIRS measurements in NIRS-based medical imaging. There is an easy-to-understand explanation given in this paper of the NIR light-tissue interaction phenomenon. The mathematical explanation, the processes involved in the interaction, and the rationale for a few approximations are described. Various types of chromophores present in the tissue, their composition in the tissue, and how these chromophores overall affect the scattering and absorption of NIR light are presented. The absorption spectra of these chromophores are shown. Finally, the paper concludes with the author’s perspective on two NIRS-based medical imaging modalities, diffuse optical tomography, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Dermal water content is an important biophysical parameter in preserving skin integrity and preventing skin damage. Traditional electrical-based and open-chamber evaporimeters have several well-known limitations. In particular, such devices are costly, sizeable, and only provide arbitrary outputs. They also do not permit continuous and non-invasive monitoring of dermal water content, which can be beneficial for various consumer, clinical and cosmetic purposes. We report here on the design and development of a digital multi-wavelength optical sensor that performs continuous and non-invasive measurement of dermal water content. In-silico investigation on porcine skin was carried out using the Monte Carlo modelling strategy to evaluate the feasibility and characterise the sensor. Subsequently, an in-vitro experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of the sensor and benchmark its accuracy against a high-end, broad band spectrophotometer. Reference measurements were made against gravimetric analysis. The results demonstrate that the developed sensor can deliver accurate, continuous, and non-invasive measurement of skin hydration through measurement of dermal water content. Remarkably, the novel design of the sensor exceeded the performance of the high-end spectrophotometer due to the important denoising effects of temporal averaging. The authors believe, in addition to wellbeing and skin health monitoring, the designed sensor can particularly facilitate disease management in patients presenting diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, malnutrition, and atopic dermatitis.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to measure muscle mitochondrial capacity. The current method requires as many as 22 short ischemic occlusions to generate a recovery curve for mitochondrial capacity. PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of using a 6-occlusion analysis protocol to study muscle mitochondrial capacity. METHOD: Two independent, unidentified data sets were analyzed (bicep n=48, forearm n=41) from previous studies using a NIRS device (Artinis, Ltd.). Both data sets had two recovery tests that included 22 ischemic occlusions. A recovery rate used to indicate mitochondrial capacity was calculated two different ways (simultaneously). Each sample was analyzed with a MATLAB program; with a curve-fit for the 22 ischemic occlusions and curve matching for the first six ischemic cuffs and an end resting value. The two resulting rate constants were compared using correlations, both for the two data sets, good and bad fitting data, using the best 5 of 6 points for the 6 cuff approach. RESULTS: The rate constants were not significantly different between the 22 cmuff and 6 cuff for the total data sets: bicep (1.43+0.32min^-1, 1.44+0.35min^-1, p=0.56), forearm (1.94+0.42min^-1, 1.95+0.44min^-1, p=0.76). The average bicep rate constants, when compared to each other, had an equation of y=1.07x-0.09, R²=0.90. The average forearm rate constants, when compared to each other, had an equation of 0.98x+0.02, R²=0.93. CONCLUSIONS: The 6-Cuff analysis provided the same results as the longer 22-cuff. The 6-cuff approach is both shorter in time and uses less ischemic occlusion periods, increasing the practicality of the NIRS mitochondrial capacity test.

NIRS uses the relative absorption of light at 850nm and 760nm, to determine skeletal muscle oxygen saturation. Previous studies have used the ratio of both signals to report muscle oxygen saturation. Purpose: To evaluate the different approaches used to represent muscle oxygen saturation, and to evaluate the pulsations of the O₂heme and Heme signal. Method: Twelve participants, ages 20-29years were tested on the forearm flexor muscles using continuous wave NIRS at rest. Measurements were taken during 2-3mins rest, during physiological calibration (5-minuts Ischemia) and during reperfusion. Results: There was a significant difference in pulse size between O₂heme and Heme signal at the three locations (p < 0.05). Resting oxygen saturation was 58.8+9.2%, 69.6+3.9%, and 89.2+6.9% when calibrated using O₂heme, TSI, and Heme, respectively. Conclusion: The difference in magnitude of O₂heme and Heme pulse with each heartbeat might suggest different anatomical locations of these signals, which propose calibrating with just one of the signals instead of the ratio of both. Calculations of physiological calibration must account for increased blood volume in the tissue, because of the changes in blood volume which appear to be primarily from the O₂heme signal. Resting oxygen levels calibrated with Heme agrees with theoretical oxygen saturation.

The spectral properties of a one-dimensional photonic crystal bounded by a resonant absorbing nanocomposite layer with the near-zero permittivity have been studied. The problem of calculating the transmittance, reflectance, and absorptance spectra of such structures at the normal and oblique incidence of light has been solved. It is shown that, depending on the permittivity sign near zero, the nanocomposite is characterized by either metallic or dielectric properties. For the first time, the possibility of simultaneous formation of the Tamm plasmon polariton at the photonic crystal/metallic nanocomposite interface and the localized state similar to the defect mode with the field intensity maximum inside the dielectric nanocomposite layer is demonstrated. Specific features of field localization at the Tamm plasmon polariton and defect mode frequencies are analyzed.

The Inverted F Antenna (IFA) with the parasitic element on a finite conducting plane is proposed in the range frequency of 0.1 to 5.5 GHz and its characteristics are analyzed numerically. In this research, the parasitic element and the main IFA are investigated to obtain the resonance frequency for multiband operation purposes. The parasitic element is placed beneath adjusted to the main IFA to derive more frequency bands. The distance between the parasitic element and main horizontal element extremely affects the performance of the IFA. It is found that when the parasitic element is located closer to the conducting plane, this element is coupled by the current on the conducting plane. Consequently, the return loss bandwidth becomes narrower. Therefore, the gain of the proposed IFA becomes a bit higher. The antenna gain is about 8.21 dB at band #3 (λ_1.747), 7.43 dB at band #5 (λ_2.967) and 8.82 dB at band #6 (λ_4.023). This occurs when the calculation condition is antenna height h1 = 23 mm, h2 = 21 mm, horizontal antenna elements L = 173.2 mm, L1 = 140.9 mm and Lp = 152 mm, shorted element Ls = 30.7 mm, the distance between parasitic element and shorted element pyl = 5 mm. While the size of conducting plane is considered pxp+pxm by pyp+pym as 57.5+57.5 mm by 200+50 mm. In the numerical analysis, the electromagnetic simulator WIPL-D based on Method of Moment is used. The results show that the proposed IFA has UHF and SHF channel receiver which are suitable for advanced wireless service (band #3), mobile phones, Bluetooth, maritime service, radiolocation service (band #5) and radars, mobile phones, commercial wireless LAN (band #6).

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus affecting a significant portion of the global population, has long been viewed primarily as a microvascular disorder. However, emerging evidence suggests that it should be redefined as a neurovascular disease with multifaceted pathogenesis rooted in oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling family has emerged as a major contributor to DR pathogenesis due to its pivotal role in retinal vascular homeostasis, endothelial cell barrier function, and pericyte differentiation. However, the precise roles of TGF-β signaling in DR remain incompletely understood, with conflicting reports on its impact in different stages of the disease. Additionally, the BMP subfamily within the TGF-β superfamily introduces further complexity, with BMPs exhibiting both pro- and anti-angiogenic properties. Furthermore, TGF-β signaling extends beyond the vascular realm, encompassing immune regulation, neuronal survival, and maintenance. The intricate interactions between TGF-β and reactive oxygen species (ROS), non-coding RNAs, and inflammatory mediators have been implicated in the pathogenesis of DR. This review delves into the complex web of signaling pathways orchestrated by the TGF-β superfamily and their involvement in DR. A comprehensive understanding of these pathways may hold the key to developing targeted therapies to halt or mitigate the progression of DR and its devastating consequences.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development is associated with altered modifications in DNA methylation, changing transcriptional regulation. Emerging evidence indicates that DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) plays a key role in carcinogenesis process. This study aimed to investigate how pirfenidone (PFD) modifies this pathway and the effect generated by the association between c-Myc expression and DNMT1 activation. Rats F344 were used for HCC development using 50 mg/kg of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 25 mg/kg of 2-aminofluorene (2-AAF). HCC/PFD group received simultaneous doses of 300 mg/kg of PFD. All treatments lasted 12 weeks. On the other hand, HepG2 cells were used to evaluate the effects of PFD in restoring DNA methylation in the presence of the inhibitor 5-Aza. Histopathological, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and western blot analysis were carried out and our findings showed that PFD treatment reduced the amount and size of tumors along with decreased Glipican-3, β-catenin, and c-Myc expression in nuclear fractions. Also, this treatment improved lipid metabolism by modulating PPARγ and SREBP1 signaling. Interestingly, PFD augmented DNMT1 and DNMT3a protein expression, which restores global methylation, both in our in vivo and in vitro models. In conclusion, our results suggest that PFD could slow down HCC development by controlling DNA methylation.

A new polymorph of anhydrous β-cyclodextrin (polymorph III) was obtained and characterized for the first time using powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Solution enthalpy and time of dissolution in water were determined by solution calorimetry for this polymorph and compared with those of dried commercial form of β-cyclodextrin (polymorph I), its amorphous form and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. Specific heat capacity of polymorphs I and III was determined by differential scanning calorimetry in the wide range of temperatures, which gives enthalpy and Gibbs energy of polymorphic transition at 298 K. Affinity of polymorph III and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin for water was characterized by determination of their hydration isotherms, which gives the values of hydration Gibbs energy. Being energy-rich, the found new polymorph of β-cyclodextrin has a significantly higher dissolution rate and an in-creased affinity for water compared with the dried commercial form of β-cyclodextrin. Such properties make the new polymorph promising in industrial applications for guest inclusion in aqueous solutions and pastes and may be a desirable alternative for water-soluble β-cyclodextrin derivatives.

Following ischemic stroke, the degradation of myelin and other cellular membranes surpasses the lipid-processing capabilities of resident microglia and infiltrating macrophages. This imbalance leads to foam cell formation in the infarct and areas of secondary neurodegeneration, instigating sustained inflammation and furthering neurological damage. Given that mitochondria are the primary sites of fatty acid metabolism, augmenting mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) may enhance lipid processing, curtailing foam cell formation and post-stroke chronic inflammation. Previous studies have shown that the pharmacological activation of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) stimulates MB. Consequently, our study sought to discern the effects of intensified β2-AR signal-ing on MB, the processing of brain lipid debris, and neurological outcome using a mouse stroke model. To achieve this goal, aged mice were treated with formoterol, a long-acting β2-AR ago-nist, daily for two and eight weeks following stroke. Formoterol increased MB in the infarct re-gion, modified fatty acid metabolism, and reduced foam cell formation. However, it did not re-duce markers of post-stroke neurodegeneration or improve recovery. Our findings suggest that boosting MB in myeloid cells is one component of a therapeutic avenue for improving brain lipid debris processing after stroke.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections represent major a public health concern and require comprehensive understanding of their genetic make-up. This study investigated the first occurrence of IMP-carrying MDR P. aeruginosa strains from Bulgaria. Whole genome sequencing identified a novel plasmid-mediated blaIMP-100 allele located in a In1300-like integron embedded in a novel putative transposon. Two other closely related chromosomal blaIMP variants IMP-13 and IMP-84 were also detected. The IMP-producers were resistant to last-line drugs including cefiderocol (CFDC) (2 out of 3) and susceptible to colistin. The blaIMP-13/84 cassettes were situated in a In320 integron inserted in a Tn5051-like transposon as previously reported. Lastly, the p47825-IMP plasmid rendered PAO1 transformant resistant to CFDC, suggesting a transferable CFDC resistance. A variety of virulence factors associated with adhesion, antiphagocytosis, iron uptake, quorum-sensing, as well as secretion systems, toxins, and proteases were confirmed, suggesting significant pathogenic potential consistent with the observed strong biofilm formation. Emergence of IMP-producing MDR P. aeruginosa is alarming as they remain unsusceptible even to last geneneration drugs like CFDC. Newly detected IMP-100 was even located in an CFDC-resistant XDR strain.

A morning lymphocytosis has been observed in patients under methylprednisolone (mPDN) treatment. We here determine prospectively the timing and magnitude of mPDN-induced lymphocytosis and study the effects of concomitant beta-blockers administration on lymphocyte count (L). L was measured before and 24 to 72 hours after initiating mPDN treatment in 20 patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMID). After one week, patients with increased L were divided in two groups receiving, in addition to mPDN, either propranolol or a placebo; L was determined 4 days later. Lymphocyte subpopulations and mPDN plasma levels were determined in subsets of the patients. Values are expressed as median with 25%-75% interquartile range. A 73.4 % (37-305) increase of L was observed in 18/20 patients as soon as 48 (48-72) hours after initiating mPDN (32 mg; 16-32). Lymphocytosis (L ≥4,000/µL) was observed in 7 patients and hyperlymphocytosis (L ≥ 5,000/µL) in 4 of them. No significant changes in L variation were shown under propranolol. In conclusion, the morning lymphocytosis observed during mPDN treatment occurs in the very first days of mPDN administration. The lack of effect of propranolol does not support the role of an increased adrenergic tone.

: Supplement the use of ergogenic aids in cyclist’s directly have been improved the body metabolism and hemodynamic factors that are micro supplement in chancing reactions on the body muscle mass and limb muscle. Mostly knowing that, muscle power development progressive fast glycolytic and short time oxidative systems reactions. Sport competition intervals, therefore, during periods has been used specific drinks supported to cyclists. But, be obtained during should be long race times. Athletes directly needed some drug and fluid intake to prevented from metabolic breakdown rapidly the dynamic physiologic performance factors. Beta-alanine supplementation can be direct muscle performance development affects the anaerobic metabolism and capacity. It should be de-termined how the cyclists will use the competitive and training period intervals can increase the cyclists specific sprint and endurance race performance. Science cyclist International Road doses will be created in which, intervals can random effectively the investigate. This study random a cohort studies is examined the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on aerobic and anaerobic power output in specific cyclists. Therefore, we have been databases PubMed, Scopus and Medline initial search 10 August 2020 were created prospective effect the quality of bias work concluded effect size (ES) 95% confidence interval (CI) were used in participant. Participations (N=66) have age range 25 to 38 of the using beta-alanine in training periods to endurance muscle performance, aerobic power, anaerobic power, and sprint time trials. As a result of beta-alanine improved an-aerobic and aerobic power output on 4-week time-dependent trial performance condition. Signifi-cant values are obtained level factor alpha <0.05 and p-value analysis pre-post interactive stand-ardization.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The interferons (IFNs) were discovered in 1957, and recombinant IFN-β-1b was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as the first disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for MS in 1993. Since that time, clinical trials and real-world observational studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of IFN therapies. The pivotal intramuscular IFN-β-1a phase 3 trial was the first to demonstrate that a DMT could reduce accumulation of sustained disability in MS. Patient adherence to treatment is higher with intramuscular IFN-β-1a, given once weekly, than with subcutaneous formulations requiring multiple injections per week. Moreover, subcutaneous IFN-β-1a is associated with an increased incidence of injection site reactions and neutralizing antibodies compared with intramuscular administration. In recent years, revisions to MS diagnostic criteria have improved clinicians’ ability to identify patients with MS and have promoted the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis and monitoring. MRI studies show that treatment with IFN-β-1a, relative to placebo, reduces T2 and gadolinium-enhancing lesions and gray matter atrophy. Since the approval of intramuscular IFN-β-1a, several high-efficacy therapies have been approved for MS, though the benefit of these high-efficacy therapies should be balanced against the increased risk of serious adverse events. For some subpopulations of patients, including pregnant women, the safety profile of IFN-β formulations may provide a particular benefit. In addition, the antiviral properties of IFNs may indicate therapeutic opportunities for IFN-β in the treatment of viral infections such as COVID-19.

Bone innate ability to repair without scaring is surpassed by major bone damage. Current gold-standard strategies do not achieve a full recovery of bone biomechanical properties. To bypass these limitations, tissue engineering techniques based on hybrid materials made up of osteoprogenitor cells, like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and bioactive ceramic scaffolds, like calcium phosphate-based (CaPs), are promising. Biological properties of the MSCs, are influenced by the tissue source. The aim of this study is to define the MSC source and construct (MSC and scaffold combination) most interesting for its clinical application in bone regeneration. iTRAQ generated the hypothesis that anatomical proximity to bone has a direct effect on MSC phenotype. MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue, bone marrow and dental pulp. MSCs were cultured both on plastic surface and on CaPs (hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate) to compare their biological features. On plastic, MSCs isolated from dental pulp (DPSCs) were the MSCs with the highest proliferation capacity and the greatest osteogenic potential. On both CaPs, DPSCs are the MSCs with the greatest capacity to colonize bioceramics. Furthermore, results show a trend for DPSCs are the MSCs with the most robust increase in the ALP activity. We propose DPSCs as a suitable MSCs for bone regeneration cell-based strategies.What do you want to do ?New mailCopy

Substantial studies have focused on early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cerebral amyloid beta (Aβ), is hallmark of AD, can be observed in vivo via positron emission tomography imaging using amyloid tracer or cerebrospinal fluid assessment, but costly expensive. The current study aims to identify and compared predictability in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers and neuropsychological markers to predict cerebral Aβ status in AD cohort using machine learning (ML) approaches. The predictability in candidate markers for cerebral Aβ status was examined by analyzing 724 participants from the ADNI-2 cohort. Demographic variables, structural MRI markers, and neuropsychological test scores were used as input in several ML algorithms to predict cerebral Aβ positivity. Out of five combination of candidate markers, neuropsychological markers with demographics showed the most cost-efficient result. A feature selection model could distinguish abnormal levels of Aβ with the predictability of 0.85, indicating the same performance with MRI-based models. The result has first to identified the predictability in MRI markers using ML approaches, and secondary to demonstrate the neuropsychological model with demographics could predict Aβ positivity, suggesting a more cost-efficient method for detecting cerebral Aβ status compared to MRI markers.

Clinical pathogens especially Gram-negative bacteria developing resistance to third-generation cephalosporins are making the clinical outcome more complicated and serious. This study was undertaken to evaluate the distribution of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in Tamil Nadu regions in India. For this study, clinical samples were collected from five different hospitals located in Tamil Nadu and ESBL producing Gram-negative isolates were characterized. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was performed using cefotaxime and ceftazidime. The blaESBL producing genes were screened using multiplex PCR for the genes, CTX-M group-1,-2,-8,-9,-26. Conjugation studies were performed using E. coli AB1157 as a recipient for the isolates harbouring plasmid-borne resistance following broth-mating experiment. In total, 1500 samples were collected and 599 Gram-negative bacteria were isolated that included Escherichia coli (n=233), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=182), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=79), Citrobacter spp. (n=30), Proteus mirabilis (n=28), Salmonella spp. (n=21), Acinetobacter baumannii (n=12), Serratia spp. (n=6), Shigella spp. (n=4), Morganella morganii (n=3) and Providencia spp. (n=1). MIC results showed that 358 isolates were resistant to cefotaxime and ceftazidime. Further, ESBL gene amplification results showed that 19 isolates had CTX-M group-1 gene including E. coli (n=16), K. pneumoniae (n=2) and P. aeruginosa (n=1) whereas one M. morganii isolate had CTX-M group-9 gene in their plasmid. Through conjugation studies, 12/20 isolates were found to be involved in the transformation of its plasmid-borne resistance gene. Our study highlighted the role of horizontal gene transfer in the dissemination of plasmid-borne blaCTX-M resistance genes among ESBL producing isolates.

The manuscript surveys the special functions of the Fox-Wright type. These functions are generalizations of the hypergeometric functions. Notable representatives of the type are the Mittag-Leffler functions and the Wright function. The integral representations of such functions are given and the conditions under which these function can be represented by simpler functions are demonstrated. The connection with generalized fractional differential and integral operators is demonstrated and discussed.

By manipulating the various physico-chemical properties of amino acids, design of peptides with specific self-assembling properties has been emerging since more than a decade. In this context, short peptides possessing detergent properties (so-called “peptergents”) have been developed to self-assemble into well-ordered nanostructures that can stabilize membrane proteins for crystallization. In this study, the peptide with “peptergency” properties, called ADA8 extensively described by Zhang et al., is studied by molecular dynamics for its self-assembling properties in different conditions. In water, it spontaneously forms beta sheets with a β barrel-like structure. We next simulated the interaction of this peptide with a membrane protein, the bacteriorhodopsin, in the presence or absence of a micelle of dodecylphosphocholine. According to the literature, the peptergent ADA8 is thought to generate a belt of β structures around the hydrophobic helical domain that could help stabilize purified membrane proteins. Molecular dynamics is here used to challenge this view and to provide further molecular details for the replacement of detergent molecules around the protein. To our best knowledge, this is the first molecular mechanism proposed for ''peptergency''. In addition, our calculation approach should serve as a predicting tool for the design of beta peptergent with diverse amphipathic properties.

The main objective of this paper is to introduce k-fractional derivative operator by using the definition of k-beta function. We establish some results related to the newly defined fractional operator such as Mellin transform and relations to k-hypergeometric and k-Appell's functions. Also, we investigate the k-fractional derivative of k-Mittag-Leffler and Wright hypergeometric functions.

Multi-channel and multi-parameter near-infrared spectrometers (NIRS) have gradually become a new research direction and hot spot due to their ability to provide real-time, continuous, comprehensive indicators of multiple parameters. However, multi-channel and multi-parameter detection may lead to crosstalk between signals. There is still a lack of benchmarks on the evaluation of reliability, sensitivity, stability and response consistency of the NIRS instrument. In this study, a set of test methods (the ink drop test, multi-channel crosstalk test and multi-parameter crosstalk test) for analysis crosstalk and verifying the reliability of NIRS were conducted to test experimental verification on a multi-channel (8-channel), multi-parameter (4-parameter) NIRS instrument independently developed by our team. Results show that these tests can be used to analyze the signal crosstalk and verify the reliability, sensitivity, stability and response consistency in the NIRS instrument. This study contributes to the establishment of benchmarks for the NIRS instrument crosstalk and reliability testing. These novel tests have the potential to become the benchmark for the NIRS instrument reliability testing.

A non-destructive analysis of proximate parameters (moisture content, MC; volatile matter, VM; fixed carbon, FC; and ash content) for a variety of chipped and ground biomasses was investigated through a combination of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with partial least squares regression (PLSR). In this study, the thermogravimetric method was employed as a tool to determine the proximate analysis data of biomass samples through TG and DTG curves, which were generated by tracking changes in biomass mass loss over time or temperature. NIRS non−destructively scanned the chipped biomass in diffuse reflectance while ground biomass using transflectance mode, covering the wavenumber range of 3594.87 to 12,489.48 cm−1. The PLSR−based models: Full−PLSR, genetic algorithm (GA)−PLSR, successive projection algorithm (SPA)−PLSR, the spectral multi−preprocessing (MP) PLSR− 5 range method, and the MP PLSR−3 range method were developed. Model performance was assessed, compared, and selected based on the coefficient of determination in the prediction set (R2P), root mean square error in the validation set (RMSEP), and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD). Based on the comprehensive analysis of model performance, MC and FC models of chip biomass have demonstrated satisfactory performance which makes it applicable cautiously in any application, including research. The optimum models for MC and FC in chip biomass were constructed using GA−PLSR with 2nd derivative and Full−PLSR with a constant offset, resulting in R2P values of 0.8654 and 0.8773, RMSEP values of 0.85% and 2.12%, and RPD values of 2.9 and 3.0, respectively. Other parameters such as MC and FC in ground biomass as well as VM and ash content in both chip and ground biomass were found suitable for rough screening. The sensitivity of the selected model was assessed by calculating the limit of quantification (LOQ), and the results indicated that the calculated LOQ values for VM in both chip and ground biomass and FC in chip biomass are lower than the minimum reference values used during model development, signifying a high level of sensitivity. However, for the remaining parameters, the LOQ values surpass the established minimum reference value, suggesting the model could not predict the future samples with reference value lower than the calibration range. Nevertheless, enhancing the models by incorporation an ample number of representative biomass samples and consistently validating the models with unknown samples is imperative to ensure accurate predictions.

Saudi Arabia is a prominent producers of dates, with 1.6 million tons annually. There is a need to evaluate physical properties and quality of fruits non-destructively and then be modeled and predicted throughout the storage period. The aim of the current study was to generate a quality index (Qi) and Near-infrared spectra (NIR) models non-destructively to predict properties of Barhi dates fruits including objective and sensory evaluations. The engineering properties of Barhi dates were measured and modeled with quality index (Qi) based on NIR of fresh Barhi fruits (hardness, color, TSS, pH, and sensory evaluations) and during storage in cold, ambient, and controlled at-mosphere (CA) for up to four months. The prediction of Qi is non- destructively based on NIR utilizing PLSR and ANN data analysis. The results showed that the Qi generated corresponds with high precision to the characteristics of the examined fruits through the duration of the storage period with R2 of 0.96. The NIR spectrum proves to be an efficient method to evaluate the Barhi fruits' quality index. where ANN was found to be more suitable than PLSR analysis. Thus, NIR can be utilized to accurately predict the Qi of fruits quality effectively throughout the handling, processing, transporting, storage, and retail sector supply chain.

As an important organelle in eukaryotic cells, Golgi apparatus is responsible for processing and transporting proteins and lipids in cells. Precise monitoring the status of Golgi apparatus by targeting fluorescence imaging technology is of enormous importance but remains an attractive yet dramatically challenging task. In this study, we report the construction of the first Golgi apparatus targeted sensor with bright near-infrared fluorescence, termed as Golgi-Pdots. As a start point of our investigation, hydrophobic CDs with bright NIR fluorescence at 674 nm (fluorescence quantum yield : 12.18%), narrow emission band of 23 nm, and excellent stability were facilely prepared from Magnolia Denudata flowers through an ultrasonic method. Incorporating the CDs into a polymer matrix modified with Golgi-targeting molecules can produce the water-soluble Golgi-Pdots, which showed high colloidal stability and similar optical properties as compared to CDs. Further studies revealed that the Golgi-Pdots showed good biocompatibility and Golgi-targeting ability. Based on these fascinating properties, Golgi-Pdots have been successfully used for long term bioimaging of Golgi apparatus inside live cells.

Recently, the interest in silicon-based detectors capable of detecting single photons in the near-infrared is growing mainly due to LiDAR applications, autonomous driving in particular. Silicon single-photon avalanche diodes are one of the most interesting single-photon NIR technology available on the market, nevertheless, their efficiency is hindered by the low absorption coefficient of Si in the NIR. The idea is the integration of CMOS-compatible nanostructures, specifically, silver grating array supporting Surface Plasmons Polaritons (SPPs), to confine superficially the incoming NIR photons and therefore increase photons probability to generate an electron-hole pair. The plasmonic silver array is geometrically fine-tuned using time domain simulation software to achieve maximum detector performance at 950 nm. Then, the plasmonic silver array is integrated by means of the focused ion beam technique on the detector. Finally, the integrated detector is electro-optically characterized, demonstrating a quantum efficiency of 13 at 950 nm, 2,2 times more than the reference detector. This result suggests the production of a device capable of detecting single NIR photons, at a very low cost and compatible with CMOS, thus integrable on existing technology platforms.

A major limitation of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is its high sensitivity to the scalp and low sensitivity to the brain of adult humans. In the present work we use multi-distance hyperspectral NIRS (hNIRS) to investigate the optimal source-detector distances, range of wavelengths, and analysis techniques to separate cerebral responses to 30-s breath holds (BHs) from the responses in the superficial tissue layer in healthy adult humans. We observed significant responses to BHs in the scalp hemodynamics. Cerebral responses to BHs were detected in the cytochrome C oxidase redox (rCCO) at 4 cm without using data from the short-distance channel. Using the data from the 1 cm channel in the two-layer regression algorithm showed that hemodynamic and rCCO responses also occurred at 3cm. We found that the waveband 700-900 nm was optimal for the detection of cerebral responses to BHs in adults.

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising bioimaging nanoprobes due to their excellent photostability. As one of the most commonly-used lanthanide activators, Tm3+ ions have perfect ladder-type electron configuration and can be directly excited by bio-friendly near-infrared-II (NIR-II) wavelengths. Here, the emission characteristics of Tm3+-doped nanoparticles under laser excitations of different near-infrared-II wavelengths were systematically investigated. The 1064 nm, 1150 nm and 1208 nm lasers are proposed to be three excitation strategies with different response spectra of Tm3+ ions. Particularly we found that 1150 nm laser excitation enables intense three-photon 475 nm emission, which is nearly 100 times stronger than that excited by 1064 nm excitation. We further optimized the luminescence brightness after investigating the luminescence quenching mechanism of bare NaYF4:Tm (1.75%) core. After growing inert shell, ten-fold increase of emission intensity was achieved. Combining the advantages of NIR-II wavelength and the higher-order nonlinear excitation, a promising facile excitation strategy was developed for the application of thulium-doped upconversion nanoparticles in single nanoparticle imaging and cancer cell microscopic imaging.

In recent years graphene has attracted much interest due to its unique properties of flexibility, strong light-matter interaction, high carrier mobility and broadband absorption. In addition, graphene can be deposited on many substrates including silicon with which is able to form Schottky junctions opening the path to the realization of near-infrared silicon photodetectors based on the internal photoemission effect where graphene play the role of the metal. In this work, we review the very recent progress of the near-infrared photodetectors based on Schottky junctions involving graphene. This new family of device promises to overcome the limitations of the Schottky photodetectors based on metals showing the potentialities to compare favorably with germanium photodetectors currently employed in silicon photonics.

A fast and effective determination method of different species of vegetable seeds oil is vital in the plant oil industry. The near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) method was developed in this study to massively analyze the oil and moisture contents of Camellia gauchowensis Chang and C. semiserrata Chi seeds kernels. In the prediction models of NIRS, the levels of accuracy obtained were sufficient for C. gauchowensis Chang and C. semiserrata Chi, the correlation coefficient of which oil were 0.983 and 0.962, respectively, while which of moisture were 0.937 and 0.907, respectively. The near infrared spectrum of crush seeds kernels was more precise compared to intact kernels. Based on the calibration models of the two Camellia species, the NIRS predictive oil contents of C. gauchowensis Chang and C. semiserrata Chi seeds kernels were 48.71 ± 8.94% and 31.71 ± 7.39%, respectively, and the NIRS predictive moisture contents were 4.39 ± 1.08% and 3.49 ± 0.71%, respectively. Compared with the traditional chemical measurement, the rapid, precise measurement of oil and moisture of C. gauchowensis Chang and C. semiserrata Chi seeds kernels can be actualized by NIRS method.

We attempted to apply the optoelectronic sensor entitled 'OPT101' in intensive care unit clinics, based on its optoelectronic response characteristics in near-infrared wavelength range and near-infrared spectroscopy principle. The successful novel applications in our lab include early-diagnosis and therapeutic effect tracking of thrombus, noninvasive monitoring of patients' shock severity, and fatigue evaluation. This study also expects further improvements of the detector in noninvasive clinical applications.

Background In this study we investigated in detail the role of cannabidiol (CBD), Beta-caryophyllene (BC), or their combinations in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DN). The key factors that contribute to DN include mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Methods Briefly, Streptozotocin (STZ) (55 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to induce DN in Sprague Dawley rats and performed procedures including Randall Sellito Calipers, Von Frey Aesthesiometer, hot plate, and cold plate methods to determine mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in vivo. The blood flow to the nerves was assessed by using the Laser Doppler device. Schwann cells were exposed to high glucose (HG) at a dose of 30 mM to induce hyperglycemia and DCFDA, JC1 & Mitosox staining were done to determine mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxides in-vitro. The rats were administered i.p with BC (30mg/kg), CBD (15mg/kg), or combination while Schwann cells were treated with 3.65 µM CBD, 75 µM BC, or combination to assess their role in DN amelioration. Results Our results revealed that exposure to BC and CBD diminished HG-induced hyperglycemia in Schwann cells, in part, through reducing mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxides. Further, BC and CBD combination treatment in-vivo could prevent the deterioration of mitochondrial quality control system by promoting autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis while improving blood flow. CBD and BC treatments also reduced pain hypersensitivity to hyperalgesia and allodynia with increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action in diabetic rats. These in vivo effects were attributed to significant upregulation of AMPK, SIRT3, Nrf2, PINK1, PARKIN, LC3B, Beclin1 and TFAM functions while downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome, NFκB, COX2 and p62 activity was noted as determined by western blotting. Conclusion the present studies demonstrated that STZ & HG induced oxidative and nitrosative stress play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. We find, for the first time, that CBD and BC combination ameliorate DN via modulating the mitochondrial quality control system.

In this study, we aim to evaluate how cyclodextrin molecules affect the hydrophilicity and selec-tivity of PVDF membrane. Herein, we prepared PVDF-PVP(1-x) β-CDx membranes, with x rang-ing from 0 to 1 wt%. The membranes were deeply characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR), Raman spectroscopies, Thermal gravimet-ric analysis (TGA), Contact angle measurement (CA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The study unequivocally demonstrates the effectiveness of the addition of β-CD molecules on membranes' structural, morphological, and dielectric properties. Adding 0.25wt% β-CD enhanced hydrophilicity, with CA decreasing from 72.6° to 56° and roughness decreasing from 81 to 29 nm. The PVDF-PVP(1-x) β-CDx membranes were then fully characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to determine their dielectric properties, which clearly showed that the presence of β-CD induced polarization of the mem-brane. The separation of various dyes with different sizes and charges was utilized. These dyes included methylene blue (MB, positive, 0.504 nm), methyl red (MR, neutral, 0.487 nm), rose Bengal (RB, negative, 0.588 nm), and brilliant blue (BB, negative, 0.798 nm). Based on our re-search, we found that the membrane's selectivity is determined by both exclusion factors (such as size and dielectric properties) and inclusion inside the β-CD cage. We found that using alpha-CD instead of beta-CD led to the disappearance of dye inclusion. These findings strongly sug-gest that β-CD molecules can be a viable solution for dye removal from wastewater.

Some current systematized reviews of macroalgae are concise and descriptive, but it is important to conduct these of a larger number of taxa to facilitate visualizations of the types of primordial research, relevant methods, and areas of opportunity. The aim was to elaborate the state of the art in the taxonomic knowledge of Dictyota based on a systematized review of the generated information since its original description (1809 to 2023). We conducted a search for names and literature in different databases, followed by a temporal analysis (by century and bidecadal). To date, a total of 313 names have been registered for Dictyota; 108 are accepted names. The largest number of registered taxonomic names (207) was found for the 19th century, derived from large expeditions. Our analysis of literature involved 318 publications, 89 of which corresponded to alpha taxonomy, 187 to beta, and 42 to gamma. We determined that the trend in taxonomic works is integrative in nature because they include other disciplines to explain aspects that go beyond taxonomic description. Our analysis suggests that extensive reviews and monographic approaches are still required to achieve a better understanding of the genus. The effort in integrative taxonomy must be intensified, which allow improve the systematic of Dictyota.

Ocular pathologies present significant challenges in achieving effective therapeutic re-sults due to various anatomical and physiological barriers. Natural products, such as flavonoids, alone or in association with allopathic drugs, present many therapeutical actions, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial action. However, their clinical employment is chal-lenging for scientists due to their low water solubility. In this study, we designed a liquid formu-lation based on rutin/sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (RTN/SBE-β-CD) inclusion complex for treating ocular infections. The correct stoichiometry and the accurate binding constant were de-termined by employing the SupraFit software on the Uv-vis titration experiment. A deep physical-chemical characterization of the RTN/SBE-β-CD inclusion complex was also performed; it con-firmed the predominant formation of a stable complex (Kc, 9660 M−1) in a 1:1 molar ratio, with high water solubility of 20 times (2.5 mg/mL) higher than the free molecule (0.125 mg/mL), per-mitting the dissolution of the solid complex within 30 min. NMR studies revealed the involve-ment of the bicyclic flavonoid moiety in the complexation, which was also confirmed by molecu-lar modeling studies. In vitro, the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of the formulation was assayed against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains demonstrating a sig-nificant activity of the formulation to the free components.

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi is a plant native to Brazil. The objective of this work was to analyze the chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial potential of essential oils (EOs) from the leaves, fruits and twigs of S. terebinthifolius aiming for their application in food safety. EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition was determined by gas chromatog-raphy coupled to mass spectrometry. Phenolic compounds were quantified and antioxidant ac-tivity was evaluated using three different methods. The antibacterial activity was determined by the broth microdilution method against foodborne bacteria. In the chemical analysis, 22 com-pounds were identified in the leaves, 13 compounds in the fruits and 37 compounds in the twigs, revealing the presence of the main compounds germacrene D, caryophyllene, α-pinene, β-pinene and γ-gurjunene. EOs showed better antioxidant potential using the β-carotene/linoleic acid method with 40.74, 61.52 and 63.65% oxidation inhibition for leaves, fruits and twigs, respectively. The EO from the leaves showed greater antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli and Staphy-lococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.62 mg mL-1, values lower than the MIC of sodium nitrite (5.00 mg mL-1), antimicrobial standard synthetic. The activities of pink pepper EOs suggest their potential as a biopreservative in foods.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) has a prevalence of 0.16%-0.34% and an incidence of 7.6 per 100,000 person-years, accounting for 1%-2% of all deaths in Western countries. Currently, no effective pharmacological therapies have been identified to slow TAA development and prevent TAA rupture. Large TAAs are treated with open surgical repair and less invasive thoracic endovascular aortic repair, both of which have high perioperative mortality risk. Therefore, there is an urgent medical need to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying TAA development and rupture to develop new therapies. In this review, we summarize animal TAA models including recent developments in porcine and zebrafish models: porcine models can assess new therapeutic devices or intervention strategies in a large mammal and zebrafish models can employ large-scale small-molecule suppressor screening in microwells. The second part of the review covers current views of TAA pathogenesis, with a focus on the roles of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) pathway and the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-elastin-contractile unit. The last part discusses TAA treatment options as they emerge from recent preclinical studies.

Many redox diseases, including diabetes, are associated with an imbalance of calcium homeostasis, regulated mainly by a Ca2+-ATPase pump (SERCA). Dysfunction of this enzyme may be prevented by natural polyphenolic compounds, representing a possible supporting treatment. Compounds that increase SERCA activity/expression may be useful for the treatment of diabetic complications. Stimulation of SERCA1 activity was analyzed experimentally and by molecular modeling. SERCA1 activity under methylglyoxal- and palmitate-induced oxidative stress was evaluated. The viability of INS-1E cells and insulin secretion were determined. [6]-Gingerol, resveratrol, and ellagic acid increased SERCA1 activity and exerted a protective effect under oxidative stress in the noncellular system. We found for the first time that the binding of polyphenols ([6]-gingerol, resveratrol, ellagic acid) to Glu439 in the SERCA1 P-domain may be critical for the stimulation of its activity. Moreover, this binding may also be important in the protective effects against oxidative stress. Direct stimulation of SERCA1 activity by ellagic acid was observed for the first time. In INS-1E cells, these compounds increased insulin secretion.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, characterised by beta-amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and oxidative stress. Iron is suspected to enhance disease progression, and chelation may be a potential treatment. We propose that Aloysia citrodora Paláu (AC), a plant in the Verbenaceae family, can act as a moderate chelator of iron. It may reduce the effect of iron on beta-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42) aggregation. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to demonstrate that AC can interact with iron (II) and iron (III), the two most abundant forms of iron within the body. DPV was also used to characterise Aβ1-42 aggregation, and two main features were obtained. The first is the tyrosine peak (~0.6 V) decreased in magnitude over time, which is a sign of aggregation and folding. The other is a conglomerate of peaks at ~0 V, whose identity is unknown. Furthermore, iron (II) increased the rate of tyrosine peak depreciation, and the addition of AC negated this induced effect. This implied that iron (II) increases Aβ1-42 aggregation into higher order, and AC may be an effective countermeasure.

Amyloid-beta plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Aberrant amyloid-beta and tau accumulation induce neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular alterations, synaptic deficits, functional deficits, and neurodegeneration, leading to cognitive impairment. Animal models recapitulating the amyloid-beta pathology such as transgenic, knock-in mouse and rat models have facilitated the understanding of disease mechanisms and development of therapeutics targeting at amyloid-beta. There is a rapid advance in high-field MR in small animals. Versatile high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences such as diffusion tensor imaging, arterial spin labelling, resting-state functional MRI, anatomical MRI, MR spectroscopy as well as contrast agents have been developed for the applications in animal models. These tools have enabled high-resolution in vivo structural, functional, and molecular readouts with a whole brain field-of-view. MRI have been utilized to visualize non-invasively the amyloid-beta deposits, synaptic deficits, regional brain atrophy, impairment in white matter integrity, functional connectivity, cerebrovascular and glymphatic system in animal models of amyloidosis. Many of the readouts are translational in clinical MRI in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In this review, we summarize the recent advance of using MRI for visualizing the pathophysiology in amyloidosis animal model. We discuss the outstanding challenges in brain imaging using MRI in small animal and propose future outlook in visualizing amyloid-beta-related alterations in brain of animal models.

Ongoing beta cell death in type 1 diabetes (T1D) can be detected using biomarkers selectively discharged by dying beta cells into plasma. MicroRNA-375 (miR-375) ranks among top biomarkers based on studies in animal models and human islet transplantation. Our objective was to identify additional microRNAs that are co-released with miR-375 proportionate to the amount of beta cell destruction. RT-PCR profiling of 733 microRNAs in a discovery cohort of T1D patients 1 hour before/after islet transplantation indicated increased plasma levels of 22 microRNAs. Sub-selection for beta cell selectivity resulted in 15 microRNAs that were subjected to double-blinded multicenter analysis. This led to identification of 8 microRNAs that were consistently increased during early graft destruction: besides miR-375, these included miR-132/204/410/200a/429/125b, microRNAs with known function and enrichment in beta cells. Their potential clinical translation was investigated in a third independent cohort of 46 transplant patients, by correlating post-transplant microRNA levels to C-peptide levels 2 months later. Only miR-375 and miR-132 had prognostic potential for graft outcome and none of the newly identified microRNAs outperformed miR-375 in multiple regression. In conclusion, this study reveals multiple beta cell-enriched microRNAs that are co-released with miR-375 and can be used as complementary biomarkers of beta cell death.

Monitoring glycosylation changes within cells upon response to stimuli remains challenging because of the complexity of this large family of post-translational modifications (PTMs). We have developed an original tool enabling labeling and visualization of the cell cycle key-regulator b-catenin in its O-GlcNAcylated form based on intramolecular Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology in cells. We opted for a bioorthogonal chemical reporter strategy based on the dual-labeling of b-catenin with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) for protein sequence combined with a chemically-clicked imaging probe for PTM resulting in a fast and easy to monitor qualitative FRET assay. We validated this technology by imaging the O-GlcNAcylation status of b-catenin in HeLa cells. Moreover, the changes in O-GlcNAcylation of b-catenin were varied by perturbing global cellular O-GlcNAc levels with inhibitors of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Finally, we provided a flowchart demonstrating how this technology is transposable to any kind of glycosylation.

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit self-renewal activity and give rise to other cell types in tumors. Due to the infinite proliferative potential of CSCs, drugs targeting these cells are necessary to completely inhibit cancer development. beta-lapachone (bL) has been widely used to treat cancer development, but its effect on cancer stem cells remain elusive. Thus, we investigated the effect of bL on mammosphere formation using breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) marker positive cells, MDA-MB-231. Methods: MDA-MB-231 Cells, which is negative for NQO1 expression, was constructed to stably express NQO1(NQO1 stable cells) to see the effect of bL. The effect of bL on cells were evaluated by wound healing and Transwell cell culture chambers, and ALDEFLUOR assay. Results: Here, we show that bL inhibited the proliferative ability of mammosphere derived from BCSC marker-positive cells, MDA-MB-231, in an NQO1-dependent manner. bL treatment efficiently downregulated expression level of BCSC markers CD44, ALDH1A1, and DLGAP5 that recently identified as a stem cell proliferation marker in both cultured cells and mammosphered cells. Moreover, bL efficiently downregulates cell proliferation and migration activities. Conclusions: These results strongly suggest that bL could be a therapeutic agent targeting breast cancer stem cells with proper NQO1 expression.

Smallsats are becoming the predominant electro-optical Earth observation (EO) imaging platforms. While atmospheric correction of smallsat data enhances its utility, an established pathway to do so may constrain accuracy and utility. The alternative, Closed-form Method for Atmospheric Correction (CMAC), developed for smallsat application provides surface reflectance derived solely from scene statistics. In a prior paper, CMAC closely agreed with Land Surface Reflectance Code (LaSRC) software for correction of the four VNIR bands of Landsat-8/9 images for conditions of low to moderate atmospheric effect over quasi-invariant warehouse-industrial targets. Those results were accepted as surrogate surface reflectance to support analysis of CMAC and LaSRC reliability for surface reflectance retrieval in two contrasting environments: shortgrass prairie and barren desert. Reliability was defined and tested through a null hypothesis: the same top-of-atmosphere reflectance under the same atmospheric condition will provide the same estimate of surface reflectance. Evaluated against the prior surrogate surface reflectance, the results found decreasing error with increasing wavelength for both methods. From 58 comparisons across the four bands, LaSRC average absolute error ranged from 0.59% (NIR) to 50.30% (blue). CMAC error was well constrained from 0.01% (NIR) to 0.98% (blue) sustaining the null hypothesis for reliability.

Optical communications are described and analyzed by shaped beams; we challenge the ‎effects of parameters that impact the profile of a Flat Top Gaussian (FTG) beam. When ‎the laser beam propagates throughout the atmosphere, it can be influenced by different ‎optical phenomena including scattering, absorption, and turbulence due to changes in the ‎scintillation index and the forms of intensity that are displayed in the source and receiver ‎planes. In this project, the FTG laser beam that propagates through a weak turbulent ‎region is numerically investigated using open-source software. This simulation will be ‎performed according to a mathematical model based on the split-step beam propagation ‎method. Intensity distributions at the source plane and the received average intensity in ‎atmospheric turbulence are calculated, and additional contour is in the transducer plane. ‎The scintillation index, structure constant, source size, and other parameters, are applied ‎in the Rytov method to quantify the weak turbulent model. Moreover, these parameters ‎are analyzed in near-field propagation. Also, the effects of the beam’s scintillation and ‎beam wander are determined. All results simulated are discussed and compared with the ‎TEM00 Gaussian beam. Finally, these results are compared to measurements in the ‎experimental part of the work.

Nepal, primarily an agricultural country, heavily relies on agricultural residue and fuelwood for daily energy requirements. In 2022, total energy consumption was 640 PJ, with traditional sources accounting for 64.17%, and fuelwood comprising 58.53% of total fuel consumption. The estimated potential supply of agricultural residue is 26 million tonnes, yielding about 442 million GJ of energy in 2021. Biomass trading often emphasizes volume or weight, necessitating a rapid and non-destructive assessment of energy properties for mutual benefit, aiding in the identification, management, and utilization of biomass sources. In this study, 200 biomass samples were collected in two batches (126 and 74 samples) from various locations in Nepal. Using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), a model was developed correlating higher heating value (HHV) from a bomb calorimeter and spectral data from Fourier Transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) (3595 – 12,489 cm-1) sensor. PLSR models incorporated raw spectra, eight preprocessing techniques, the multi-preprocessing five-range method, and a genetic algorithm. Outliers in the first batch were identified, and the first batch divided into an 80% calibration set and a 20% validation set, while the second batch was designated as an unknown sample set. The optimum PLSR model, utilizing first derivative preprocessing, improved accuracy by 6.77%, with coefficients of determination in the calibration set, validation set, and unknown set as 0.9694, 0.9578, and 0.8089, respectively. Root mean square errors were 132.4790 J/g, 189.4800 J/g, and 360.8845 J/g for the calibration set (RMSEC), validation set (RMSEP), and unknown set (RMSEUN), respectively. The prediction to deviation ratio (RPD) for the validation set and unknown set was 4.9 and 2.4, respectively. The cross validation model of combined sample data of every sets showed the R2CV of 0.95 and RPDCV of 4.6 indicating the model could serve as a reliable and swift non-destructive alternative for evaluating biomass HHV using NIRS and ready for updating for industrial use. However, incorporating a larger number of representative samples is crucial to enhance accuracy and develop a more comprehensive global model for predicting biomass HHV.