This review explores the nuanced decision-making surrounding postoperative radiotherapy for diffuse low-grade glioma patients, emphasizing the need for individualized treatment to balance the benefits of tumor control with the risks of side effects. Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of diffuse low-grade glioma treatment, offering significant improvements in progression-free survival, but its potential for quality of life necessitates careful consideration of individual patient factors. The review delves into the radiotherapy timing, revealing that while early radiotherapy enhances progression-free survival, it does not significantly impact overall survival and may lead to severe and prolonged decline in long-term quality of life. Conversely, delayed radiotherapy may mitigate these side effects. The review advocates for a patient-centered approach, emphasizing the importance of weighing individual risks and benefits, and highlights the potential of artificial intelligence in predicting quality of life and the need to revisit previous research findings in light of the 2021 WHO (World Health Organization) classification update, underscoring the evolving nature of low-grade glioma treatment and the ongoing quest for optimal therapeutic strategies.

Human induced climate change led to the recognition of Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) as one of the remedies in building adaptive capacity and resilience of communities. It recognizes the agency of communities in shaping the optimal strategy. CBA interventions are vital in addressing community needs and contextual specificities, enable participatory and inclusive engagement and thereby facilitate more profound adaptation impacts. Agent-based modelling (ABM) has the potential to be an invaluable approach in developing tailored adaptation strategies considering capacities, resources, skills, priorities, needs and the cultural context of local communities. ABM allows to capture the complex relationships among various components within community decision making on CBA actions, the CBA actions themselves and the environment, however available tools provide for various degrees of freedom in agent definition, sensitivity analysis, scalability, experiment design and output analysis to name a few. This article assesses all available ABM modelling and simulation tools for its application in the context of CBA. NetLogo emerges as the most suitable tool for incorporating and handling the special features of CBA. It is closely followed by GAMA and Envision. The article provides insights and guidance to researchers and practitioners in selecting ABM tools aligned with the specific requirements of their CBA simulations and projects.

Trajectory prediction plays a crucial role in autonomous driving tasks, as accurately and rapidly predicting the future trajectories of traffic participants can significantly enhance the safety and robustness of autonomous driving systems. This paper presents a novel trajectory prediction model that follows the encoder-decoder paradigm, achieving precise and rapid predictions of future vehicle trajectories by efficiently aggregating the spatiotemporal and interaction information of agents in traffic scenarios. We propose an agent-agent interaction information extraction module based on a sparse graph attention mechanism, which enables efficient aggregation of interaction information between agents. Additionally, we introduce a non-autoregressive query generation method that accelerates model inference speed by generating decoding queries in parallel. Comparative experiments with existing advanced algorithms show that our method improves the multimodal trajectory prediction metrics minADE, minFDE, and MR by an average of 9.1%, 11.8%, and 14.6%, respectively, while the inference time is only 33.7% of the average time taken by other algorithms. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the various modules proposed in this paper through ablation studies.

Abstract Background: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that results from the interaction of genetic, immune and environmental factors. According to 2020 ESPGHAN guidelines, an elimination diet (i.e. excluding products that may contain gluten) is the basic method of treating celiac disease. Following a gluten-free diet is extremely problematic and patients often make unconscious deviations from the diet. Objective: The aim of the study was to asses the frequency of conscious diet mistakes and unconscious deviations from the gluten-free diet in a group of patients with long-standing celiac disease and their impact on the frequency of typical and atypical symptoms Methods: The study included 38 patients, 30 women and 8 men with a verified diagnosis of celiac disease. The effectiveness of the gluten-free diet was assessed in all participants. Blood was collected to determine IgA anti tissue transglutaminase II antibodies and IgG antibodies against deamidated gliadin peptides by ELISA. All survey participants provided data concerning current gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms, bowel habits, comorbidities, dietary habits, physical activity and socioeconomic conditions. Results: 25 patients (65.78%) declared strict adherence to the gluten-free diet. However, in this group, 7 (18.4%) patients had significantly increased levels of anti-tTG antibodies (mean 82.3 RU/ml ±78.9 SD at N

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the role of peripheral opioid receptors in modulating pain outside the central nervous system. Methods: The first experiment aimed to establish a dose-effect relationship for intraplantar morphine administration in a rat model of carrageenan-induced inflammation by testing successive doses after the carrageenan injection. Additionally, the second experiment assessed whether a 5 mg/kg dose of morphine has central nervous system effects by comparing its effects with 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg doses given intraperitoneally. Results: In the first part we observed that lower doses (2.5 mg/kg) did not significantly affect paw withdrawal latency after thermal stimulation, while higher doses (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) resulted in significant increases, suggesting that maximum receptor activation occurs at 5 mg/kg. However, the 20 mg/kg dose exhibited central nervous system effects, indicating systemic absorption. The second part compared intraplantarly and intraperitoneally administered morphine, finding that while the intraplantar 5 mg/kg dose provided a significant analgesic effect, the same dose given intraperitoneally did not produce similar results, reinforcing the hypothesis that local administration targets peripheral receptors. Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicate that morphine's analgesic effect at lower doses is primarily mediated by peripheral opioid receptors, with systemic effects becoming evident at higher doses. This study aligns with existing literature emphasizing the potential for peripheral opioid receptor activation to alleviate inflammatory pain with minimized central effects

(1) Background: Literature to date has shown some contradictory findings regarding the associations between empathy and mental health. Thus, the Caring component of Positive Youth Development has been related to more mental health symptoms, while positive empathy seems to have a positive impact on psychological adjustment. The present study aimed to analyze the associations between Caring and positive empathy with youth depression and anxiety, as well as examining gender differences. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out by administering an online self-report to a sample composed of 370 university students (67.2% women), aged 18-29 (M=21.29, SD = 3.61), enrolled across 10 universities in the Spanish region of Andalusia; (3) Results: Women reported higher levels of the caring dimension of PYD, more positive empathy, but more symptoms of depression and anxiety. Mediational analyses to explain the gender differences in mental health concluded that: a) women reported more depression and anxiety partly due to their higher scores in Caring, and b) despite women had more positive empathy than men, this mechanism was only protective against anxiety in the subsample of men; (4) Conclusions: The promotion of mental health in university context should include fostering adaptive empathetic skills.

The inherent uncertainties in traditional hydrological models present significant chal-lenges for accurately simulating runoff. Combining machine learning models with tradi-tional hydrological models is an essential approach to enhancing the runoff modeling capabilities of hydrological models. However, research on the impact of mixed models on runoff simulation capability is limited. Therefore, this study uses the traditional hy-drological model SIMHYD and the machine learning model LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) to construct two coupled models: a direct coupling model and a dynamically improved predictive validity hybrid model. These models were evaluated using the US CAMELS dataset to assess the impact of the two model combination methods on runoff modeling capabilities. The results indicate that the runoff modeling capabilities of both model combination methods were improved compared to individual models, with the dynamically improved predictive validity hybrid model demonstrating the optimal mod-eling capability. Compared to LSTM, this hybrid model showed a 12.8% increase in the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) median value for daily runoff during the validation pe-riod, a 28.4% increase in the NSE median value for high flows compared to SIMHYD, this hybrid model showed a 12.5% increase in the NSE median value for daily runoff during the validation period, a 23.6% increase in the NSE median value for high flows, and a significant improvement in the stability of low-flow runoff simulations. In per-formance testing involving varying training period lengths, the PE_trend model trained for 12 years exhibited the best performance, showing a 3.5% and 1.5% increase in the median NES compared to training periods of 6 years and 18 years, respectively

Background: Effective and timely treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency in childhood is crucial because it can lead to serious issues, including delayed growth and neuromotor development. Available treatment options include oral, intramuscular, and sublingual administration. Aim: This study investigated the efficacy of a new dosing protocol for sublingual methylcobalamin. Materials and Methods: In total, 312 patients with vitamin B12 deficiency (serum level < 250 ng/L) were retrospectively enrolled between September 2022 and April 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on their treatment type: intramuscular cyanocobalamin (Group 1) and sublingual methylcobalamin (Group 2). Group 1 included 29 (9.3%) patients and Group 2 included 283 (90.7%) patients, with 56 (18%) patients in Group 2 undergoing treatment for childhood cancer. The sublingual methylcobalamin protocol consisted of 1 puff (500 μg) daily for children under 8 years of age and 2 puffs (1000 μg) daily for those 8 years and older, administered for 1.5 months and then three times weekly for an additional 1.5 months. The efficacy of this protocol was compared to the standard intramuscular cyanocobalamin regimen. Results: The mean ages in Groups 1 and 2 were 10.07 ± 6.05 years (range, 1–17 years) and 7.43 ± 5.86 years (range, 0.1–17 years), respectively. The female/male ratio was 19/10 in Group 1 and 145/138 in Group 2. The most common diagnoses were anaemia (72, 22.9%), cancer (56, 18.0%), and haemangioma (40, 12.7%). The median serum levels of vitamin B12 in Group 1 were 177 ng/L before treatment, 447 ng/L after 1.5 months, and 321.5 ng/L after 3 months. In Group 2, the levels were 172 ng/L before treatment, 438 ng/L after 1.5 months, and 360 ng/L after 3 months. There were no significant between-group differences. Both groups showed a statistically significant increase in levels above 300 ng/L. In Group 2, the haemoglobin and red blood cell levels showed statistically significant changes, while the mean corpuscular volume, white blood cell count, and platelet count did not substantially change in either group. Conclusion: Sublingual methylcobalamin, a noninvasive treatment option, was as effective as intramuscular cyanocobalamin. This study is the first to compare the standard intramuscular protocol with a new dosing regimen for sublingual methylcobalamin. Sublingual methylcobalamin should be considered an effective alternative, particularly for patients with absorption issues that make oral vitamin B12 insufficient and for those in whom intramuscular administration carries a risk of muscle and sciatic nerve damage.

This manuscript introduces the concept of scaling factors for rotational constants. These factors are designed to bring computed equilibrium rotational constants closer to experimentally-fitted ground-state-averaged rotational constants. The parameterization of the scaling factors was performed for several levels of theory, namely DF-Dn/def2-mVP (DF=B3LYP,PBE0, n=3(BJ),4, m=S,TZ), PBEh-3c, and r2SCAN-3c. The obtained scaling factors systematically improve the consistency between theoretical and experimental rotational constants.

Introduction: Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUD) is a contraceptive device that inserted into the uterus. In Municipality Dili, IUD use is 5.6% and in Community Health Center (CHC) Comoro about 3.4. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of acceptor knowledge and attitudes on the low practice of using IUD at Comoro Community Health Center. Method: The quantitative design-cross sectional approach was used in the study. Total population about 2881 family planning acceptors who did not use the IUD contraceptive method visited CHC Comoro. About 106 respondents was included, used accidental sampling technique. Data collected use questionnaire and analyzing used univariate and bivariate. Result: The multiple linear regression test on the Knowledge are 0.016 < 0,05, which means that there is a partially significant influence of Knowledge on practice and attitude is 0.003< 0.05, which means that there is a partially significant influence between attitudes on practice. The correlation value on the F test was 0.00< 0.05, meaning that there was a significant simultaneous influence between Knowledge, attitude on practice. Conclusion: There is an influence of acceptor’s Knowledge and attitude on the practice of IUD contraceptive use partially in partially and simultaneous.

This study represents a continuous improvement of skills gathered over nearly two decades of teaching online and hybrid courses at Old Westbury and Empire State College. In an online and hybrid environment, the discussion forum has played a vital role in fostering engagement and participation, in comparison to face-to-face courses. Learners are assigned to actively participate in the discussions, while the instructor strives to bridge the gap of face-to-face classroom interactions. Early feedback is one of the techniques of social presence that instructors use to ensure the class activities in the discussions are maximized and direction of discussions are in order. This technique has its own challenges, as learners interact with the instructor responding to the feedback rather than their own classmates. On the other side of early feedback is a common technique with feedback at the end of module courses. A drawback will be that a topic may propagate in the wrong direction. A balance technique for the discussion would be for the instructor to monitor the discussions and respond to the post without giving feedback or right or wrong but stressing what has been presented and even motivating the learners to elaborate when necessary or if they can expand the topic. To motivate the learners in the discussions. Assign a high score like 20% to 35% of the final grade to the discussions with its two-week duration along its module. The evaluation of discussions will be done at the end of the module both considering quality and quantity. It is possible to incorporate a strategy to enhance discussions as a central part of online and hybrid courses where the course activities are directed and prioritized. To ensure the quality several enforcing and motivational techniques are introduced in conjunction with the existing tools of Learning Management Systems. A technique of indirect feedback encouraging learners to post more and build toward quality value. The motivation scheme used at discussions makes everyone participate and contribute. A smart medium like camera, recording voice makes it easy to contribute and have fun. The study illustrates the use of enforcing and applying techniques that can total quality of discussions resulting in a total quality of the course, the use of instructional tools, would be ideal in course performance. The study concludes some of the differences in discussion of online and hybrid courses.

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) typically have a greater immune cell infiltrate and are more likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) than ER+ or HER2+ breast cancers. However, there is crucial need to optimize combining chemotherapy strategies with ICI to enhance overall survival TNBC. Therefore, we developed a high-throughput co-culture screening assay to identify compounds enhancing CD8+T-cell-mediated tumor cell cytotoxicity, screening over 400 FDA-approved compounds or agents under investigation for oncology indications. Four chemotherapy agents were chosen as priority hits for mechanistic follow-up due to their ability to enhance T-cell mediated cytotoxicity at multiple doses and multiple timepoints: paclitaxel, bleomycin sulfate, ispinesib and etoposide. Lead compounds affected expression of MHCI, MHCII, and PD-L1, and induced markers of immunogenic cell death (extracellular ATP or HMGB1). Based on ability to increase tumor cell susceptibility to T-cell mediated cytotoxicity, while minimizing T-cell toxicity, bleomycin was identified as the most promising lead candidate. Overall, the results of these studies provide mechanistic insight into potential new chemotherapy partners to enhance anti-PD-1 efficacy in TNBC patients.

Human responses to climate change are increasingly constrained, underscoring the urgent need for intensified global mitigation efforts. Here, we examine abrupt shifts and long-term trends in temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration in Handan City, Hebei Province, from 1955 to 2020. Our results indicate a pronounced increase in mean temperature, with a striking rise of 13.5°C over 66 years, corresponding to 0.21°C per decade. The Mann-Kendall test identified an abrupt temperature shift in 1999. Precipitation showed a significant decline of 20.57 mm per decade, with a marked change detected in 2001. Sunshine duration also exhibited a pronounced decrease, with a loss of 88.82 hours per decade and an average annual sunshine duration of 2,377.1 hours. The most significant reduction in sunshine hours occurred in 1995. These findings underscore profound regional climate shifts over the past six decades.

Abstract For over a century the somatic gene mutation theory of cancer has been a scientific orthodoxy. Recent failures of causal explanations using this theory and lack of significant progress in addressing the cancer problem medically have led to a new competition of ideas about just what cancer is. This essay presents an alternative view of cancer as a developmental process gone wrong. More particularly, cancer is a break down in the autopoietic process of organ maintenance and the multi-cellular coordination of tissues. Breast cancer is viewed through a systems science perspective as an example of the importance of framing one’s theoretical assumptions before making empirical judgments. Finally, new understanding of the histoarchitecture of the interstitium is presented as a first principle of cancer: a process of cells coming from cells, invading the space between cells.

Poultry production system is usually exposed to important infections that could be prevented by vaccination programs. Conventional methods of vaccination such as drinking water, spray, eye or nose inoculation, and injection are usually given after hatching and have many disadvantages. Therefore, there is a great need for searching of alternative ways for vaccination process. In ovo vaccination technology is now regarded as an alternative approach to post-hatch vaccination in modern poultry operations. This technique is effective, fast, provides uniform vaccine dose and delivery, suitable for a massive production, and reduces the labor costs. Routine in ovo vaccination is applied during the late stage of embryonic development between days 17.5 and 19.25 of egg incubation. The best route of inoculation of the vaccine is in the amniotic fluid or in the embryo’s muscles without causing any hatchability or chick quality losses. Accordingly, the inoculation site, the age of the embryos and breeders, presence of maternal antibodies, and the sanitation of equipment’s and the environment during the vaccination process affect the efficiency of the in ovo vaccination technique. In ovo vaccination technology is currently applied for vaccination against several economically important viral diseases such as Newcastle, infectious bursal disease, Marek’s disease, infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious bronchitis, avian influenza, and avian metapneumovirus. Moreover, vaccines used for prevention of mycoplasmosis and coccidiosis could be applied in ovo instead of post hatching application. It could be concluded that in ovo vaccination is a rapidly growing trend of vaccine technology and it can replace the post-hatching vaccination conventional methods.

This study explores the use of artificially simulated intuition and mental models in Socially Assistive Robots (SAR) to enhance human-robot interaction (HRI). A multidisciplinary approach is proposed, integrating neuroscience, cognitive evolution, and empathy studies to address the limitations of the traditional Theory of Mind (ToM) as applied to SAR. The goal is to develop advanced social robotics models capable of intuitively interpreting and responding to human signals, leveraging principles of cybernetics and complex systems. This approach supports the hypothesis that SAR with multisensory capabilities and simulated intuition can foster human-like empathy, reducing the uncanny valley effect and advancing SAR applicability in healthcare, education, and personal assistance.

A growing body of evidences indicates that nonglycemic effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors play an important role in the protective effects of these drugs in diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure. In recent years, the anti-inflammatory potential of SGLT2 inhibitors has been actively studied. This review summarizes results of clinical and experimental studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of SGLT2 inhibitors, with a special focus on their effects on macrophages, key drivers of metabolic inflammation. In patients with type 2 diabetes, therapy with SGLT2 inhibitors reduces levels of inflammatory mediators. In diabetic and non-diabetic animal models, SGLT2 inhibitors control low-grade inflammation by suppressing inflammatory activation of tissue macrophages, recruitment of monocytes from the bloodstream, and macrophage polarization towards the M1 phenotype. The molecular mechanisms of the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on macrophages include an attenuation of inflammasome activity and inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB pathway, as well as modulation of other signaling pathways (AMPK, PI3K/Akt, ERK 1/2-MAPK, and JAKs/STAT). The review discusses the state-of-the-art concepts and prospects of further investigations that are needed to get a deeper insight into the mechanisms underlying the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on the molecular, cellular and physiological levels.

Accurate estimation of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) derived from satellite data is critical for numerous environmental applications. This study evaluates the accuracy and reliability of two satellite-derived elevation models, ALOS World 3D and SRTM DEMs, specifically for their application in hydrological modeling. A comparative analysis with Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) measurements assessed the agreement between these datasets. Results indicate significant correlations between satellite DEMs and TLS measurements, with adjusted R-square values of 0.8478 for ALOS and 0.955 for SRTM. To quantify the average difference, root mean square er-ror (RMSE) values were calculated as 10.43 m for ALOS and 5.65 m for SRTM. Additionally, slope and analyses highlighted terrain characteristics across DEMs. Slope analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between SRTM and TLS slopes (p < 4.47e-10), while no significant correlation was found between ALOS and TLS slopes. Aspect analysis showed significant posi-tive correlations for both ALOS and SRTM with TLS aspect, capturing 30.21% of the variance. These findings demonstrate the accuracy of satellite-derived elevation models in representing terrain features relative to high-resolution terrestrial data.

Endolichenic fungi represent an important ecological group of microorganisms that form associations with photobionts in the lichen thallus. These endofungi that live in and coevolve with lichens are known for synthesizing secondary metabolites with novel structures and diverse chemical skeletons making them an unexplored microbial community of great interest. As part of our search for new phytoprotectans, in this work we studied the endolichenic fungus Xylaria sp. isolated from the lichen Hypogymnia tubulosa, which grow as epiphyte on the bark of the endemic tree Pinus canariensis. From the extract of liquid fermentation, we isolated two new piliformic derivatives, (+)-9-hydroxypiliformic acid (1) and (+)-8-hydroxypiliformic acid (2), along four known compounds, (+)-piliformic acid (3), hexylaconitic acid A anhydride (4) and two hydroxyphenylacetic derivatives (5-6). Their structures were elucidated based on NMR and HRESIMS data. The extract and compounds were tested for their antifeedant (Myzus persicae, Rhopalosiphum padi and Spodoptera littoralis), antifungal (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum), nematicidal (Meloidogyne javanica) and phytotoxic effects on mono and dicotyledonous plant models (Lolium perenne and Lactuca sativa). Among these compounds 4, 5 and 6 were effective antifeedants against M. persicae and 4 was also active against R. padi. Moreover, compound 3 and 4 showed antifungal activity against B. cinerea and 4 was the only nematicidal. Phytotoxic test showed that the extract has strong effect against L. sativa and L. perenne growth. The phytotoxic compounds were 3, 4 and 5. (+)-Piliformic acid (3) and hexylaconitic A anhydride (4) displayed root growth stimulation on low doses and inhibitory effect at higher doses of dicotyledonous specie L. sativa.

Jujube is the homology of medicine and food, and polyphenols are key compounds that determined the functional effects of jujubes. In this study, characteristic polyphenols in 15 varieties of Chinese jujubes were investigated based on untargeted metabolomics. Result showed a total of 79 characteristic polyphenols were identified in 15 varieties of Chinese jujube, and 55 characteristic polyphenols such as syringetin, spinosin and kaempferol were reported for the first time. Scopoletin (63.94% in LZYZ), pectolinarin (22.63% in HZ) and taxifolin (19.69% in HZ) contributed great and presented significant (p<0.05) differences in 15 varieties of Chinese jujubes. HZ can be characterized by pectolinarin, erianin and wogonoside. While, XSHZ, NYDZ and RQHZ with similar polyphenol profile were characterized by (+)-catechin, combretastatin A4 and tectorigenin. JSBZ, HMDZ, TZ, JCJZ and HPZ had similar polyphenol profile of galangin, isoferulic acid and hydroxysafflor yellow A. In conclusion, metabolomics is critical to grasp the fully nutritional components of jujubes, and the differences of polyphenol profiles and characteristic individual polyphenol of 15 varieties of Chinese jujubes can be well analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA).Jujube is the homology of medicine and food, and polyphenols are key compounds that determined the functional effects of jujubes. In this study, characteristic polyphenols in 15 varieties of Chinese jujubes were investigated based on untargeted metabolomics. Result showed a total of 79 characteristic polyphenols were identified in 15 varieties of Chinese jujube, and 55 characteristic polyphenols such as syringetin, spinosin and kaempferol were reported for the first time. Scopoletin (63.94% in LZYZ), pectolinarin (22.63% in HZ) and taxifolin (19.69% in HZ) contributed great and presented significant (p<0.05) differences in 15 varieties of Chinese jujubes. HZ can be characterized by pectolinarin, erianin and wogonoside. While, XSHZ, NYDZ and RQHZ with similar polyphenol profile were characterized by (+)-catechin, combretastatin A4 and tectorigenin. JSBZ, HMDZ, TZ, JCJZ and HPZ had similar polyphenol profile of galangin, isoferulic acid and hydroxysafflor yellow A. In conclusion, metabolomics is critical to grasp the fully nutritional components of jujubes, and the differences of polyphenol profiles and characteristic individual polyphenol of 15 varieties of Chinese jujubes can be well analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA).

The connectivity reliability of public transport depends on a number of factors, including public transport routes, the connections between them, their frequency, their availability, and the availability of public transport and infrastructure. A shortest path algorithm is used to find up to "k" paths connecting each Origin-Destination pair in space-time, taking into account the schedules and a constraint on the maximum tolerable waiting time. For each path, four reliability indicators are proposed, as well as an approachability indicator, related to the level of transport supply. Thanks to two sets of equations, these indicators are also computed on the origin-destination and network levels. This enables fleet managers to evaluate and compare strategies for improving the connectivity reliability and the transport supply, such as increasing the number of public transport routes, reducing route length or increasing frequency. From an application on the bus network of a city in Brittany in France, we show how to understand and use these indicators.

Artificial intelligence is one of the fast-growing fields of science and technology. Exponential growth in AI has increased the number of AI content developers and users significantly, thereby impacting society and its functioning. This research is an attempt to delve deep into the multifaceted nature of AI content and its impact on society. The review aims to shed light on the most critical research articles and papers in the area of ethics of artificial intelligence, machine ethics, and AI-generated content. The authors mean to underline the essential creation of ethical frameworks about AI content production at different levels: journalism, art, and marketing. This also comprises the appeal for transparency during the development and deployment of AI and the requirement of ethics frames that would foster responsible use. Finally, case studies are conducted to illustrate how the formulated guidelines and mechanisms work in real life. It points out, however, that the transference of these high-level AI ethics principles into practice, with a view to their implementation for AI-generated journalism, is not without noteworthy challenges.

Emerging evidence suggests that the severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS- CoV-2) infection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines may trigger autoimmune responses in genetically predisposed individuals. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a group of diseases with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations featured by the presence of myositis autoantibodies (MAs). The diagnosis of IIM is challenging due to the limitations of current classification criteria and diagnostic assays. We conducted a multicenter observational study, whose main goal was to describe the incidence of IIM following exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or its specific vaccination, and to compare the rates of both. A total of 788 patients belonging to 11 different Spanish referral centers were analyzed, with a cumulative count of 1,209 MAs measured by line blot immunoassays (LIA). The study identified distinct patterns in the frequency of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibodies compared to pre-pandemic periods. Notably, the most prevalent ARS antibody identified associated to IIM was anti-PL-7 (14.85%), whereas anti-Jo1, traditionally the most frequent antibody documented, had a frequency of 7.23% in our cohort. Anti- MDA5, the most commonly described antibody in the literature associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection, was identified in 11.68% of our patients. Our cohort displayed positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) result in 61% of patients, which suggests an underlying autoimmune background. The most prevalent final diagnoses were anti- synthetase syndrome (ASSD) or IIM-non-ASSD (21.31% of total cases) and other systemic autoimmune diseases (SAID) with 13.57% of cases. 91.13% of patients received at least one dose of a messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, with a median of three doses per patient. It is noteworthy that patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or heterologous vaccination demonstrated a higher frequency of multiple autoantibody positivity (p<0.05), which could reflect different humoral and cellular immune signatures. This collaborative work enhances our understanding of IIM and may facilitate the optimization of care through the implementation of standardized approaches. Further investigation is required to fully characterize the autoimmune risks and phenotypes following a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination.Emerging evidence suggests that the severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS- CoV-2) infection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines may trigger autoimmune responses in genetically predisposed individuals. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a group of diseases with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations featured by the presence of myositis autoantibodies (MAs). The diagnosis of IIM is challenging due to the limitations of current classification criteria and diagnostic assays. We conducted a multicenter observational study, whose main goal was to describe the incidence of IIM following exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or its specific vaccination, and to compare the rates of both. A total of 788 patients belonging to 11 different Spanish referral centers were analyzed, with a cumulative count of 1,209 MAs measured by line blot immunoassays (LIA). The study identified distinct patterns in the frequency of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibodies compared to pre-pandemic periods. Notably, the most prevalent ARS antibody identified associated to IIM was anti-PL-7 (14.85%), whereas anti-Jo1, traditionally the most frequent antibody documented, had a frequency of 7.23% in our cohort. Anti- MDA5, the most commonly described antibody in the literature associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection, was identified in 11.68% of our patients. Our cohort displayed positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) result in 61% of patients, which suggests an underlying autoimmune background. The most prevalent final diagnoses were anti- synthetase syndrome (ASSD) or IIM-non-ASSD (21.31% of total cases) and other systemic autoimmune diseases (SAID) with 13.57% of cases. 91.13% of patients received at least one dose of a messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, with a median of three doses per patient. It is noteworthy that patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or heterologous vaccination demonstrated a higher frequency of multiple autoantibody positivity (p<0.05), which could reflect different humoral and cellular immune signatures. This collaborative work enhances our understanding of IIM and may facilitate the optimization of care through the implementation of standardized approaches. Further investigation is required to fully characterize the autoimmune risks and phenotypes following a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination.

Background/Objectives: Youth in foster care are highly vulnerable to psychiatric medication overuse and polypharmacy, particularly concerning the racial disparities affecting antipsychotic prescriptions. This study investigates the racial patterns in antipsychotic prescribing to African American versus European American foster youth at a single mental health institution in Southern Nevada, identifying key disparities in treatment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1,507 foster youth patients aged 3-19 years who attended an outpatient behavioral health clinic from 2013 to 2020. Demographic data were collected, and chi-square analyses were applied to evaluate the association between socially defined race and antipsychotic prescriptions. Results: Of the total clinic patients, 105 received atypical antipsychotic prescriptions, with African American youth overrepresented in this group compared to the clinic's general foster population (X2 (3, N = 105) = 1,672.9, p < .01). European American and other races were underrepresented. Conclusions: The data highlight racial disparities in prescribing practices, with African American foster youth significantly more likely to receive atypical antipsychotic medications. Addressing provider and caregiver biases may mitigate these disparities, emphasizing the need for culturally competent clinical care.

Migrant workers comprise half of the workforce in Macao, and stigmatization is a typical characteristic of the group. Previous studies have researched the impact of stigmatization on related behaviors such feeling shame to seek help and perceiving resistance and vulnerability as stigmatized identities, but few have focused on the workplace behavior of stigmatized employees. This study investigates the relationship between perceived stigma and job burnout. We surveyed 312 mainland migrant workers in Macao using self-administered questionnaires, using Amos and SPSS software analyzing data. Our findings illustrated that perceived stigma leads to job burnout (β1=0.24, p

It is widely acknowledged that the majority of acute environmental issues can be attributed directly to human activity. Since the inception of human settlements, the production of waste has been a common occurrence. In addition to the production of natural waste products, the advent of the Industrial Revolution has resulted in a significant increase in the generation of artificial waste. It is therefore imperative, from an environmental standpoint, to implement effective measures to reduce these pollutants. One method of reducing the impact of organic environmental pollutants is to photochemically convert them with europium, particularly trivalent europium. As demonstrated in this proof of concept using a range of model pollutants, it is possible to break down environmentally relevant pollutants, including nitriles, carbamates and halogenated compounds, with trivalent europium salts into environmentally friendly organic compounds.

The recent resurgence of Mpox in central Africa has been declared again a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) requiring coordinated international responses. Vaccination is a priority to expand protection and enhance control strategies, but the vaccine's need exceeds the currently available doses. Intradermal (ID) administration of one-fifth of the standard Modified-Vaccinia-Ankara (MVA-BN) dose was temporarily authorized during the 2022 PHEIC. Studies conducted before 2022 provided evidence about the humoral response against the Vaccinia virus (VACV) after vaccination but not against the Mpox virus (MPXV). Moreover, no data are available on the T-cell response elicited by MVA-BN administered subcutaneously or intradermally. Here, we compare the two vaccine administration routes according to reactogenicity (using data of n=943 vaccine recipients) and immunogenicity (n=225 vaccine recipients) attending INMI Spallanzani hospital during the 2022 vaccination campaign in Rome, Italy. We found that the ID route elicited higher titers of MPXV-specific IgG (mean difference of 0.26 log2, p=0.05) and nAbs (0.24 log2, p=0.08) than the subcutaneous (SC) route one month after the complete vaccination cycle. At the same time, no evidence for a difference in cellular response was found. MVA-BN was globally well tolerated despite higher reactogenicity for the ID than the SC route, especially for the reactions at the local injection site. The ID dose-sparing strategy was proven safe and immunogenic and would make vaccination available to more people. Our data support the current WHO recommendation of using the ID route in in low-medium income countries (LMIC) although response data in people infected with the new 1b clade are urgently needed.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a species of the onion family, Alliaceae that has been widely used as a food and a folk medicine. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of AGE (Aged garlic extract) on proinflammatory genes relevant to COVID-19. To this aim, we treated bronchial epithelial IB3-1 cells with SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (S-protein) or with the COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccine in the absence or in the presence of AGE. The results obtained demonstrated that AGE is a potent inhibitor of the S-protein in-duced expression of the IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 genes. Bio-plex analysis demonstrate that AGE reduced release of IL-6 and IL-8, that were highly induced by S-protein. No inhibition of cells growth, toxicity and proapoptotic effects were found in AGE-treated cells. The effects of one of the major AGE constituents (S-allyl cysteine, SAC) were studied on the same experimental model systems. SAC was able to inhibit the S-protein induced expression of IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 genes and extracellular release of IL-6 and IL-8, con-firming that S-allyl cysteine is one of the constituents of AGE that are responsible for inhibiting S-protein induced pro-inflammatory genes. Docking experiments suggest that a possible mechanism of action of SAC is an interference with the activity of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly TLR4, thereby inhibiting NF-B and NF-B regulated genes, such as IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 genes. These results suggest that both AGE and SAC deserve further experimental efforts to verify their effects on pro-inflammatory genes in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells.

This paper explores the overall picture regarding security systems in healthcare through an extensive review of the literature. As the healthcare sector has now become digitalized, the security of healthcare systems and, by extension, the protection of patient data is a key concern in the modern era of technological advances. Therefore, a secure and integrated system is now essential. Thus, to evaluate the relationship between security systems and healthcare quality, we conducted literature research to identify studies reporting their association. The timeline of our review is based on published studies covering the period from 2018 to 2024, with entries identified through a search of the relevant literature, focusing on the most recent developments due to advances in artificial intelligence and algorithmic approaches. Thirty-three studies were included in our final survey. Our findings underscore the critical role of security systems in healthcare that significantly improve patient outcomes and maintain the integrity of healthcare services. According to our approach, the studies analyzed highlight the growing importance of advanced security frameworks, especially those incorporating artificial intelligence and algorithmic methodologies, in safeguarding healthcare systems while enhancing patient care quality. According to this study, most of the research analyzed uses algorithmic technology approaches, many researchers prove that ransomware is the most common threat to hospital information systems, and more studies are needed to evaluate the performance of the systems created against this attack.

The origin of COVID-19 remains unclear despite extensive research. Theoretical models can simplify complex epigenetic landscapes by reducing vast methylation sites into manageable sets, revealing fundamental pathogen interactions that leap medical advances for the first time in tracing virus origin in the literature and practices. In our study, a max-logistic intelligence classifier analyzed 865,859 Infinium MethylationEPIC sites (CpGs), identifying eight CpGs that achieved 100% accuracy in distinguishing COVID-19 patients from other respiratory disease patients and healthy controls. One CpG, cg07126281, linked to the SAMM50 gene, shares genetic ties with rare infectious diseases like Sennetsu fever and glanders, suggesting a potential connection between COVID-19 and these diseases, possibly transmitted through contaminated seafood or glanders-infected individuals. Identifying such links among 865,859 CpG sites is challenging, with a random correlation probability of less than one in ten million. However, the likelihood of finding meaningful associations with rare diseases lowers this probability to one in one hundred million, reinforcing the credibility of our findings. These results highlight the importance of investigating seafood markets and global supply chains in tracing COVID-19's origins and emphasize the need for ongoing biosafety and biosecurity measures to prevent future outbreaks.

Consumer-grade economical radon monitors are becoming increasingly popular in private and institutional use, both in the context of Citizen Science and traditional research. Although originally designed for screening indoor radon levels in view of radon regulation and decisions about mitigation or remediation - motivated by the health hazard posed by high radon concentrations - researchers are increasingly exploring their potential in some environmental studies. For long time, radon has been used as a tracer for investigating atmospheric transport processes. This paper focuses on the RadonEye, currently the most sensitive among low-cost monitors available on the market, and specifically, its potential use for monitoring very low radon concentrations. It has two objectives: firstly, discussing issues of statistics of low count rates and secondly, analyzing radon concentration time series acquired with RadonEyes outdoors and in low-radon indoor spaces. Regarding the first objective, among other things, the inference of reported to expected true radon concentration is discussed. The second objective includes the application of autoregressive methods and fractal statistics to time series analysis. The overall result is that radon dynamics can be well captured using this "low-tech" approach. Statistical results are plausible; however, few results are available in the literature for comparison, particularly concerning fractal methods. The paper may therefore be seen as an incentive for further research in this direction.

The effect of the angular rolling process on the plan view pattern of the plate is studied, the rectangular influence factor and improvement method for plate angular rolling process are proposed in this paper. Finite element models are established for the conventional rolling and angular rolling processes respectively, and with DEFORM software, the numerical simulation is carried out. A characterization formula reflecting the rectangular degree of the rolled piece is constructed and the rectangular degree of the plates under different rolling process conditions are compared. Considering the actual rolling process conditions, the range of theoretically calculated rectangular rotation angles is extended to obtain the optimum rectangular rotation angle with finite element simulation method. The one-group two-pass angular rolling is separated to one-group four-pass rolling and the simulation results show that the rectangular degree of the four-pass process is better than the two-pass process. Angular rolling experiments are carried out, the actual data shows that the rectangular characteristic value of the rolled piece is 1.003 with the four-pass process, and 1.014 with the two-pass process. It verifies that with separating one-group two-pass angular rolling process to one-group four-pass angular rolling process can improve the rectangular degree of the rolled plate.

Fungi and soil bacteria are vital for organic matter decomposition and biogeochemical cycles, but excessive synthetic fertilizer use contributes to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. Despite this, about 97% of soil microorganisms are unculturable, making them difficult to study. Metagenomics offers a solution, enabling the direct extraction of DNA from soil to uncover microbial diversity and functions. This study utilized metagenomics to analyze the rhizosphere of 2-year-old Tonda di Giffoni hazelnut saplings treated with synthetic NPK, composted olive pomace, and an innovative fertilizer derived from sulfur-based agro-industrial waste stabilized with bentonite clay. Using 16S rDNA for bacteria and ITS2 for fungi, Illumina sequencing provided insights into microbial responses to different fertilizer treatments. Results highlighted a significant increase in the abundance of beneficial microorganisms such as Thiobacillus, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Thermomyces, especially when organic material was included. Additionally, microbial biodiversity improved with organic inputs, as shown by increased species richness (Chao1) and diversity (Bray-Curtis). These findings emphasize the importance of organic fertilization in enhancing soil microbial health, offering a sustainable approach to improving soil quality and hazelnut productivity.

Objectives: Congenital hearing loss is a significant health concern, with diverse etiologies encompassing cochlear and cochleovestibular pathologies. Preoperative radiological evaluation in cochlear implant candidates is pivotal for treatment planning. We aim to elucidate the spectrum of radiological findings in patients with congenital hearing loss undergoing cochlear implant assessment. Methods: An analysis included 389 sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) patients who underwent cochlear implantation at a tertiary university hospital, of whose 177 were congenital SNHL. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were meticulously assessed for diverse congenital pathologies, focusing on congenital malformations. Results: In the congenital SNHL group, comprising 177 patients (80 females and 97 males), congenital malformations were evident in 56 ears of 29 cases. Among the various anomalies, incomplete partitions and cochlear hypoplasia emerged as significant patterns. Different congenital cochleovestibular malformations, ranging from labyrinthine aplasia to isolated large vestibular aqueducts, were detected. Conclusion: This study offers a comprehensive radiological analysis of congenital SNHL patients undergoing cochlear implantation, revealing a spectrum of anomalies. It demonstrates the diverse nature of anomalies affecting the external auditory canal, middle ear structures, and cochleovestibular system. These insights provide a deeper understanding of congenital SNHL and contribute to developing informed treatment strategies.

Background: Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) is a frequent clinical condition characterized by acute or chronic pain in the lateral region of the hip. This condition is primarily due to degenerative gluteus minimus and medius muscle tendinopathy. In a previous ex vivo study, proliferation and migration of human tenocytes and synthesis, maturation, and secretion of Collagen I (COL-I) were improved when human gluteal tenocytes were exposed to a swine-derived type I collagen available on the market (MD-Tissue—GUNA S.p.a. Milan, Italy). The study's purpose is to evaluate the effects of injecting an MD-tissue medical device on GTPS pain, hip function, and strength. Methods: The study group was treated with ultrasound-guided injections of swine-derived collagen once a week for three consecutive weeks. Primary endpoint was pain reduction of at least 3 points on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain at ten weeks. Secondary endpoints were: NRS average reduction at rest and palpation, modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), abductor strength, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improvement at six months. Results: Fifty-two patients were screened, 47 enrolled, 43 completed the study, and 42 were available for the final follow-up. The primary endpoint was reached in more than 60% of the patients. The secondary endpoint, increased in all the timelines with statistical significance. Neither early nor late adverse effects were found. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided peritrochanteric injections of MD-Tissue are a safe and effective treatment for the majority of the Patients affected by Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recognizes the potential of technologies based on the use of nanoparticles (NPs) in revolutionizing clinical approaches in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. Recent research suggests that once NPs come into contact with a biological fluid of cancer patients, they are covered by proteins, forming a "protein corona", composed of hundreds of plasma proteins. The concept of a personalized, disease-specific protein corona, demonstrating substantial differences in NP corona profiles between cancer and non-cancer patients has been introduced. We developed the design of an experimental prospective single center study with patients allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio of one of three arms: untreated patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); untreated patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer (PCa); metastatic prostate cancer patients starting systemic therapies with new androgen-targeted agents or taxanes.. The protocol will aim to develop and implement sensitive nanotools with two distinct objectives. First, by designing NPs capable of selectively binding and detecting biomarkers in order to build a predictive diagnostic model to effectively discriminate between patient sera affected by BPH and PCa. Secondly, within the population with PCa, in case of initial advanced metastatic diagnosis, the objective will be to find biomarkers capable of predicting the response to systemic treatments to improve the precision and efficiency of monitoring treatment outcomes. For protein and metabolite corona experiments, we developed a cross-reactive sensor array platform with cancer detection capacity made of three liposomal formulations with different surface charges. For proteomics-NPs studies, proteins will be identified and quantified by nano-high-performance LC (nanoHPLC) coupled to MS/MS (nanoHPLC−MS/MS). Metabolites will be instead analyzed by an untargeted metabolomic approach.

The increasing antibiotic resistance among bacteria challenges the biotech industry to search for new antibacterial molecules. Endolysin TP84_28 is a thermostable, lytic enzyme, encoded by the bacteriophage TP-84, and it effectively digests host bacteria cell wall. Biofilms, together with antibiotic resistance, are major problems in clinical medicine and industry. The primary challenge is to keep antibacterial molecules at the site of desired action, as their diffusion leads to loss of efficacy. The gene encoding TP84_28 endolysin was cloned into a custom expression-fusion vector, forming a fusion gene cbd_tp84_28_his with a cellulose binding domain from the cellulase enzyme. The CBD_TP84_28_His protein was biosynthesized in Escherichia coli and purified. Thermostability and enzymatic activity against various bacterial species were measured by turbidity reduction assay, spot assay, and biofilms removal. Cellulose binding properties were confirmed via interaction with microcellulose and cellulose paper-based immunoblotting. The high affinity of CBD allowed for high concentration of the fusion enzyme at desired target sites such as cellulose-based wound dressings, artificial heart valves and food packaging. CBD_TP84_28_His exhibits lytic effect against thermophilic bacteria Geobacillus stearothemophilus, Thermus aquaticus, Bacillus stearothermophilus and minor effects against mesophilic Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis. CBD_TP84_28_His retains full activity after preincubation in the temperatures of 30-65°C and exhibits significant activity up to its melting point at 73°C. CBD_TP84_28_His effectively reduces biofilms. These findings suggest that integrating CBDs into thermostable endolysins could enable the development of targeted antibacterial recombinant proteins with diverse clinical and industrial applications.

Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) flowers are rich in polyphenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid and quercetin derivatives, which are known for their health benefits, particularly antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. This study aimed to optimize the extraction conditions using the Box-Behnken model to maximize polyphenol yields from different elderberry flower varieties and to evaluate their potential for antidiabetic action. The extracts were analyzed for their phytochemical content and assessed for enzyme inhibition, specifically targeting enzymes critical in carbohydrate digestion and glucose regulation. The anti-inflammatory activity was also assessed. Results indicated that the Black Beauty, Obelisk, and Haschberg varieties demonstrated significant inhibition of α-glucosidase, with a high inhibitory potential against α-amylase enzymes for Obelisk variety. Additionally, high chlorogenic acid content strongly correlated with enzyme inhibition and antioxidant activity, suggesting its substantial role in glucose regulation. The study underscores the potential of elderberry flower extracts, particularly those rich in chlorogenic acid, as natural agents for managing blood glucose levels, warranting further exploration of their use in antidiabetic applications.

An inverse-square probability mass function (PMF) is at Newcomb-Benford Law’s (NBL) root and ultimately at the origin of positional notation and conformality. Under its tail, we find information as harmonic likelihood, leading to the global NBL ruled by the base B. Under its tail, we find information as logarithmic likelihood, leading to the local (fiducial) NBL ruled by the radix R. In the framework of bijective numeration, we prove that the set of Kempner’s series conforms to the global NBL and that the local NBL is length- and position-invariant. The global Bayesian rule multiplies the correlation between numbers, s and t, by a likelihood ratio that is the NBL probability of bucket [s;t) relative to B’s support. To encode the odds of quantum j against i locally, we multiply the prior odds Pr(B;j)/Pr(B;i) by a likelihood ratio that is the NBL probability of bin [i;j) relative to R’s support. This two-factor structure is recurrent under arithmetic operations. A particular case of Bayesian data produces the algebraic field of "referential ratios". The cross-ratio, the central tool in conformal geometry, is a ratio of referential ratios. A one-dimensional coding source reflects the harmonic external world into its logarithmic coding space, the ball {x∈Q| abs(x)< 1-1/B}. The source’s conformal encoding function is y=logR(2x-1), where x is the observed Euclidean distance to an object’s position. The conformal decoding function is x = ½ (1 + ry). Both functions, unique under basic requirements, enable information- and granularity-invariant recursion to model the multiscale reality.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people globally, with respiratory organs being strongly affected in individuals with comorbidities. Medical imaging-based diagnosis and prognosis have become increasingly popular in clinical settings for detecting COVID-19 lung infections. Among various medical imaging modalities, ultrasound stands out as a low-cost, mobile, and radiation-safe imaging technology. In this comprehensive review, we focus on AI-driven studies utilizing lung ultrasound (LUS) for COVID-19 detection and analysis. We provide a detailed overview of both publicly available and private LUS datasets and categorize the AI studies according to the dataset they used. Additionally, we systematically analyzed and tabulated the studies across various dimensions, including data preprocessing methods, AI models, cross-validation techniques, and evaluation metrics. In total, we reviewed 60 articles, 41 of which utilized public datasets, while the remaining employed private data. Our findings suggest that ultrasound-based AI studies for COVID-19 detection have great potential for clinical use, especially for children and pregnant women. Our review also provides a useful summary for future researchers and clinicians who may be interested in the field.

The purpose of this study was to determine antibiofilm effect of combined sonication treatment with organic acid on polystyrene surface and to develop a predictive model for Escherichia coli biofilm inactivation. Polystyrene plates containing E. coli biofilm were exposed to sonication with different inactivation solutions (PBS, lactic acid and acetic acid) at different temperatures (20, 40 and 50oC) and times (2 and 5 minutes). The effects of temperature, time and inactivation solution on E. coli biofilm removal were found to be statistically significant (p

With the development of the market economy and the increasing awareness of intellectual property protection, the protection scope and balance between enterprise name rights and other prior rights have become increasingly prominent as an important commercial identification right. This article aims to explore the limitations of prior rights, especially prior trademark rights, on the ownership of enterprise names, and how to seek a reasonable balance between the two.

Academic credential fraud poses a real challenge to the global academic and labour market. Fraudulent credentials devalue the legitimacy of bona fide certificates. The Global Academic Record and Verification based on Blockchain and Interplanetary File Systems (GARV-BI) framework was implemented and offers a holistic, privacy-preserving, immutable, secure, and interoperable system for managing academic records. Using advanced blockchain technology, it proposes zkEVM for smart contracts that enables verification of credentials without exposing the underlying data. It also integrates the use of Decentralized IDentifiers (DID) to standardize registration and identity management without relying on centralized entities. A key feature of GARV-BI is that it features a dual blockchain, which separates public and private information, allowing for greater efficiency and privacy of transactions. It also uses the interplanetary File System (IPFS), which allows for decentralized and secure storage of related documents. The result is an open-source solution that is easily integrated, as it uses a standardized Application Programming Interface (API). Extensive testing has shown that it can successfully manage transactions securely, privately, and at a lower cost than solutions based on Ethereum mainnet environments. GARV-BI is innovative in its combination of blockchain technologies, decentralized storage, and globally unique identifiers to achieve higher levels of interoperability, security, and privacy. GARV-BI will transform academic credential management with a platform that is accessible, adaptable, and robust for use by institutions around the world to maintain the integrity of academic qualifications and enable global student mobility.

Financial fraud refers to the act of obtaining financial benefits through dishonest means. Such acts not only disrupt the order of the financial market, but also harm social and economic development, and breed other illegal and criminal acts. With the proliferation of the internet and online payment methods, many fraudulent activities and money laundering have shifted from offline to online, posing a significant challenge for regulators. In this work, we proposed a novel detection model by utilizing the graph neural network. Specifically, the general model structure includes the combination of Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) and Graph Attention Network (GAT), which can effectively capture the complex relationships and features in the financial transaction network. By building a multilayer graph neural network, the model can perform deep learning on the implicit patterns between nodes, thereby improving the accuracy of fraud detection. Experimental analysis results show that the performance of the proposed method on multiple public datasets is better than that of traditional methods, showing its potential in practical application.

Ajwain essential oil (AEO) and Thyme essential oil (TEO) naturally contain bioactive compounds important for its growth and development. Various researchers have discovered that these compounds contribute biological benefits for living things such as humans and animals. Bioactive compounds found in essential oils, such as terpenes and terpenoids, possess antibacterial and flavouring qualities, making them promising natural preservatives in the food business. This study investigates the effect of essential oil treatment methods on their incorporation into dehydrated beef and its subsequent sensory acceptability. The meat samples underwent hot air blanching (HAB) and oil treatment (OT) with doses of 0.75 mL and 1.5 mL, respectively. Subsequently, the samples were dried at 55 °C for 6 hours after each treatment. The identification and quantification of volatile chemicals were performed using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thymol, γ-terpinene, p-cymene, and β-pinene were the predominant compounds before and after the treatments. The findings revealed that the application of AEO and TEO treatments resulted in significant differences in the final concentration of the monoterpenes. However, the sensory evaluation indicated that the ajwain and thyme EO samples received similar overall ratings. Consequently, ajwain essential oil could be a suitable alternative to thyme in beef jerky.

With the rise of autonomous systems, the need for precision in navigating uncertain environments has become paramount. Unmanned vehicles in particular require accurate detection and spatial positioning of obstacles to ensure safe and efficient navigation. This research introduces a sensor-fusion based system that integrates an ESP-32 camera module and an ultrasonic sensor to detect objects and calculate their relative position to the vehicle in an average of 715 milliseconds. The object detection pipeline utilizes the Yolov8 object detection algorithm to detect and classify objects in the camera’s field of view. Combining the pinhole camera formula and Yolov8 bounding box, an equation is formulated to compute the exact spatial coordinates of the object. The system was validated through a series of experiments involving different object types at varying distances, resulting in a dataset of 397 instances with a total of 3176 values. The solution achieved a spatial detection accuracy of 89%, demonstrating its potential for reliable obstacle avoidance in unmanned vehicles.

Copper anode slime (CAS) contains high concentrations of precious metals, particularly gold, which can reach up to 11 wt%. During copper anode electrorefining, 5-10 kg of CAS is generated per ton of copper cathode. Processing CAS is crucial for economic reasons, as gold significantly contributes to revenue for both miners and custom copper smelters. This paper provides a comprehensive review of industrial processes and technologies for CAS treatment, with a focus on gold recovery. It documents traditional and recent trends and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods. Key factors affecting revenue, such as gold production lead time, in-process inventory, and first-pass recovery rate, are discussed to mitigate losses in fluctuating gold markets. CAS processing routes are categorized into two main groups: traditional hybrid routes (involving hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and electrorefining/electrowinning) and rather recent purely hydrometallurgical routes. Traditional methods can take up to 45 days, with gold recovery occurring late in the process and losses arising in anode, cathode, electrolyte, or slag. In contrast, purely hydrometallurgical routes have total processing times of 7-8 days, achieve early gold recovery, and can attain first-pass recovery rates as high as 99%. These findings indicate that purely hydrometallurgical routes outperform traditional hybrid methods. This paper aims to serve as a guideline for industrial CAS processing, assisting custom copper smelters in navigating challenging market conditions marked by low treatment and refining charges, with an emphasis on enhancing gold recovery to promote sustainability.

This study aims to explore the effect of microstructural parameters on notch fatigue damage behavior of the TC21 alloy. Different levels of lamellar microstructures were achieved through distinct aging temperatures of 550, 600, and 650 °C. The findings reveal that increasing aging temperature primarily contributes to the augmentation of α colony (αc) thickness, grain boundaries α phase (GBα) thickness, and α fine (αfine) size, alongside a reduction in α lath (αlath) thickness and αfine content. The notch alters stress distribution and relaxation effects at the root, enhancing notched tensile strength while weakening plasticity. Moreover, the increased thickness of GBα emerges as a critical factor leading to the increase area of intergranular cleavage fracture. It is noteworthy that more thickness αlath and smaller αfine facilitate deformation coordination and enhance dislocation accumulation at the interface, leading to a higher propensity for microvoids and microcracks to propagate along the interface. Conversely, at elevated aging temperatures, thinner αlath and larger αfine are more susceptible to fracture, resulting in the liberation of dislocations at the interface. The reduction in αlath thickness is crucial for triggering the initiation of multi-system dislocations at the interface, which promotes the development of persistent slip bands (PSBs) and dislocation nets within αlath. This phenomenon induces inhomogeneous plastic deformation and localized hardening, fostering the formation of microvoids and microcracks.

In regenerative medicine, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown their importance and potential in tissue reconstruction and immune system modification. However, such cells’ potential is often diminished by factors such as oxidative stress, immune rejection, and inadequate engraftment. This review highlights the role of molecular hydrogen (H₂) and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as adjunct therapies to improve the effectiveness of MSC therapy has a strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory action as it quenches reactive oxygen species and positively stimulates the Nrf2 pathway that promotes MSC survival and life. CAP, being a modulated source of ROS and RNS, also assists MSCs by altering the cellular redox balance, thus facilitating cellular adaptation, migration and differentiation. H₂ and CAP in conjunction with each other assist in establishing an ambience favorable for promoting MSC survival and growth ability and reducing the healing time in various pathways such as wound, neuroprotection, and ischemia. Besides these concerns, this review also covers the best administration routes and doses of H₂ and CAP together with MSCs in therapy. This study informs on a novel dual method aimed at improving the outcome of MSC therapy while adding several molecular targets and relevant clinical use concerning these therapies. Research of the future has to deal with bettering these protocols so that the therapeutic benefits can be maximized without long-term implications for clinical applications.In regenerative medicine, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown their importance and potential in tissue reconstruction and immune system modification. However, such cells’ potential is often diminished by factors such as oxidative stress, immune rejection, and inadequate engraftment. This review highlights the role of molecular hydrogen (H₂) and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as adjunct therapies to improve the effectiveness of MSC therapy has a strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory action as it quenches reactive oxygen species and positively stimulates the Nrf2 pathway that promotes MSC survival and life. CAP, being a modulated source of ROS and RNS, also assists MSCs by altering the cellular redox balance, thus facilitating cellular adaptation, migration and differentiation. H₂ and CAP in conjunction with each other assist in establishing an ambience favorable for promoting MSC survival and growth ability and reducing the healing time in various pathways such as wound, neuroprotection, and ischemia. Besides these concerns, this review also covers the best administration routes and doses of H₂ and CAP together with MSCs in therapy. This study informs on a novel dual method aimed at improving the outcome of MSC therapy while adding several molecular targets and relevant clinical use concerning these therapies. Research of the future has to deal with bettering these protocols so that the therapeutic benefits can be maximized without long-term implications for clinical applications.

Background: RT-qPCR is the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19, the testing process requires RNA extraction, which can be time-consuming, costly and infectious. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of an extraction-free heating and dilution method (EFHD) with conventional extraction-based (EB) methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2. Method: A total of 300 specimens, (190 positive, 110 negative) were collected retrospectively from the National Virology Reference Laboratory repository of Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). The specimens were diluted in 1:2 with RNase-free water and heated at 72°C for 15 minutes. 10µL of the heated sample/ elutes were mixed with 20µL of the master mix and runned using an ABI 7500 Fast instrument (ThermoFisher Scientific). Performance characteristics were analyzed using R-Studio and STATA v17. Result: The EFHD revealed a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 100%. The accuracy of the new method was 85.8% (163/190). The new method reported 15 false negatives and 12 invalid results. The EFHD method exhibited strong agreement with the standard method, (with an agreement of 95%, and a kappa coefficient of 0.89). It performed well with high viral load samples (Ct < 20), but exhibited reduced sensitivity for lower viral loads (Ct > 35). The study confirmed a significant correlation (R² = 0.99, p = 0.001) between EFHD and extraction-based SARS CoV-2 detection methods. Conclusion: EFHD demonstrated good performance characteristics. Its tendency to produce false negatives in low viral load cases suggests room for improvement. This method could be the choice of testing in resource-limited areas specially for outbreak management and control.

In this work, we investigate the transition from regular dynamics to chaotic behavior in a one-dimensional quartic anharmonic classical oscillator driven by a time-dependent external square-wave force. Owing to energy conservation, the motion of the undriven quartic anharmonic oscillator is regular, periodic, and stable. For the driven quartic anharmonic oscillator, the equations of motion cannot be solved analytically due to the presence of an anharmonic term in the potential energy function. Using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method to numerically solve the equations of motion for the driven quartic anharmonic oscillator, we find that the oscillator motion under the influence of a sufficiently small driving force remains regular, while by gradually increasing the driving force, a series of nonlinear resonances can occur, grow, overlap, and ultimately disappear due to the emergence of chaos.

This study explores the intersection of bioinformatics, computational biology, and biomathematics, focusing on how mathematical models are applied to analyze biological data and develop computational tools. This study highlights the foundational role of biomathematics in biological research including genomics, proteomics, and systems biology. Key areas of focus include the use of statistical models, algorithms, and simulations to create computational tools to aid in data interpretation and drug discovery. Additionally, this paper delves into emerging trends such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data in bioinformatics. By analyzing case studies and real-world applications, this study underscores the significance of biomathematics in advancing biological sciences and the potential for future innovations in personalized medicine and interdisciplinary approaches.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop novel self-adhesive resins for orthodontic bracket bonding that can provide clinically acceptable bond strengths, leave minimal remnant adhesive and enamel damage upon bracket debonding. Materials and Methods: A plain self-adhesive resin was used as a control, from which three main modified self-adhesive resin groups were developed for bracket bonding: bioactive glass, strontium fluoride and grape seed extract. All groups were subjected to three artificial aging models prior to shear bond strength, adhesive remnant index, enamel damage index and micro-hardness assessments. Results: All groups yielded clinically acceptable shear bond strength values. The addition of 0.5% grape seed extract to plain self-adhesive resin+1% bioactive glass yielded the highest shear bond strength, minimal adhesive remnant index and minimal enamel damage post debonding, yet the differences were statistically insignificant (p>0.05). The best performance regarding microhardness was displayed by the addition of 0.5% grape seed extract. Conclusions: The formulation (1% bioactive glass+ 0.5% grape seed extract) yielded clinically satisfactory shear bond strength, minimal adhesive residue, minimal enamel damage, and highest micro-hardness mean value as compared to the control and other experimental self-adhesive resin groups.

LangChain is a rapidly emerging framework that offers a ver- satile and modular approach to developing applications powered by large language models (LLMs). By leveraging LangChain, developers can sim- plify complex stages of the application lifecycle—such as development, productionization, and deployment—making it easier to build scalable, stateful, and contextually aware applications. It provides tools for han- dling chat models, integrating retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and offering secure API interactions. With LangChain, rapid deployment of sophisticated LLM solutions across diverse domains becomes feasible. However, despite its strengths, LangChain’s emphasis on modularity and integration introduces complexities and potential security concerns that warrant critical examination. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of LangChain’s architecture and core components, including LangGraph, LangServe, and LangSmith. We explore how the framework facilitates the development of LLM applications, discuss its applications across multi- ple domains, and critically evaluate its limitations in terms of usability, security, and scalability. By offering valuable insights into both the capa- bilities and challenges of LangChain, this paper serves as a key resource for developers and researchers interested in leveraging LangChain for innovative and secure LLM-powered applications.

The forthcoming paradigms of 6G, Future Networks (FN) and Super-Internet of Things (IoT), will bring disruption at various levels of the physical infrastructure. This work focuses on the network edge, stressing how the forecasted proliferation and technology innovation of the physical systems at the boundary of the network (edge), will pose crucial issues to be addressed in the next years. In particular, the continuity from the edge to the core of the network will be addressed, suggesting unprecedented design and development approaches. Along such a direction, the impact of Micro and Nanotechnologies as a Key Enabling Technology (KET) for the network edge of the future is sketched, including numerous examples of already existing micro/nano devices, components and systems. Afterwards, a practical study of how improving hardware technologies at the edge can be beneficial in terms of more efficient operation is reported. To this end, scattered intelligence shall be a key enabler with federated learning at the base station providing decisive assistance to adaptive downlink beamforming codebook design for mmWave massive MIMO set-ups as essential ingredients for enhanced link reliability in edge networks.

When traditional joint structures are used to widen multi-span continuous concrete box girder bridges, excessive lateral deformation often occurs at the girder ends, typically leading to the squeezing and cracking of seismic blocks by the girder webs. To address these technical challenges, this paper investigates a new type of slide-rail lateral joint structure that can create a longitudinal sliding effect between two bridge decks of the old and new bridge box girders, thereby effectively reducing the lateral deformation at the girder ends. First, this paper employs the finite element method to conduct a numerical analysis of a real-world bridge widen-ing project, exploring the working mechanism and application feasibility of this novel connection method. The results show that, in the case study, if the traditional joint method is used, the lateral displacement at the girder ends can reach up to 40mm after three years of widening. However, when the slide-rail joint structure is employed, the lateral displacement at the girder ends is limited to no more than 6mm. This demonstrates that the new joint method can indeed effectively address the issue of excessive lateral deformation at the ends of the widened struc-ture. Second, given that the slide-rail lateral joint structure is a relatively precise engineering structure, this paper exam-ines the lateral load transfer mechanism under loads such as wheel loads and foundation settlement differences. It discusses the load-bearing characteristics of various components, including square steel pipes, lateral connection rebars, concrete flange plates, and embedded rebars. Finally, through a parameter sensitivity analysis, it is found that the torsional stiffness of the square steel pipes is a critical parameter for ensuring the load-bearing capacity of the structure. Therefore, it is recommended to set the wall thickness of the square steel pipes to 5mm. Based on these research findings, this paper theoretically demon-strates that the new slide-rail lateral joint structure can effectively solve the technical challenges encountered dur-ing the lateral joint widening of multi-span long-span concrete continuous box girder bridges, providing a new solution for this field.

Despite great progress in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), especially with the development of increasingly effective invasive techniques, many questions remain unanswered regarding the pathogenic mechanism of the arrhythmia and its prevention methods. The development of AF is based on anatomical and functional changes in the myocardium that result from disturbed ion flows and altered electrophysiology of the cardiomyocyte. Electrical instability and electrical remodeling underlying arrhythmia may result from oxidative stress, caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of AF is not yet completely clarified; however, it is emphasized by the reduction of AF burden after therapeutic interventions that improve mitochondrial well-being. This selected review aims to summarize the mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction related to AF and current pharmacological treatment options tar-geting mitochondria to prevent or improve the outcome of AF.

(1) Background: The recovery method would be important and decisive in the training system. This study aimed to assess the effects of various post-training recovery methods on muscle damage and strength indicators in Paralympic powerlifting athletes; (2) Methods: For this, a crossover study was conducted involving eleven male athletes (25.4±3.3 years, 70.3±12.1 kg). Muscle damage was assessed using blood biochemical markers (cytokines: Th1/Th2 - IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-) and isometric force indicators, including Maximum Isometric Force (MIF), Time to MIF, and Rate of Force Development. These assessments were performed before, immediately after, and at 24 and 48 hours after the recovery protocol: a) Passive Recovery (RP) or b) Cold-Water immersion (CWI). The main results indicated that maximum isometric strength (MIF) significantly improved after 48 hours of CWI application (p&lt;0.05; for all comparison); (3) Results: The analysis of biochemical markers did not yield significant differences between the recovery methods at different time points (p&gt;0.05). There was a significant increase in IL-6 2 hours after (p=0.045) for the CWI condition; (4) Conclusions: CWI significantly improved post-resistance training muscle damage and strength in Paralympic powerlifting athletes.

The true parakeets (Aratinga jandaya) inhabit the northern and central-eastern regions of South America, where their survival is increasingly threatened by illegal wildlife trafficking and anthropogenic activities. These pressures force the birds to seek new habitats, increasing their exposure to heavy metal ingestion in urban environments. This study presents the first documented cases of heavy metal poisoning and its treatment in two A. jandaya specimens rescued and treated at a university hospital in Castanhal, Pará, Brazil. Clinically, bird 1 exhibited dry nostrils and diarrhea, while bird 2 showed wing weakness, slight opisthotonos, a tilted posture, and more erect feathers. Radiographs and blood tests confirmed the presence of metallic content in the ventriculus of both birds. Chelation therapy with calcium edetate at a dose of 70 mg/kg, administered twice daily via oral route for 7 and 10 days, respectively, resulted in the successful elimination of the metal. Both birds were discharged after 1 month and 6 days of treatment, and subsequently released. The chosen chelation protocol proved effective without the need for invasive procedures, marking a significant step in the management of heavy metal toxicity in A. jandaya.

Anemia is common in hospitalized cardiac patients and affects prognosis. Even moderate levels of anemia can be associated with high cardiovascular mortality when compared to normal hemoglobin levels in cases of patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Background: Anemia is a comorbidity potentially treatable, with significant prognostic implications. A restrictive transfusion is triggered by hemoglobin is ≤8g/dl (severe anemia) and a liberal transfusion is considered when hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL. Methods: We perform a retrospective analysis of the patients hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of Constanta County Hospital who required blood derivatives transfusions, between 1st of January 2021 - 31st of December 2021. Results: Out of the total 270 patients, 170 received a single unit of resuspended erythrocyte concentrate within the same month, while 100 required multiple transfusions, receiving between 2 and 5 units during a single hospitalization to correct anemia. Before transfusions, the mean hemoglobin (Hb) level was 7.60 g/dl, with values ranging from 6.50 g/dl to 9.10 g/dl. Men show a higher prevalence (64%) than women (36%), likely due to gender differences in susceptibility to heart conditions. After transfusions, the mean Hb reached 10.05 g/dl (minimum/maximum values of 7.40 and 12.70 g/dl). CKD patients consistently experience higher in-hospital mortality across LVEF sub-groups, while CRS patients have relatively lower mortality rates, with significant associations observed between reduced LVEF and increased mortality across all patient groups. Conclusions: Anemia in heart failure patients is linked to worsening symptoms, including decreased exercise tolerance, increased cardiovascular events, decreased kidney function and higher hospitalization and mortality rates, especially in those with associated acute or chronic kidney failure. The findings aim to inform and optimize clinical decision making, particularly regarding transfusion strategies and risk management in this high-risk population.

Recent advancements in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence and privacy-preserving tools, have facilitated the development of more sophisticated and secure approaches to addressing this challenge. This paper introduces FedWell, a novel privacy-preserving Federated occupant Stress monitoring approach for smart building environments. Our system integrates physiological data from smart yoga pillows (SaYoPillow) and wearable environmental sensors to train a lightweight, edge-deployable Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. The FedWell framework ensures data privacy while enabling collaborative learning across distributed clients using Federated Averaging (FedAvg) aggregation. We conducted experiments using a comprehensive dataset of physiological parameters for stress level detection. The results demonstrate the global model’s exceptional performance, achieving 99.95% accuracy in stress level recognition, with precision of 99.95%, recall of 99.93%, and an F1-score of 99.94%. The global model exhibits a minimal loss of 0.0019% and a low communication cost of 0.08 Mb, highlighting its efficiency for real-time applications.

Inflammation plays a fundamental role in the development and bidirectional association of diverse diseases, such as periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which generates important clinical complications, where chronic exposure to high levels of blood glucose affects the repair process of periodontal tissues. Likewise, it has been observed that comorbidity, between these two diseases, influences the development of the COVID-19 disease towards a more severe course. However, there is currently very little scientific evidence on the relationship between periodontitis, type 2 diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 disease. This narrative review aims to provide an understanding of the current and most relevant aspects of the relationship between periodontitis, type 2 diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 disease. A narrative review was performed through a systematic search of published studies, without date restrictions, indexed in the electronic databases of PubMed, for the inclusion of articles in English, and LILACS for the inclusion of articles in Spanish. This review included different articles, which addressed the most important aspects to present a current perspective on the relationship and influence between periodontitis, type 2 diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 disease. Comorbidity between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus represents a greater risk of developing a more severe course of COVID-19 disease, because these three diseases share three important axes: a clinicopathological axis; an axis associated with glycemia, and an immunological axis associated with inflammation.

On-chip integration of 2D materials with exceptional optical properties provides an attractive solution for next-generation photonic integrated circuits to address the limitations of conventional bulk integrated platforms. Over the past two decades, significant advancements have been made in the interdisciplinary field of 2D material integrated photonics, greatly narrowing the gap between laboratory research and industrial applications. In this paper, we provide a perspective on the developments of this field towards industrial manufacturing and commercialization. First, we review recent progress towards commercialization. Next, we provide an overview of cutting-edge fabrication techniques, which are categorized into large-scale integration, precise patterning, dynamic tuning, and device packaging. Both the advantages and limitations of these techniques are discussed in relation to industrial manufacturing. Finally, we highlight some important issues related to commercialization, including fabrication standards, recycling, service life, and environmental implications.

The drug discovery process tends to be grueling, lengthy and expensive, with cost estimates approximating $2.6 billion, consuming over 10 years to complete. Such drawbacks have set many eyes locked onto reducing the costs and accelerating the development. The emergence of Deep Reinforced Learning (DRL) within cheminformatics and bioinformatics has broadens the horizons of de novo drug design. Realizing the full potential of DRL in molecular generation requires selecting the appropriate reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm. In this work, we address these problems by utilizing Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm within the DRL framework for molecular generation. We proposed a new method by utilizing PPO algorithm within the DRL framework, termed PSQ, to enable the generation of new chemical compounds with desired properties. This methodology has demonstrated significant potential in exploring and generating specific molecules by optimizing for targeted characteristics. The PPO algorithm's superior performance in exploring the chemical space and generating compounds with diverse pharmacophore features, functional groups, and biological activities underscores its potential in drug discovery and chemical synthesis. By systematically comparing the outputs of PPO and REINFORCE, we highlighted the robustness and efficiency of PPO in optimizing molecular properties for targeted therapeutic applications.

Catamenial pneumothorax (CP) is an uncommon condition, usually associated with thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES). TES is characterized by the presence of endometriotic lesions in pleura and lung parenchyma and presents with various clinical signs and symptoms, including catamenial pneumothorax. Their diagnosis is often delayed. Pulmonary endometric lesions, however, often detected in patients with hemothorax and hemoptysis, may be absent in a pro-portion of cases of pneumothorax. The typical presentation of CP includes signs and symptoms of pneumothorax, which occur along with menstruation, most commonly around 24 hours before and 48–72 hours after its onset. However, they may not occur during every menstrual cycle. Suggestive CP lesions on conventional radiography (RTG) include pneumoperitoneum accompanying right-sided pneumothorax, lung opacities, pleural effusion, and nodular infiltrates. Chest and abdomen computed tomography (CT), particularly contrast-enhanced, may additionally show pneumoperitoneum and diaphragmatic lesions. The management of CP includes supportive treatment of acute symptoms and causal treatment to prevent recurrent disease. The article pre-sents the pathophysiology of CP, an overview of diagnostic methods and current therapeutic approaches.

With the rapid development of urbanization, the ecological environment is being destroyed. Taking Barcelona Metropolitan Region as an example, this paper established an ecological environment quality assessment system suitable for different time and region based on remote sensing to evaluate it from 2006 to 2018. And built various OLS models to analyze multiple variables affecting the ecological environment. Finally, the characteristic triangular space structure was used to explain the interaction between the two key variables. The results showed that the ecological quality was unevenly distributed. The largest green space contributed the most ecological benefits, but its area was decreasing and its shape was more fragmented. NDVI was the most significant natural variable related to the distribution of green space. Precipitation was the most closely related climate factor to NDVI. And there was a complex two-way interaction mechanism between the two, and its boundary value was getting higher and higher. In conclusion: The environmental quality of BMR needs to be improved. There is a two-way relationship between the two key factors. The characteristic triangle can successfully explain the interaction mechanism between precipitation and NDVI.

Google services have shifted the use of technology in our daily lives, enhancing our communication, collaboration and access information. Given this pervasive influence, the aim of this analysis is to compare the predictions of Alphabet’s stock price using various datasets and machine learning models and understand which models perform better, not only in terms of predictive accuracy, but also in terms of explainability and robustness. To this aim, we have built three different database, considering the existing economic literature and trying to integrate features deriving from the analysis of the context in which the company works and, in particular, R&D costs from Alphabet’s annual financial reports. We have applied to the database different state of the art machine learning models, ranging from statistical learning models (linear regression), improved with Ridge regularisation, to classic machine learning models such as Gradient Boosting and artificial neural networks, to more recent deep learning models such as recurrent neural networks. Additionally, the models have been compared in terms of the recently proposed S.A.F.E. AI model, which includes metrics that can assess the Sustainability, Accuracy, Fairness and Explainability of AI application in a unified manner, with a metrics that is related to the Lorenz curve and the Area Under the ROC Curve. Our empirical findings show that the choice of the best model to employ to predict Google stock prices depends on the desired objective. If it accuracy, the recurrent neural network is the best model. If it is robustness, the Ridge linear model is the most resilient to changes. If it is explainability, the Gradient Boosting model is the best choice.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are natural cyclic oligosaccharides with the ability to form inclusion complexes with various organic substances. In this paper, we investigate the potential of CD complex formation to enhance the antibacterial activity and antioxidant properties of poorly soluble bioactive agents, such as chalcones, chromenes, stilbenoids and xanthylium derivatives, serving as potential adjuvants, in comparison with standard antiseptics. The interaction of these potential adjuvants with the hydrophobic pocket of methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD) was confirmed using spectroscopic methods such as UV-vis, FTIR, and 1H NMR. These complexes, when used in combination with metronidazole, showed a synergy coefficient of 1.36 for chalcones, presumably, via efflux pump inhibition in bacterial cells. To explore the possibility to create theranostic formulation, we used fluorescent markers to visualize target cells, antiseptics to provide antibacterial activity, and natural bioactive agents as chalcones that act as adjuvants. Additionally, new antioxidant compounds were found such as Xanthylium derivative (R351) and 1-methyl-3-(2-amino-3-cyano-7-methoxychromene-4-yl)-pyridinium methanesulfate: the pronounced antioxidant properties of these substances are observed comparable to quercetin in the efficiency. Rhodamine 6G, gentian violet and Congo Red exhibit good antioxidant properties, although its activity is an order of magnitude lower than that of quercetin. However, they have remarkable potential due to their multifaceted nature, including the ability to visualize target cells. The most effective theranostic formulation is the combination of the main drug (metronidazole) + dye/fluorophore (methylene blue / rhodamine 6G) for visualization of target cells + adjuvant (chalcones or xanthylium derivatives) for antiinflammation effect. Formulation options using antiseptics are possible for local use. The presented formulas demonstrate therapeutic potential, allowing simultaneous visualization and therapeutic effect.

Biomarker-based tests are capable of predicting one’s biological age and mortality risk. To complement the suite of biomarker-based measurements, physical and cognitive performance tests can also improve the predictability of these measurement panels. Importantly, these measurements can be administered quite non-invasively and inexpensively, and training programs can be developed to improve parameters in aging. This will be a vital approach in improving the health of the aged and preventing massive healthcare expenditures at the end of life, which may become a serious fiscal issue if not addressed. This review touches on the ways people can measure function, the models that predict mortality based on this data, and the interventions that seek to improve these measures, subsequently extending lifespan and reducing mortality risk (as primary endpoints) and enhancing function and independence as secondary endpoints.

Invasion of plant species has been considered as one of the most dangerous force in biodiversity changes and alteration of soil properties. Due to their significant impacts on ecology and the economy, it is important to find an effective approaches to manage the invasive plants expansion and utilize them as beneficial biomass sources. This review focuses on the characterization of the negative and positive features of invasive plant species in general. Most studies targeted on invasive species removal and lacked an evaluation of their potentials in modern biotechnologies. Currently, there are studies aimed at their use in soil remediation, medicine, the chemical industry, the textile industry, and even gastronomy. Based on these reviews, we bring forward possible future development in this research field, which might serve as a theoretical premise for further researches.

This study evaluates the reliability of Fitbit in assessing frailty based on motor and heart rate (HR) parameters through a validated upper extremity function (UEF) test, which involves 20 seconds of rapid elbow flexion. For motor performance, participants completed six trials of full elbow flexion using their right arm, with and without weight. Fitbit and a commercial motion sensor were worn on the right arm. For HR measurements, an ECG system was placed on the left chest alongside the Fitbit on the left wrist. Motor parameters assessing speed, flexibility, weakness, exhaustion, and HR before, during, and after UEF were measured. A total of 42 participants (age=22.022.67) were recruited. For motor parameters, excellent agreement was observed between the wearable sensor and Fitbit, except for flexibility (ICC=0.870.09). For HR parameters, ICC values showed weak agreement between ECG and Fitbit for HR increase and recovery (ICC=0.240.11), while moderate to stronger agreement was seen for mean HR during baseline, task, and post-task (ICC=0.810.13). Fitbit is a reliable tool for assessing frailty through motor parameters and provides reasonably accurate HR estimates during baseline, task, and recovery periods. However, Fitbit ability to track rapid HR changes during activity is limited.

Compared with maize monocropping systems, maize double-cropping production systems have a much greater nitrogen extraction capacity. This study aims to assess if in these farming systems, animal manures could be applied, using adequate management practices, exceeding the maximum annual amount of livestock manure established in the European Nitrate Directive for vulnerable zones (170 kg N ha-1) without increasing the risk of water nitrate contamination. We compare the risk of nitrate leaching under two fertilisation strategies, one with synthetic fertilisers (M) and the second with maximized application of pig slurry (P). The study was conducted in two contrasting soil types, a deep and heavy-textured soil and a shallow and stony soil. Crop yields and N extractions were not affected by the fertilisation strategies. The nitrate concentrations in the soil below the crop root zone were lower in the deep soil than in the shallow soil, where values exceeded 1000 mg L-1. The soil nitrate concentration was not affected by fertilisation strategies at each site. The results show that pig slurry can be applied above the limit of 170 kg N ha-1, in the conditions of the study up to 360 kg N ha-1, without increasing the risk for nitrate leaching.

Using assembly theory of strings of any natural radix $b$ we find some of their salient regularities. In particular, we show that the upper bound of the assembly index depends quantitatively on the radix $b$ and the longest length $N$ of a string that has the assembly index of $N-k$ is given by $N_{(N-1)}=b^2+b+1$ and by $N_{(N-k)}=b^2+b+2k$ for $2 \le k \le 9$. We also provide particular forms of such strings. Knowing the latter bound, we conjecture that the maximum assembly index of a string of length $N_{(N-2)} \le N \le N_{\text{max}}$ is given by $a_{\text{max}}^{(N,b)} = \lfloor N/2 \rfloor + b(b+1)/2$, where $N_{\text{max}} = 4b^4$ if $b$ is even and $N_{\text{max}} = 4(b^4+1)$ otherwise. For $k=1$ such odd length strings are nearly balanced and there are four such different strings if $b=2$ and seventy-two if $b=3$. We also show that each $k$ copies of an $n$-plet contained in a string decrease its assembly index at least by $k(n-1) - a$, where $a$ is the assembly index of this $n$-plet. Finally, we show that the assembly depth of a minimum assembly index string is equal to the assembly index of this string, the assembly depth of a maximum assembly index string satisfies $d_{a_{\text{max}}}^{(N,b)} \ge \left\lceil \log_2(N) \right\rceil$. Since these results are, in general, also valid for $b=1$, assembly theory subsumes information theory.

Teucrium polium L. is a plant with various claims of ethnobotanical use, primarily for in-flammatory diseases. Chemical studies have already isolated different types of terpenes from the species, and studies have established the pharmacological potential. The present study evaluated the components of T. polium essential oil cultivated in Algerian Saharan Atlas. GC-MS identified the major components as Fenchone (31.25%), 3-Carene (15.77%), cis-Limonene oxide (9.77%), and Myrcene (9.15%). In the in silico prediction, molecules with more than 1% abundance were selected. Regarding Lipinski’s rule, all molecules fol-lowed the rule. All molecules were found to be toxic in at least one model, with some mol-ecules being non-genotoxic (6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13), others being non-mutagenic (5, 7, 9, 14). Three molecules were selected that showed the best results in pharmacokinetic and toxici-ty studies: the molecules that did not present carcinogenic potential (7 - Myrtenal; 9 - Myr-tenol; 14 – Verbenol). The molecular target was established and it seems that all three bind to the Nuclear Factor NF-kappa-B. Based on the docking and molecular dynamics results. These molecules have potential as anti-inflammatory agents, with further in vitro and in vivo studies needed to evaluate their activities and toxicity.

Estuaries are dynamic and resource-rich ecosystems renowned for their high productivity and ecological significance. The Rías Baixas, located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, consist of four highly productive estuaries that support the region's economy through key fisheries and aquaculture activities. Numerical modelling of biogeochemical processes in the rias is essential to address environmental and anthropogenic pressures, particularly in areas facing intense human development. This study presents a high-resolution water quality model developed using Delft3D software, integrating hydrodynamic (Delft3D-FLOW) and water quality (Delft3D-WAQ) modules. Calibration and validation demonstrate the robust performance and reliability of the model in simulating critical biogeochemical processes, such as nutrient cycling and phytoplankton dynamics. The model effectively captures seasonal and spatial variations in water quality parameters, including water temperature, salinity, inorganic nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll-a. Of the variables studied, the model performed best for dissolved oxygen, followed by nitrates, phosphates, ammonium, silicate and chlorophyll-a. While some discrepancies were observed in inner zones and deeper layers of the rias, overall performance metrics aligned closely with observed data, enhancing confidence in the model's utility for future research and resource management. These results highlight the model's value as a tool for research and managing water and marine resources in the Rías Baixas.

In an era of unprecedented volatility, complexity, and disruption, traditional approaches to leadership are increasingly insufficient across the globe. The conventional mindset of seeking stability, predictability, and control is no longer fit for purpose in a world that is inherently uncertain and ever-changing. Consequently, there is a pressing need to reimagine leadership frameworks that can not only withstand but actively thrive amidst chaos and adversity, irrespective of geographic or cultural contexts. This article introduces the Antifragile Leadership Model, a pioneering paradigm that draws inspiration from Nassim Taleb's concept of antifragility, while also incorporating the insights of African scholars such as Kwasi Wiredu's philosophy of conceptual decolonization and Molefi Kete Asante's Afrocentricity. Antifragility is defined as the quality of systems or entities that not only survive but actually grow stronger in the face of stressors, shocks, and uncertainties. By applying this principle to the realm of leadership, the Antifragile Leadership Model offers a transformative approach to cultivating adaptability, resilience, and meaningful transformation at both the individual and organizational levels, with a global perspective. Building upon the foundations of complexity theory, systems thinking, and integral theory – all of which have strong resonance across diverse cultural and geographic contexts – this model presents a multidimensional framework for developing antifragile leadership capacities. It delves into the essential mindsets, behaviors, and structural considerations required to harness the power of uncertainty, chaos, and disruption as catalysts for growth and breakthrough, while drawing upon the rich tapestry of global knowledge and experiences. Through a synthesis of empirical evidence, theoretical insights, and practical case studies from around the world, this article makes several groundbreaking contributions to the leadership development discourse. Firstly, it reframes the role of the leader from a controller and optimizer to an evolutionary architect and catalyst, empowering them to navigate complexity, foster adaptability, and catalyze transformative change within diverse environments. Secondly, it outlines a holistic process for developing antifragile leadership qualities, including self-awareness, adaptability, collaborative intelligence, and anti-fragile decision-making – all with a deep understanding of cultural, political, and economic contexts. Thirdly, it provides a roadmap for cultivating antifragile organizational ecosystems that are designed to thrive amidst turbulence, drawing upon globally diverse innovations, community-driven approaches, and indigenous knowledge systems. By elevating the understanding of leadership from a linear, mechanistic paradigm to a dynamic, systemic, and transformative one, grounded in a global perspective, the Antifragile Leadership Model offers a compelling alternative to traditional leadership frameworks. It empowers leaders, teams, and organizations around the world to not merely survive but to proactively leverage uncertainty and adversity as springboards for innovation, growth, and positive impact.

Women constitute most of the global horticulture workforce, where pesticide use is prevalent. Protecting their health, particularly during pregnancy, is essential. However, knowledge about practices among pregnant employees that cause exposure to pesticides is limited. This study aims to identify such practices and assess the impact of pesticide handling knowledge on exposure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 432 small-scale horticulture women in Tanzania from October 2022 to April 2023. The women were interviewed using a self-reported questionnaire, with descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square, and T-tests used for data analysis. In total, 86% of participants worked in horticulture during pregnancy, with 47.5% continuing into the third trimester. Many engaged in weeding within 24 hours of spraying (57.2%) and washing pesticide-contaminated clothes (51.6%). Most women (93.1%) had limited knowledge of pesticide handling, though some understood mixing (62.5%) and spraying (64.1%) instructions on labels. This study suggests that women working in horticulture engage in activities that expose them to pesticides during pregnancy and have low knowledge of pesticide handling. Such practices expose pregnant women and their offspring to hazardous pesticides. There is a need for deliberate efforts towards protecting women in dangerous workplaces such as agriculture.

Among the theoretical problems with the prevailing theory of cosmology, Lambda Cold Dark Matter (λCDM), the most serious appears to be the twofold problem with the cosmological constant lambda: Dark Energy and Hubble Tension. Despite a two-decade search for systematic errors in astrometry the problems have not been resolved. This paper posits a potential source of error that may have affected astrometry related to the current and past measurements of lambda.

The Business Model Canvas (BMC) and Value Chain have significantly impacted how companies and entrepreneurs develop their business strategies. BMC and the value chain provide a simple visual approach to effectively map out key elements in a business. BMC and the value chain have also been used as foundational models for ecosystem business models. Ecosystem business models are created by integrating the business model canvas and the pie model, known as the Integrated Business Model (IBM). Another method for generating an ecosystem business model is by integrating the value chain and the pie model, known as the Service-Dominant Business Model Radar (SDBM/R). Ecosystem business models with an organizational approach have also provided a broad view of the roles of each organization, divided into five actors: governor, input provider, aggregator, enabler, and end user. In this research, the perspective of the ecosystem business model originates from an ecological analogy. The ecological concept consists of community ecology and ecosystem ecology. Community ecology relates to the types of actors that play roles in the ecosystem, while ecosystem ecology relates to the value chain processes within the ecosystem. This research will discuss the advantages and limitations of BMC, the value chain, and organization as foundational models for ecosystem business models, as well as opportunities to create new ecosystem business models based on the concepts of community ecology and ecosystem ecology. The new business model formed will be applied to electric vehicles in sustainable tourism areas.

Prostate cancer (PCa) pathogenesis relies on intercellular communication, which can involve tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs). TNTs and EVs have been reported to transfer critical cargo involved in cellular function and signalling, prompting us to investigate the extent of organelle and protein transfer in PCa cells and the potential involvement of the androgen receptor. Using live cell imaging microscopy, we observed extensive formation of TNTs and EVs operating between PCa, non-malignant and immune cells. PCa cells were capable of transferring lysosomes, mitochondria, lipids and endoplasmic reticulum as well as syndecan-1, sortilin, Glut1 and Glut4. In mechanistic studies, androgen sensitive PCa cells exhibited changes in cell morphology when stimulated by R1881 treatment. Overexpression assays of a newly designed androgen receptor (AR) plasmid revealed its novel localization in PCa cellular vesicles, which were also transferred to neighbouring cells. Selected molecular machinery, thought to be involved in intercellular communication, was investigated by knockdown studies and Western blotting/immunofluorescence/scanning electron microscopy (SEM). PCa TNTs and EVs transported proteins and organelles, which may contain specialist signalling, programming and energy requirements that support cancer growth and progression. This makes these important intercellular communication systems ideal potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

A total of 96 strains of Nostocales (Cyanobacteria) were established from the laurel forest phyllosphere in the Canary Islands (Spain) and Azores (Portugal) using enrichment media lacking combined nitrogen. The strains were characterized by light microscopy and SSU rRNA gene comparisons. Morphologically, most strains belonged to two different morphotypes, termed “Nostoc-type” and “Tolypothrix-type”. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of 527 SSU rRNA gene sequences of cyanobacteria (95 sequences established during this study plus 392 sequences from Nostocales and 40 sequences from non-heterocyte-forming cyanobacteria retrieved from the databases) revealed that none of the SSU rRNA gene sequences from the laurel forest phyllosphere was identical to a database sequence. In addition, the genetic diversity of the isolated strains was high with 42 different genotypes (44% of the sequences), recognized. Among the new genotypes were also terrestrial members of genus Nodularia as well as members of genus Brasilonema. It is concluded that heterocyte-forming cyanobacteria represent a still largely undersampled component of the phyllosphere in subtropical/tropical forests.

In an increasingly globalized and interconnected world, the challenge of maintaining social cohesion and cultivating a sense of belonging and inclusion within diverse societies has become a critical priority. Traditional notions of social cohesion, often centered on cultural homogeneity and the assimilation of minority groups, have proven inadequate in the face of rising social, cultural, and demographic complexities. This article proposes a transformative approach to redefining social cohesion through the lens of inclusion and belonging – an orientation that embraces diversity, promotes equity, and empowers marginalized communities as active agents of change. Drawing on a comprehensive review of interdisciplinary literature, the article examines the theoretical foundations and multifaceted dimensions of inclusive social cohesion. The analysis synthesizes insights from social identity theory, intergroup contact theory, the capabilities approach, and institutional theory to develop a holistic conceptual framework. This framework comprises four interrelated pillars: (1) promoting equitable access to resources and opportunities; (2) facilitating meaningful intercultural exchange and mutual understanding; (3) empowering marginalized communities and amplifying their voices; and (4) strengthening institutional responsiveness and adaptive governance. The article then presents a systematic review of innovative case studies from diverse global contexts to illustrate the transformative potential of this inclusive social cohesion approach. The case analyses highlight how these multi-dimensional initiatives have enhanced belonging, challenged structural inequalities, and fostered more equitable and resilient societies. Finally, the article outlines policy recommendations and future research directions to advance the agenda of inclusive social cohesion and catalyze positive societal transformations worldwide. By redefining social cohesion through the lens of inclusion and belonging, this article offers a groundbreaking contribution to the scholarly discourse and policy debates on managing diversity, promoting social integration, and building more inclusive and sustainable communities.

Wheat has to face the effects of global warming standing on the thread worldwide, and competing with many crops in the Rabi season (15 Oct to 15 Mar). Wheat is Bangladesh’s second staple, meeting 13.6% of the country's cereal demand. However, despite an annual demand of 7.5 million metric tons (MMT), domestic wheat production in the 2023-24 season was only 1.19 MMT, covering just 15.9% of its demand and necessitating imports costing $2.21 billion. Demand continues to rise by 7-13% each year. Wheat production has declined from 1.99 in the 1998-99 season to 1.19 MMT in the 2023-24 season due to high crop competition with Boro rice, maize, mustard, and other crops during the Rabi season. Wheat production is reduced by other factors, such as low prices and insufficient mechanization, lack of time decision, etc. to purchase wheat grains by the government and businessmen which discourage framers from its cultivation. Expanding wheat cultivation with high-yielding stress-tolerant varieties in fallow lands and non-traditional areas would reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, malnutrition, groundwater harvesting, etc. Our study aims to offer new insights to policymakers and national and international benevolent agencies regarding the reasons behind the decline in wheat production and potential strategies to increase it. Additionally, this content will provide guidelines for policymakers and other stakeholders on how to reduce severe malnutrition and minimize greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater harvesting, thereby supporting the implementation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This research article investigates the recycling of end-of-life solar photovoltaic (PV) panels by analyzing various mechanical methods, including Crushing, High Voltage Pulse Crushing, Electrostatic Separation, Hot Knife Cutting, Water Jet Cutting, and Magnetic Separation. Each method's effectiveness in extracting materials such as glass, silicon, metals (copper, aluminum, silver, tin, lead), and EVA was evaluated. The analysis reveals that no single method is entirely sufficient for comprehensive material recovery. Based on the data analysis, a new hypothetical hybrid method Laser and High Voltage Pulse (L&HVP) is proposed, which integrates the precision of laser irradiation with the robustness of high voltage pulse crushing. The laser irradiation step would theoretically facilitate the removal of the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant, preparing the materials for subsequent separation. The high-voltage pulse crushing would then selectively fragment and separate the remaining components, potentially enhancing material recovery efficiency while minimizing contamination. The proposed approach is grounded in the observed limitations of existing techniques. This method aims to offer a more comprehensive and sustainable solution for solar PV module recycling. Further research and experimentation are necessary to validate the effectiveness of the L&HVP method and its potential impact on the field of solar PV recycling.

The migration of cells during the healing process is supported by an electrical potential difference that develops between the edges of skin wounds and the center of the wound. The electrical potential in cells' membranes is responsible for their migration in an electric field. The transmembrane electrochemical gradient differences cause this potential., Concomitant blockade of potassium and calcium channels by amiodarone at a medium dosage favored wound healing [1,2], but the effect was less intense than in the case of selective blocking of potassium channels. This suggested that blocking calcium channels partially antagonizes the effect of blocking potassium channels [8,9]. Since nimodipine blocks both L-type and T-type calcium channels, we decided to study which of these calcium channels are involved in wound healing. Hence, we performed an experimental study in which nimodipine was used in 3 concentrations: 200nM, which block only L-type calcium channels, 1000nM that block both L-type and T-type calcium channels and 10,000 nM, respectively, that block calcium channels and activate CB1 cannabinoid receptors. Blocking of calcium channels favored wound healing under our experimental conditions, but this happened only by simultaneously blocking of the L-type and T-type calcium channels, because only the medium nimodipine concentration had a statistically significant effect.

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the mechanical properties of a non-cushioned minimalistic shoe and cushioned shoe during walking at 6 and running at 10 and 14 km∙h-1 in habituated female runners. Specifically, the study aimed to examine the spatio-temporal and kinetic variables of gait in these two shoe conditions. Methods: Twelve habituated female runners completed two trials (cushioned shoe vs. minimalist shoe) with three within-trial speeds (6, 10 and 14 km∙h-1) in a counter-balanced design. Flexible pressure insole sensors were used to determine kinetic variables (peak vertical impact force, average loading rate, active vertical peak force, time to active peak vertical force, and impulse) and spatio-temporal variables (stride duration, cadence, ground contact time, swing time and time to mid stance). Results: Cushioned running shoes exhibited greater energy absorption (690%), recovered energy (920%), and heat dissipation (350%). These differences resulted in the cushioned shoes significantly reducing peak vertical impact (~12%) and average loading rate (~11%) at running speeds 10-14 km∙h-1 while not affecting peak active force, impulse, stride duration, ground contact or swing time. Conclusion: Cushioned running shoes provide significant benefits in energy absorption, energy recovery and heat dissipation, which decreases impact-related forces and loading rates in female runners without changing spatio-temporal variables of gait.

Strong motion records from full-scale structures provide the ultimate evidence of how real structures, in situ, respond to earthquakes. The most effective method for visualizing the recorded response is by animation. This paper presents a novel method for visualization of the motion of a building that is densely instrumented with triaxial accelerometers and rotational seismometers. The method is based on one- and two-dimensional biharmonic spline interpolation of the motion between multiple sensors on a floor or along the building height. It is demonstrated on a 50-story skyscraper uniquely instrumented with multiple triaxial accelerometers per floor, approximately at every five floors above ground and at two basement levels, and two borehole arrays measuring the motion of the soil very near the building foundation. The animations provide valuable insight into the three-dimensional structural response, including wave propagation through the structure and the interplay between translations and rotations, which will be useful for testing existing and developing new methods for structural health monitoring of buildings and for the further development of building design codes. Animations of selected earthquakes can be found on YouTube at @TPYC-seismic.

Abstract: This study examines the legal implications of implementing wearable technology in professional sports, focusing on European football leagues. As the adoption of wearable devices in sports continues to grow, it raises significant legal concerns regarding privacy, data protection, and athlete rights. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of legal frameworks and quantitative survey data from 150 professional footballers across top European leagues. Key findings reveal that 78% of surveyed athletes express concerns about the potential misuse of their biometric data collected through wearable devices (p < 0.001). The study identifies three primary legal challenges: (1) data ownership and control, (2) informed consent and voluntary participation, and (3) potential discrimination based on biometric data in contract negotiations. A comparative analysis of regulatory approaches in different European countries shows significant variations, with only 40% having specific legislation addressing wearable technology in sports.The research also explores the intersection of wearable technology with existing sports law, including doping regulations and fair play principles. A chi-square test indicates a significant association between athletes' awareness of legal rights and their willingness to use wearable technology (χ2 = 15.7, p < 0.01).This study contributes to the growing body of literature on sports law and technology by providing empirical evidence and legal analysis specific to the European football context. The findings have important implications for policymakers, sport’s governing bodies, and athletes' unions in developing comprehensive frameworks to address the legal challenges posed by wearable technology in professional sports.

Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae) has traditionally been used in folk medicine in the African continent and Brazilian Northeast to treat diseases such as diarrhea, fever, wounds, and pain. This study evaluated the antinociceptive effect of the Ximenia americana L. bark extract (HEXA) and its primary component, caffeic acid (CA), through in vivo assays. The antinociceptive properties were assessed using abdominal writhing, hot plate, and Von Frey tests. Additionally, the study investigated the modulation of various pain signaling pathways using a pharmacological approach. The results demonstrated that all doses of the HEXA extract significantly increased latency in the hot plate test, decreased the number of abdominal contortions, reduced hyperalgesia in the Von Frey test, and inhibited both phases of the formalin test. Caffeic acid reduced licking time in the first phase of the formalin test at all doses, with the highest dose showing significant effects in the second phase. The HEXA extract potentially modulated α2-adrenergic, nitric oxide, glutamatergic, vanilloid, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, and K+-ATP channel-dependent pathways. Conversely, caffeic acid influenced the opioid, glutamatergic, and vanilloid pathways while inhibiting nitric oxide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. HEXA and CA exhibit significant antinociceptive effects due to their potential interference in multiple pain signaling pathways. While the molecular targets remain to be fully investigated, HEXA and CA demonstrate significant potential for the development of new analgesic drugs.

This report examines the evolving role of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in Japan, especially in light of reduced public concern following the reclassification of COVID-19 as a Category 5 infectious disease in May 2023. With over half of the population estimated to have hybrid immunity from prior infections and vaccinations, this report evaluates the necessity and frequency of additional booster doses. Despite strong recommendations from Japanese medical societies to continue vaccinations, public skepticism remains due to financial burdens, adverse reactions, and the perceived limited benefit of frequent boosters. Studies of antibody responses reveal that individuals with hybrid immunity maintain robust protection, with significantly elevated antibody titers that persist over extended periods. Case studies indicate durable immunity among individuals who have both been vaccinated and experienced breakthrough infections, raising questions about the need for uniform booster policies. This report also discusses the newly approved replicon-type vaccines, currently available only in Japan, which have generated public and professional debate regarding their efficacy and safety.A more personalized approach to vaccination—taking into account antibody titers, prior infection history, and individual choice—is recommended. Ultimately, this report underscores the importance of aligning vaccination policies with scientific evidence and public sentiment to optimize COVID-19 countermeasures in Japan.

Low back pain has frequently been mentioned as the most common sort of chronic pain and numerous studies have confirmed its influence on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between age, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, depression, anxiety, pain-related anxiety, chronic pain acceptance and psychological and physical dimensions of HRQoL in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Data were collected from 201 patients with CLBP using sociodemografic data, the SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale Short Form 20 (PASS-20), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-8) and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS). The linear regression model for dependent variable Physical Health (SF-36 PhyH) was statistically significant (F(7,201) = 38.951, p &lt;0.05), explained 57.6% of variance regarding Physical Health dimension of HRQL in patients with CLBP. The linear regression model for dependent variable Phychological Health (SF-36 PsyH) was statistically significant (F(7,200) = 39.049, p &lt;0.05), explained 57.7% of variance regarding Psychological Health dimension of HRQL in patients with CLBP. The findings of this study confirm that age, pain intensity, depression, pain-related anxiety, and chronic pain acceptance are significant predictors of the physical dimension of HRQoL, while pain intensity, anxiety, and depression proved to be significant predictors of the psychological dimension of HRQoL in patients with CLBP.

This study explores Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) by investigating user experiences with two types of robots: Pepper, a social humanoid robot, and Double 3, a self-driving telepresence robot. Conducted in a controlled setting with a specific participant group, this research aims to understand how different robot embodiments affect user perception, interaction patterns, and emotional responses. The findings underscore the role of adaptability, effective communication, autonomy, and perceived credibility in user-centered robot design. Despite limitations in sample size, the study provides insights into the ethical and social considerations of integrating AI in public and professional spaces, highlighting implications for enhancing user-centered design and expanding applications for Social and Telepresence robots in society.

Background: Rhein, an anthraquinone derivative, and gold nanoparticles have demonstrated significant potential in facilitating the theranostics of breast cancer. Rhein inhibits breast cancer by exhibiting a strong binding affinity to the estrogen receptor. In addition, gold nanoparticles, when used as nanocarriers, may enhance the therapeutic effects against breast cancer. This study out-lines the preparation of [124I]rhein-gold for position emission tomography (PET) imaging in a breast cancer mouse model. Method: Gold nanoparticles (30 nm) were prepared using the citrate reduction method. Second, the anthraquinone derivative rhein-cysteine complex was synthesized using the carbodiimide coupling method. Third, the radiosynthesis of [124I]rhein-Cys-gold nanocomposites (RCGs) was performed using the chloramine T method. Specifically, 1 mg of RCGs in dimethylformamide was mixed with Na124I (37 MBq) at pH 12 along with chloramine T (5 mg). The reaction was allowed to proceed for 15 min at room temperature. To remove free 124I, the mixture was purified via centrifugation for 10 min at 10,000 rpm. Results: The radiochemical yield of [124I]RCGs was 65% ± 8.2%, with a radiochemical purity of > 98%. In vivo [124I]RCGs targeted MCF-7 cells in a hormone-dependent manner, with cellular uptake values of 25.4 ± 1.59% at 15 min, 27.1 ± 1.27% at 30 min, 28.6 ± 0.38% at 60 min, and 15.97 ± 0.66% at 120 min. In vivo small-animal PET images of [124I]RCGs showed significant uptake in human breast cancer and MCF-7 tumors. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the synthesis and biological evaluation of [124I]RCGs. [124I]RCGs showed high cellular uptake in a time-dependent manner. PET images of [124I]RCGs confirmed their high affinity for MCF-7 tumors in mice from 1 h to 24 h. These results suggest that [124I]RCGs are promising radiopharmaceuticals, demonstrating potential both as an imaging agent and therapeutic option for estrogen-receptor-targeted breast cancer treatment.

The escalating use of plastic materials in agricultural practices has substantially increased the amount of plastic waste directed to landfills, leading to significant environmental and ecological challenges. Conventional disposal methods have been found to release hazardous pollutants, including microplastics and toxic chemicals, exacerbating these concerns. This study aims to address the environmental impact of agricultural plastic waste by exploring advanced reprocessing technologies and characterising the processed waste to assess its physical, mechanical and thermal properties. Synthetic polymer-based bale twine (BT) waste, commonly used in livestock farming, was processed using an economically viable melting machine developed by Ritchie Technology. The BT and processed bale twine (PBT) were analysed to understand their properties. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy revealed that the waste primarily consisted of polypropylene (PP). Thermal analysis indicated that the melting temperature of the PBT was 162.49 °C, similar to virgin PP. Additionally, tensile testing revealed that the PBT had a strength of 13.06 MPa and Young's modulus of 434.07 MPa. The PBT was further transformed into a bench that can be applicable in outdoor applications. Furthermore, PBT was extruded into 3D printable filament. Therefore, it is evident that bale twine waste can be given a second life through an economically viable technology.

The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has fundamentally transformed digital advertising, advancing precision, efficiency, and scalability far beyond the capabilities of traditional advertising methods. This paper presents a detailed analysis of AI’s integration into the advertising sector, focusing on critical technologies, including multi-touch attribution (MTA), reinforcement learning (RL), recommendation systems (RS), and large language models (LLMs). We examine the evolution of AI in digital marketing, explore current trends, and assess emerging technologies such as federated learning and transfer learning, emphasizing their role in real-time ad personalization, campaign optimization, and enhanced user engagement. Through an exploration of AI-driven strategies used by major corporations such as Google, IBM, and Coca-Cola, this paper underscores AI’s transformative impact on advertising and anticipates future trends that may further revolutionize the field. Additionally, we address key challenges of deploying AI at scale, including issues of interpretability, ethical considerations, and data privacy, offering potential solutions.

The article addresses the issues of scalability and security in blockchain networks, with a focus on sharding algorithms and decentralized data storage. Key challenges include the low throughput and high transaction latency in public networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Sharding is examined as a method to enhance performance through data distribution, but it raises concerns regarding node management and reliability. Sharding schemes, such as Elastico, OmniLedger, Pyramid, RepChain, and SSchain, are analyzed, each presenting its own advantages and drawbacks. Alternative architectures like Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG) demonstrate potential for improved scalability but require further refinement to ensure decentralization and security. Protocols such as Brokerchain, Meepo, AHL, Benzene, and CycLedger offer unique approaches to addressing performance and transaction consistency issues. The article emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach, including dynamic sharding, multi-level consensus, and inter-shard coordination. Additionally, a conceptual model is proposed that incorporates sharding of transactions, states, and networks, which enables greater scalability and efficiency.

Ipfs and public peer-to-peer (P2P) networks were adopted to make AI calculations more decentralized. Taking AI workloads over a decentralized network could bring better fault tolerance, guarantee data safety, and increased privacy. This research explores the challenges of centralized AI, such as data confidentiality, scalability, and accessibility, while discussing the promise of decentralized AI. Combining IPFS with decentralized systems improves scalability, data protection, and fault tolerance.

Agro-industrial lignocellulosic waste can be bioconverted to fungal biomass and then utilized as a high nutritional value food alternative for ruminants, with potential for ruminal methane (CH4) mitigation. This study was carried out to evaluate the changes in the enzymatic expression and nutritional value of palm kernel cake fermented with Pleurotus ostreatus (FPKC), as well as the differences in the in vitro fermentation parameters and methane production in diets based on tropical forages with the inclusion of 20% FPKC. The highest activity of laccases and cellulases occurred on day 13 with values of 0.75 ± 0.09 U/g and 266.7 ± 20.8 U/g; respectively. The biological pretreatment decreased the contents of (p< 0.05) neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin (LIG) by 29%, 20.5% and 46.6% respectively, while those of crude protein (CP) increased by 69.65%. The inclusion of FPKC resulted in increases (p

Climate Change is among the greatest threats to health in the 21st century, requiring urgent scale-up of adaptation interventions. We aim to summarize adaptation interventions that were funded by the Belmont Forum and the European Union, the largest global funders of climate change and health research. A systematic search was conducted (updated February 2023) to identify articles on adaptation interventions for health within this funding network. Data extracted included study characteristics, types of interventions, and study outcomes. Results were synthesised narratively within the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. 197 articles were screened, with 37 reporting on adaptation interventions. The majority of interventions focused on the general population (n=17), with few studies examining high-risk populations such as pregnant women and children (n=4) or migrants (n=0). Targeted interventions were mostly aimed at behaviour change (n=8) and health system strengthening (n=6), while interventions with mitigation co-benefits such as nature-based solutions (n=1) or the built environment (n=0) were limited. The most studied climate change hazard was extreme heat (n=26). Several studies reported promising findings, principally on interventions to counter heat impacts in workers and pregnant women, and improving risk awareness in communities. These findings provide a platform on which to expand research and public health interventions towards safeguarding public health from the effects of climate change.

This study examines the relationship between safety climate and safety performance in large-scale construction sites in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,203workers from 22 large-scale construction sites. The Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire was administered using interviews. A model was hypothesized to determine the interrelations between safety climate and performance; examined and validated using confirmatory factor analysis. The results show that the mean score of the seven safety climate dimensions was low: 2.70, ranging from 2.33 to 3.08. Similarly, the mean score of the safety performance construct was 2.95 for safety participation and 3.58 for safety compliance. The model predicts a strong positive correlation between safety climate and the safety performance constructs with 29.2% of the variance in safety involvement and 28.6% of the variance in safety compliance. The suggested association between self-reported injuries and safety climate was not confirmed. Nonetheless, a Pearson correlation analysis demonstrates a statistically significant negative correlation with safety climate. In conclusion, a low score for all the safety climate dimensions shows safety in the construction sector needs improvement. Safety climate positively influences employees’ safety behavior (safety compliance and safety participation) and minimizes occupational injuries.