SerpinB3, a member of the serine-protease inhibitor family, has emerged as a crucial player in various physiological and pathological processes. Initially identified as an oncogenic factor in squamous cell carcinomas, SerpinB3's intricate involvement extends from fibrosis progression and cancer to cell protection in acute oxidative stress conditions. This review explores the multi-faceted roles of SerpinB3, focusing on its implications in fibrosis, metabolic syndrome, carcino-genesis, and immune system impairment. Furthermore, its involvement in tissue protection from oxidative stress and wound healing underscores its potential as diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Recent studies have described the therapeutic potential of targeting SerpinB3 through its upstream regulators, offering novel strategies for cancer treatment development. Overall, this review underscores the importance of further research to fully elucidate the mechanisms of ac-tion of SerpinB3 and to exploit its therapeutic potential across various medical conditions.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, is increasingly diagnosed and significantly affects communication, behavior, and social interaction. The current diagnostic framework, guided by the DSM-5, has limitations that may lead to clinical gaps due to overlapping symptoms of ASD and other disorders. This study proposes a comprehensive approach to enhance ASD diagnosis through clinical stratification based on comorbidities. We applied precision medicine techniques to identify and categorize ASD into ten clinical profiles. Our findings contribute to a more profound understanding of ASD, including its varied clinical manifestations and comorbidities, and facilitate the development of personalized therapeutic strategies.

Delivering effective messages is critical to creating a more sustainable and resilient culture. The explosion of social media has enhanced information access but has often reinforced and polar-ized pre-existing viewpoints and norms. In contrast, digital signs are an “in your face in your space” technology that has the potential to deliver common content to a diverse local audience. Environmental Dashboard (ED) is a communications platform and set of content applications that combines information on current environmental conditions, real-time resource consumption, positive actions being taken by community members, and a community calendar. We conducted a longitudinal study to assess whether ED content delivered via digital signs in public locations would result in desirable psychological changes within a community. Participants completed surveys in six designated signage locations prior to installation (N = 174) and following two years of continuous exposure (N = 133). We observed: increases in pro-environmental social norms among people of color (a demographic emphasized); enhanced awareness of and sense of connection with the local community and ecology; increased self-reported electricity conservation; and increased perception of youth engagement (another demographic emphasized). Changes were mediated by exposure to digital signage. These findings support the hypothesis that content delivered through digital signs can strengthen pro-environmental and pro-social culture within communities.

The radiative heat transfer in arc plasma models is considered from the point of view of its description in terms of a net emission coefficient, the method of spherical harmonics in its lowest order, and the discrete ordinate method. Net emission coefficients are computed applying approximate and numerical approaches, the multi-band representation of the spectral absorption coefficient with three kinds of its averaging and two datasets. The self-consistent access to the radiative heat transfer is applied to a two-dimensional axisymmetric model of free-burning arc in argon at atmospheric pressure. The results obtained from the models employing the net emission coefficient, the method of spherical harmonics, and the discrete ordinate method are compared.

Potential distribution models are used to predict the presence and geographic limits of a species as a function of bioclimatic variables. The lack of knowledge of the geographic distribution of species endemic to Mexico is a limiting factor in understanding their ecology, conservation, and potential applications. Distribution models were generated with occurrence data of 11 species of the genus Zephyranthes, 19 bioclimatic and three topographic variables with the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) method. The dimensionality reduction analysis (PCA) allowed determining that, of the 19 variables, four contributed the highest percentage to the classification of the models, explaining more than 80% of the accumulated variance. The resulting models were evaluated according to the value of the area under the curve (AUC) and potential distribution models with AUC values >0.89 were obtained. The results suggest that most species are distributed in the biogeographic province of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt. Zephyranthes concolor was the species with the largest potential distribution area. The species with the most restricted potential distribution was Zephyranthes sessilis.

The present study provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on the Urban Metaverse, focusing on its integration into urban planning and design, as well as the ethical, social, and economic implications in urban settings. This study aims to evaluate the present standing and scope of the metaverse in the context of urban planning and city design; investigate the obstacles and remedies in integrating metaverse components into urban spaces; and explore the ethical, social, and economic ramifications of the metaverse in urban settings. The methodology involved a qualitative investigation of the relevant literature using academic databases and a review of thirty-two selected studies published between 2022 and 2024. The findings emphasise the changing nature of interpersonal relationships, potential alienation from physical spaces, and ethical implications of technology-driven urban changes. The study also highlights the potential opportunities and challenges associated with incorporating the metaverse into urban environments and offers strategies to address these challenges, including the formulation of data protection regulations, expansion of infrastructure, and ensuring equal access for all residents. The implications of the findings underscore the necessity of regulatory frameworks, technological investments, ethical considerations, and inclusive governance structures to ensure inclusive and sustainable urban development in the emerging era of the metaverse.

One of the most prevalent illnesses, diabetes does not directly result in patient mortality. But, it increases the risk of death. Any disease that may be predicted in its early stages can lessen its fatal effects while also enhancing the quality of the healthcare system. For the early-stage prediction of diabetes or such types of non-communicable diseases, we need the proper set of influential features. This research has developed a machine learning-based disease prediction model to identify the influential features for diabetes prediction and give a near-perfect classification accuracy. This model includes Min-Max normalization for data normalization, Isolation Forest (iForest) for outlier removal, Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) for oversampling, Random Forest based Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE-RF) test, Chi-Square test, and Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevancy (mRMR) test based feature selection methods for identifying the influential features, and Support Vector Machine (SVM), K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Naive Bayes (NB) for the classification. The results clarify that the proposed model outperforms the previous models and studies. The SVM has attained an accuracy of 99.58% in classification using the five features chosen from the Chi-Square test. Lastly, SHAP, an explainable AI model, has been used to assess the classifier model’s performance. These selected features and the classifier model can be used for early-stage diabetes prediction.

It is an utmost importance to characterize drug candidates as early in the development pipeline as possible. Appropriate application of the emerging high throughput analytical techniques unlocks the opportunities to obtain experimental data for in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination (ADME) profiling of large compound libraries which is crucial for selection of lead compounds. In an usual scenario, only one drug candidate will be selected from thousands of early compounds based on several stability and screening results. A high to medium throughput screening approaches could significantly accelerates the subsequent research and production phases. Traditionally, the analysis of metabolic stability assays heavily relies on high throughput LC-MS/MS techniques to meet with the lead profiling demands. In this study presented an innovative experimental approach that can offer a refreshing alternative. Laser Assisted Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry (LA-REIMS) is a quick and efficient method for characterizing complex biological samples without laborious sample preparation and chemical separation. Therefore, using an automated LA-REIMS well plate reader as fast as 8 seconds per sample, we assessed the oxidative metabolic stability of active agents using biomimetic metalloporphyrin-based oxidative model reactions at various pH for commercially available drug substances and compared stability measurements with traditional HPLC-DAD-MS results.

The application of distributed fiber optic strain and temperature measurement can be utilized to address a multitude of measurement tasks across a diverse range of fields, particularly in the context of structural health monitoring in the domains of building construction, civil engineering, and special foundation engineering. However, a comprehensive understanding of the influences on the measurement method and the sensors is essential to prevent misinterpretations or measurement deviations. In this context, this study investigated the effects of moisture exposure, including various salt solutions and a high pH value, on a distributed strain measurement using Rayleigh backscattering. Three fiber optic sensors with different coating materials and one uncoated fiber were exposed to five different solutions for 24 hours. The study revealed significant discrepancies in deformation between the three coating types depending on the surrounding solution. Furthermore, in contrast to the prevailing literature, which predominantly describes swelling effects, a negative deformation was observed in a magnesium chloride solution. The findings of this study indicate that corresponding effects can impact the precision of measurement, potentially leading to misinterpretations. Conversely, these effects could be used to conduct large-scale monitoring of chemical components using distributed fiber optic sensing.

The exponential rise of bacterial resistance poses a threat to antibiotic efficacy, with a great impact on public health. This study aims to analyze the correlation between antibiotic consumption and the emergence of bacterial resistance. Conducted retrospectively at Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia from 2010 to 2022, this study was based on STKMED® software for antibiotic consumption data, hospital administrative records for the number of hospitalization days, and SIRSCAN® software for bacteriological data. Data processing was performed using Excel® software, and analysis was conducted using SPSS23®. In 2022, Consumption was almost evenly split between the two major “AWaRe” groups, with 49.33% for "Access" and 46.89% for "Watch", and the consumption of the "Reserve" group also increased, accounting for 3.77% of the total. Bacterial resistances, notably carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, increased. Seventy-four significant correlations were identified, including those be-tween carbapenem consumption and resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. However, no significant corre-lation was observed with imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The significant correlations between the emergence of bacterial resistance and antibiotic use, particularly with antibiotics in the "Watch" and "Reserve" groups, underscore the urgent need to continue efforts to combat this threat through rational antibiotic use.

Extreme climates such as droughts and hot extremes, may result in marked damage to crop yields and threaten regional and global food security. Maize is a major grain crop in Liaoning Province, severely affected by drought and hot events. The objective of this study is to advance an approach to estimate the risk of crop yield reduction under the compound dry-hot events (CDHE) in Liaoning Province. Results show that the ratio of stations experiencing compound dry-hot events during the twelfth leaf and maturity stage tended to increase on the time scale. On a spatial scale, the frequency of compound dry-hot events in central Liaoning Province was relatively low during the whole and various reproductive periods of maize. In addition to the twelfth leaf, western Liaoning Province is prone to compound dry-hot events. The high-risk area for the occurrence of the compound dry-hot events in maize is Chaoyang City, located in the western part of Liaoning Province, and the cities in the low-risk area account for about 64.3% of the total number of cities in Liaoning Province, mainly in the central and northern parts of Liaoning Province. Generally, this study emphasizes focusing on the impacts of compound dry-hot events on agricultural production and provides an index to assess the risk of compound dry-hot events on maize production.

Flares, sometimes accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are the result of sudden changes in the magnetic field of stars with high energy release through magnetic reconnection, which can be observed across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to the optical range to X-rays. In our review, we attempt to collect some fundamental new results, which can largely be linked to the Big data era that has arrived due to the expansion of space photometric observations of the last two decades. We list the different types of stars showing flare activity, their observation strategies, and discuss how their main stellar properties relate to the characteristics of the flares (or even CMEs) they emit. Our goal is to focus, without claiming to be complete, on those results that may in one way or another challenge the "standard" flare model based on the solar paradigm.

The structure and physicochemical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA/glycerol films have been investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and advanced scanning probe microscopy (SPM). In the pure PVA films, SPM allowed us to observe ribbon-shaped domains with a different frictional and elastic contrast, which apparently originated from a correlated growth or assembly of PVA crystalline nuclei located within individual PVA clusters. The incorporation of 1.0 wt.% glycerol led to modification in shape of those domains from ribbon-like in pure PVA to rounded in PVA/glycerol 1.0 wt.% films; changes in the relative intensities of the XRD peaks and a decrease of the amorphous halo in the XRD pattern were also detected, while the DTA peak corresponding to the melting point remained at almost the same temperature. For higher glycerol content, FT-IR revealed additional glycerol-characteristic peaks presumably related to the formation of glycerol aggregates, and XRD, FT-IR, and DTA all indicated a reduction in crystallinity. For more than 2.0 wt.% glycerol, the plasticization of the films complicated the acquisition of SPM images without tip-induced surface modification. Our study contributes to the understanding of crystallinity in PVA and how it is altered by a plasticizer such as glycerol.

Given that metabolic syndrome, along with obesity as one of its key components, remains one of the leading yet insufficiently addressed public health issues, what contributes to the development and maintenance of the disorder must certainly attract the attention of professionals and scientists. Precisely because of this phenomenon, eating patterns associated with metabolic syndrome should be studied and attempts should be made to uncover patterns in occurrence. The aim of this study is to review the literature and consider the connection between metabolic syndrome and eating patterns such as emotional and compulsive eating, as well as through the lens of food addiction. Furthermore, we have attempted to uncover the role of psychiatry and psychotherapy in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and delve into the complexity of recognizing these patterns and emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

In the paper the new, fractional order, state space model of a heat transfer in a one- 1 dimensional metallic rod is addressed. The fractional orders of derivative along space and time 2 are not exactly known and they are described by intervals. The proposed model is the interval 3 expanding of the state space fractional model of the one dimensional heat transfer. It is expected to 4 better describe the reality because interval order of each real process is hard to estimate. Elementary 5 properties of the proposed model are analysed. Theoretical results are experimentally validated using 6 data from real experimental laboratory system.

Zoo conditions are unique for reindeer, since even domestic reindeer are not kept in captive facilities like cattle. In the zoo, reindeer are usually surrounded by many different animals they would never encounter naturally. Thus they might pick up some new helminths. Numerous petting zoos raise an issue of safety of tactile communications for human visitors. Out study is the first large-scale one. Qualitative and quantitative fecal analysis was carried out for 233 reindeer distributed over 50 Russian zoos according to National Standard of the Russian Federation (GOST R 54627-2011) Ruminant animals—Methods of Laboratory Helminthological Diagnostics. Where possible, DNA analyses of helminths were performed targeting internal transcribed spacer region. In result, F. hepatica, Paramphistomum sp., Moniezia sp. (including M. expansa), gastrointestinal strongylids (including Nematodirus spp.), Dictyocaulus sp., E. rangiferi, Trichuris sp., and Capillaria sp. were found in 106 (45%) zoo reindeer. All these helminths were previously reported for reindeer and pose no direct danger for humans. Intensity of invasions was mostly low. Fecal examination might be considered as an indirect method for mange diagnostics, as Chorioptes and Demodex mites were found in reindeer fecal samples. The latter may represent a novel species of mite specific for reindeer.

This study aims to evaluate the financial performance of SOEs in Indonesia and compare it with private companies using financial ratio analysis and efficiency analysis approaches. Four construction sector SOEs were evaluated, and five private companies were compared using financial data from 2015 to 2022. The financial ratio analysis used the Peterson (2013) approach, while the efficiency analysis employed the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach and the paired t-test. The study results show that the financial ratio performance of state-owned companies is relatively poor, with low profitability, critical liquidity, and a high debt ratio. Debt, as a source of capital in financing construction projects, makes companies face a greater debt risk. This study validates that SOEs have lower efficiency compared to private companies.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) exert regulatory actions via base-pairing with their binding sites on target mRNAs. Cooperative-binding, i.e., synergism, among binding sites on a mRNA is biochemically well-characterized. We studied whether this synergism is reflected in global relationship between miRNA-mediated regulatory activity and miRNA-binding-site count on the target mRNAs, i.e., leading to a non-linear relationship between the two. Recently, using our own and public datasets, we have enquired into miRNA regulatory actions: first, we analyzed the power-law distribution pattern of miRNA binding sites; second, strikingly, mRNAs for core miRNA regulatory apparatus proteins have extra-ordinarily high binding site counts, forming self-feedback-control loops; third, we revealed that tumor suppressor mRNAs generally have more sites than oncogene mRNAs; and fourth, we characterized enrichment of miRNA target mRNAs in translationally less-active polysomes relative to more-active polysomes. In these four studies, obvious correlation was observed qualitatively between the extent to which a mRNA is miRNA-regulated and its binding sites count. This paper summarizes the used datasets. We also re-analyzed the correlation by comparative linear and non-linear regression analyses. The results support a non-linear, instead of linear, relationship between the two parameters, conceivably a transcriptome-level reflection of cooperative-binding/synergism among miRNA binding sites on a target mRNA.

Urban tourism has witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by various factors that foster the transformation of urban areas into tourist hotspots. These factors include a rising interest in culture and heritage, ongoing urban redevelopment and conversion processes, and the introduction of new experiences and activities. Two particularly influential factors contributing to this growth are low-cost travel, which facilitates more accessible access to urban destinations, and the emergence of new types of accommodation, such as short-term rental (also known as local accommodation or Airbnb-type accommodation). This sudden and continuous growth of this type of tourist accommodation brings new challenges to cities and local communities. On the positive side, it contributes to job opportunities, the dynamism of the local economy, and urban revitalization. On the other hand, it also represents more difficulty in retaining the local population in city centers, as more and more buildings are converted into hostels and tourist apartments. In this context, it becomes essential to conduct studies evaluating the impacts of these dynamics in urban areas and how they influence residents' and visitors' perspectives. Therefore, this study aims to identify the main transformations resulting from short-term rental (STR) development, focusing on the impacts felt by tourists and residents in Porto. A questionnaire was distributed to tourists and residents in Porto's city center in June 2023. The results reveal differences in opinions between tourists and residents, particularly concerning historical heritage preservation, local population relocation, and reduced housing availability for residents. Nevertheless, there is a similarity in their opinions regarding the stimulus that local accommodation brings to the economy and the rehabilitation of buildings and urban areas. This study reinforces the need to pay more attention to the future development of tourist accommodation in city centers, especially regarding local policies and territorial planning, to balance better tourism development and local communities' quality of life.

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), propionic acidemia (PA), and cobalamin C deficiency (cblC) share a defect in propionic acid metabolism. In addition, cblC is also involved in the process of homocysteine remethylation. These three diseases produce various phenotypes and complex downstream metabolic effects. In this study we used an untargeted metabolomics approach to investigate the biochemical differences and the possible connections with the pathophysiology of each disease. Untargeted urine metabolomic profiles of 21 patients (7 MMA, 7 PA, 7 cblC) were identified through statistical analysis (p<0.05; log2FC >|1|) and then used for the annotation. Annotated features were associated with different metabolic pathways potentially involved in the diseases development. Comparative statistic showed markedly different metabolomic profiles between MMA, PA and cblC, highlighting characteristic species for each disease. The most affected pathways were related to the metabolism of organic acids (MMA, PA, cblC), amino acids (MMA, PA, cblC), glycine and its conjugates (PA), transsulfuration pathway (cblC), oxidative processes (cblC) and neurosteroid hormones (cblC). The untargeted metabolomics study highlighted the presence of significant differences between the three diseases, pointing to the most relevant contrast of cblC profile compared to MMA and PA. Some new biomarkers are proposed for PA, while novel data regarding the alterations of steroid hormone profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress were obtained for cblC disease. The elevation of neurosteroids in cblC may indicate a potential connection with the development of ocular and neuronal deterioration.

Generating electricity from coal combustion is highly associated with ongoing pollution problems that negatively impact the environment. Coal fly ash (CFA) is a predominant waste by-product of coal combustion which is disposed of in exposed ash dams constructed in the vicinity of power stations. Its disposal requires a large piece of land and therefore more land is converted to unproductive disposal sites, degrading the ecosystem. This waste material is classified as a hazardous substance in South Africa due to unacceptable levels of inorganic and persistent organic pollutants and its potential for dust creation. CFA is recycled and sold to the building and construction sectors, but the rate of its utilization is far less than the production rate resulting to high volumes that is stockpiled in disposal sites. More than 500 million tons CFA is produced yearly and over 200 million tons yearly remain unused globally and more CFA will continue to be produced due to high consumer energy demands, especially in countries with heavy reliance on coal for power generation. In this context, the paper discusses production of CFA, pollution problems due to its disposal, examines existing gaps within the scope of ash dam restoration processes and presents opportunities offered by phytoremediation (a low-cost and environmentally friendly technology that utilizes plants to restore the degraded environments). Ecological restoration through the use of socio-economically valuable plants (aromatic plants, legumes and grasses) has potential in addressing societal challenges and consequently impacting positively the livelihood of communities.

Recurrent sunspot groups were studied by using the Debrecen Photoheliographic Data (DPD) which covers more than 40 years. For this task it is necessary to make unambiguous the identification of the returning solar active regions. It starts with an algorithmic listing of possible returns, then the candidates of the algorithmic identifications are checked by the unique HTML-feature of the DPD. The final check is the application of an asymmetric Gaussian function introduced in previous articles to describe the development of short-lived sunspot groups observed continuously from start to end on the visible solar disc. The data of correctly identified recurrent sunspot groups fit surprisingly well to this function throughout the rotations enabling the reconstruction of the development also on the far side of the sun. The primary goal was to find any relationship between the maximum area and the lifetime deduced from the data of the asymmetric curves. This relationship is more complex than earlier results in the literature for short-lived groups. The lifetimes exhibit weak dependencies on the heliographic latitude and solar cycle phase. An apparently returning active area is rather an active nest if its data do not fit to the asymmetric Gaussian.

The article aims to present the results of research on anaerobic digestion (AD) of waste wafers (WF - control) and co-substrate system - waste wafers and cheese (WFC - control), combined with digested sewage sludge. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physicochemical parameters of the chitosan/perlite (Ch/P; 3:1) carrier material and to verify its effect on the directions of change of the bacterial microbiome, removal kinetics of organic matter and AD process efficiency. The experiment was conducted in a laboratory, in a periodical mode of operation of bioreactors, under mesophilic conditions. The results of analyses of morphological-dispersive, spectroscopic, adsorption, thermal and microbiological properties confirmed that the tested carrier material can be an excellent option to implement in biotechnological processes, especially in anaerobic digestion. The microstructural properties of the carrier were influenced by both components: perlite determined the development of the specific surface area, while chitosan shaped the porosity of the system. The thermal properties were determined by the less heat-resistant component, present in a threefold higher weight proportion, i.e. chitosan. The evaluation of quantitative and qualitative changes in the genetic diversity of bacterial communities, carried out using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), showed that the material has a modifying effect on the bacterial microbiome. Amount of bacteria from phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Campilobacterota, Chloroflexi, Euryarchaeota, Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria decreased while Firmicutes, Synergistetes, and Thermotogae increased during the course of the experiment. The shapes of the FT-IR spectra indicated a dependence of the degradation rate on both the presence of the carrier and the cosubstrate system. Monitoring of the course of AD was carried out by measuring key parameters for the stability of the process: pH, VFA and VFA/TA ratio (volatile fatty acids/total alkalinity). As a result, an increase in the volume of biogas/methane produced, under the influence of the carrier, was recorded for WF-control by 12.05% and for WFC-control by 19.16%. The volume of methane for the WF-control increased from 351.72 m3 Mg-1 VS to 411.14 m3 Mg-1 VS, while for the cosubstrate sample it increased from 476.84 m3 Mg-1 VS to 518.08 m3 Mg-1 VS, confirming the validity of combining the respective cosubstrate with microbial carrier in anaerobic bioreactor.

Abstract: This study aimed at investigating the effects of Valencia KK4-type peanut skin ethanolic extract (KK4-PSE) in combination with cisplatin or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) against HeLa cells in vitro and in xenograft models. MTT assay showed that KK4-PSE, cisplatin, and 5-FU suppressed proliferation of HeLa cells in a dose and time dependent manner. Drug interactions by Chou-Talalay method demonstrated that KK4-PSE enhanced antiproliferative activity of 5-FU against HeLa cells with combination index (CI) values of 0.49 (48 h) and 0.60 (72 h), indicating a synergistic effect, while KK4-PSE combined with cisplatin exhibited an additive effect (CI = 1.02) (72 h) and antagonistic effect at 24 and 48 h exposures (CI = 1.12 and 1.18, respectively). In nude mouse xenograft models, the combination of 5-FU and KK4-PSE markedly reduced HeLa tumor weights compared with control and single agent treatments. The combination of KK4-PSE and 5-FU achieved greater tumor growth inhibition than that of the KK4-PSE-cisplatin combination. KK4-PSE mitigated hepatotoxicity induced by both cisplatin and 5-FU in nude mice. The spleen hyaloserositis was significantly reduced in the combination treatment of 5-FU and KK4-PSE. These findings suggest a potential of KK4-PSE to inhibit cervical cancer cell growth while alleviating the toxicities of cisplatin and 5-FU.

Coseismic landslides have the potential to cause catastrophic disasters. Thus, it is of crucial importance to conduct a comprehensive regional assessment of susceptibility to coseismic landslides. This study rigorously interprets 13,759 coseismic landslides triggered by the 2022 Luding earthquake within the seismic zone. Employing the Newmark method, we systematically assess the susceptibility to coseismic landslides through the application of six distinct displacement regression models. The efficacy of these models is validated against the actual landslide inventory using the area under the curve. A hazard map of coseismic landslides is generated based on the displacement regression model with the highest degree of fit. The results show that Moxi Town, Detuo Town, the flanks of the Daduhe River, Wandonghe River, Hailuogou River, and Yanzigou River are high susceptibility areas for coseismic landslides. The study explores factors influencing model fit, revealing that the inclusion of both epicentral distance and the distance to seismogenic fault and in displacement prediction enhances model performance. Nevertheless, in close proximity to fault zones, the distance to seismogenic fault exerts a more significant influence on the spatial distribution density of coseismic landslides compared to the epicentral distance. Conversely, in regions situated further from fault zones, the epicentral distance has a greater impact on the spatial distribution density of coseismic landslides compared to the distance to seismogenic fault. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of coseismic landslide susceptibility and offer valuable insights for future Newmark method-based coseismic landslide displacement calculations.

PgRMC1 (progesterone receptor membrane component 1) is a progesterone-binding protein highly expressed in various cancer cells. Its expression has been associated with cancer development, chemoresistance, and poor prognosis in breast cancer through the regulation of drug and sterol metabolism, cell cycle, and apoptosis. However, the precise functions of PgRMC1 remain unclear. We examined PgRMC1 expression in breast cancer tissues and analyzed its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and treatment response (n=112). PgRMC1 expression was detected in breast cancer tissue, while no immunoreactivity for PgRMC1 was observed in normal breast tissue. Notably, PgRMC1 expression levels were high in the HER2 subtype. Among patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, those with a poor pathological response had significantly higher PgRMC1 expression than those with a good response. PgRMC1 overexpression in breast cancer cell lines reduced chemosensitivity. Real-time qPCR analyses revealed that PgRMC1 induced the expression of differentiation markers, including CDH1 and KRT19, indicating that PgRMC1 is involved in the suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and mammary luminal epithelial differentiation. Our findings suggest that PgRMC1 may contribute to chemoresistance and serve as a putative biomarker for assessing neoadjuvant chemotherapy sensitivity.

Materials engineering based on metal oxides for manipulating the solar spectrum and producing solar energy have been under intense investigation over the last years. In this work, we present NiO thin films double-doped with niobium (Nb) and nitrogen (N) as cation and anion dopants (NiO:(Nb,N)) to be used as p-type layers in all oxide transparent solar cells. The films were grown by sputtering a composite Ni-Nb target on room-temperature substrates in plasma containing 50% Ar, 25% O2 and 25% N2 gases. The existence of Nb and N dopants in the NiO structure was confirmed by the Energy Dispersive X-Ray and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy techniques. The nominally undoped NiO film, which was deposited by sputtering a Ni target and used as the reference film, was oxygen-rich, single-phase cubic NiO, having a visible transmittance of less than 20%. Upon double doping with Nb and N the visible transmittance of NiO:(Nb,N) film increased to 60%, which was further improved after thermal treatment to around 85%. The respective values of the direct band gap in the undoped and double-doped films were 3.28 eV and 3.73 eV just after deposition and 3.67 eV and 3.76 eV after thermal treatment. The changes in the properties of the films such as structural disorder, direct and indirect energy band gaps, Urbach tail states and resistivity were correlated with the incorporation of Nb and N in their structure. The thermally treated NiO:(Nb,N) film was used to form a diode with a spin-coated two-layer, mesoporous on top of a compact, TiO2 film. The NiO:(Nb,N)/TiO2 heterojunction exhibited visible transparency of around 80%, showed rectifying characteristics and the diode’s parameters were deduced using the I-V method. The diode revealed photovoltaic behavior upon illumination with UV light exhibiting a short circuit current density of 0.2 mA/cm2 and open-circuit voltage of 500 mV. Improvements of the output characteristics of the NiO:(Nb,N)/TiO2 UV-photovoltaic by proper engineering of the individual layers and device processing procedures are addressed. Transparent NiO:(Nb,N) films can be potential candidates in all-oxide ultraviolet photovoltaics for tandem solar cells, smart windows and other optoelectronic devices.

Existing methods for simulating missile dynamics and training often rely on three degrees of freedom (3DOF) motions, limiting their ability to represent the complex maneuvers and targeting strategies of modern missiles. This paper proposes integrating virtual reality (VR) technology with six degrees of freedom (6DOF) dynamics to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of missile simulation and training. By incorporating 6DOF dynamics, simulations can capture the full range of missile motion, providing a comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and limitations. Through VR, users can immerse themselves in realistic missile scenarios, interact with dynamic behaviors in real-time, and refine their targeting and interception skills. The integration of VR with 6DOF dynamics also facilitates real-time feedback and evaluation, enhancing training efficiency and proficiency in missile operations. This approach aims to revolutionize missile training by bridging the gap between traditional simulation methods and real-world dynamics.

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by symbiotic bacteria plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture. However, current quantification methods are often expensive and impractical. This study explores the potential of Raman spectroscopy, a non-invasive technique, for rapid assessment of BNF activity in soybeans. Raman spectra were obtained from soybean plants grown with and without rhizobia bacteria to identify spectral signatures associated with BNF. δN15 isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) was used to determine actual BNF percentages. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was employed to develop a model for BNF quantification based on Raman spectra. The model explained 80% of the variation in BNF activity. To enhance the model's specificity for BNF detection regardless of nitrogen availability, a subsequent elastic net (Enet) regularization strategy was implemented. This approach provided insights into key wavenumbers and biochemicals associated with BNF in soybeans.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a generally poor prognosis due to its highly aggressive and metastatic nature, lack of targetable receptors, as well as the frequent development of resistance to chemotherapy. We previously reported that AU1, a small molecule developed as an inhibitor of BPTF (bromodomain PHD finger containing transcription factor), was capable of sensitizing preclinical models of triple negative breast cancer to chemotherapy, in part via the promotion of autophagy. In studies reported here, we identify an additional property of this compound, specifically that sensitization is associated with inhibition of the P-glycoprotein efflux pump. In silico molecular docking studies indicate that AU1 binds to active regions of the efflux pump, in a manner consistent with inhibition of pump function. This work identifies a novel chemical structure that can influence multidrug efflux, an established mechanism of drug resistance in triple negative breast cancer, that has not yet been successfully addressed by clinical efforts.

Dairy products are an important source of protein and other nutrients in the Mediterranean diet. In these countries the most common source of milk for producing dairies are cow, goat, sheep and buffalo. Andalusia is traditionally the largest producer of goat milk in Spain. Kefir is a fermented product made from bacteria and yeasts which has health benefits beyond its nutritional properties. There is a lack of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms and metabolites that bring about these benefits. In this work, the combination of analytical techniques (GC-FID, UHPLC-MS-QToF, GC-QqQ-MS, and GC-ToF-MS) resulted in the detection of 105 metabolites in kefir produced with goat milk from two different thermal treatments (raw and pasteurized) fermented at four times (12, 24, 36, and 48 h, using 0 h as control). Of these, 27 metabolites differed between kefir produced with raw and pasteurized milk. These changes could be possibly caused by the effect of pasteurization on the microbial population in the starting milk. Some interesting molecules were identified, as shikimic acid, dehydroabietic acid, GABA and tyramine that could be related to antibacterial properties, enhance of immune system and arterial pressure. Moreover, a viability assay of the NIRS technique was performed to evaluate its use on monitoring the fermentation and classification of samples, which had resulted in a 90 % of correct classified samples according to their fermentation time. This study represents the most comprehensive metabolomic analysis of goat milk kefir so far, revealing the intricate changes in metabolites during fermentation and the impact of milk treatment.

Macroalgae seaweeds such as Ulva lactuca and Gracilaria verrucosa cause problems on the Northern Coast of the Italian Adriatic Sea because their overabundance hinders the growth of cultivated clams, Rudatapes philippinarum. This study focused on the green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from U. lactuca and G. verrucosa. The biosynthesized CuO NPs were successfully characterized using FTIR, XRD, HRTEM/EDX, and zeta potential. Nanoparticles from the two different algae species are essentially identical, with the same physical characteristics and almost the same antimicrobial activities. We have not investigated the cause of this identity, but it seems likely to arise from the reaction of Cu with the same algae metabolites in both species. The study demonstrates that it is possible to obtain useful products from these macroalgae through a green synthesis approach and that they should be considered as not just a cause of environmental and economic damage but also as a potential source of income.

This paper presents data supporting the IC Regimen for potentiating the effectiveness of lorlatinib in treating ALK positive cancers, and specifically non-small cell lung cancer. Lorlatinib is an effective treatment for ALK driven non-small cell lung cancer and other ALK driven cancers. Lorlatinib inhibits ALK kinase and achieves good brain tissue levels, a common site for metastases in lung cancers. However, resistance to lorlatinib usually supervenes and the cancer awakens and starts growing again, resistant to lorlatinib. This paper analyses data indicating that adding two common generic drugs, itraconazole and cilostazol, to lorlatinib treatment may delay resistance development. Itraconazole is marketed worldwide as a generic antifungal drug that also inhibits Hedgehog signaling, CYP3A4, and the p-gp efflux pump. Cilostazol is a generic anti-thrombosis, phosphodiesterase 3 inhibiting drug that carries minimal bleeding risk. Cilostazol may enhance lorlatinib by deprivation of trophic growth factors supplied by platelets. Itraconazole may enhance lorlatinib effectiveness by reducing or stopping a Hedgehog centered amplifying feedback loop with ALK kinase. The combination of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer being a low-survival disease and the general safety itraconazole plus cilostazol augmentation, make a clinical trial of this trio worthwhile.

The Arabian Peninsula with its rugged mountains, wadis, alluvial plains, sand dune deserts, and diverse coastlines span over 3 million square kilometres. The Peninsula is situated at the crossroads of Africa and Asia and is a meeting point for diverse biogeographic realms, including the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and In-domalayan regions. This convergence of biogeographic zones has resulted in a remarkably diverse flora and fauna, which is adapted to the harsh and varied climates found throughout the Peninsula. Each of the coun-tries of the Arabian Peninsula are biologically diverse and unique in their own rite, but Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman are the most diverse in terms of their landforms and biological diversity. The mountainous regions support a cooler and more moderate climate compared to the surrounding lowlands, thus forming unique ecosystems that function as refugia for plant and animal species and have a high endemism of plant species. The desert ecosystems support a variety of life that are specially adapted to an extreme arid climate. Due to its long history of human habitation and subsistence agriculture, particularly in the mountainous areas, the Arabian Peninsula possesses unique crop varieties adapted to extreme arid climates, making them important genetic resources for the future in the face of climate change. The Arabian Peninsula, though rich and diverse in its biological diversity, has been greatly affected by human activities especially in the last 50 years, including urbanization, habitat destruction, overgrazing, and climate change; these pose significant threats to the biodiversity of the region.

This paper presents computer and color vision research focusing on human color perception in VR environments. A VR art gallery with digital twins of original artworks is created for this experiment. In this research, the field of colorimetry and the application of CMYK and RGB color models are applied. The interrelationships of the two colors models are applied to create a color modification of the VR art gallery environment using C# Script procedures. This color-edited VR environment works with a smooth change of color tone in a given time interval. At the same time, a sudden change in the color of the RGB environment is defined in this interval. This experiment aims to record a user's reaction embedded in a VR environment and the effect of color changes on human perception in a VR environment. The research uses lie detector sensors that record the physiological changes of the user embedded in VR. Five sensors are used to record the signal. An experiment on the influence of the user's color perception in a VR environment using lie detector sensors has never been conducted. This research defines the basic methodology for analyzing and evaluating the recorded signals from the lie detector. The presented text thus provides a basis for further research in the field of colors and human color vision in a VR environment and lays an objective basis for use in many scientific and commercial areas.

Behavior analysis is a widely used non-invasive tool in the practical production routine, as the animal acts as a biosensor capable of reflecting its degree of adaptation and discomfort to some environmental challenge. Predominantly, conventional statistics use occurrence data for behavioral evaluation and well-being estimation, disregarding the temporal sequence of events. The Generalized Sequential Pattern (GSP) algorithm is a data mining method that identifies recurrent sequences that exceed a user-specified support threshold, whose potential has not yet been investigated for broiler chickens in enriched environments. Enrichment aims to increase environmental complexity with promising effects on animal welfare, stimulating priority behaviors and potentially reducing the deleterious effects of heat stress. The objective was to validate the application of the GSP algorithm to identify temporal correlations between heat stress and the behavior of broiler chickens in enriched environments through proof of concept. Video image collection was carried out automatically for 48 continuous hours, analyzing a continuous period of seven hours, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, during two consecutive days of tests for chickens housed in enriched and non-enriched environments under comfort and stress temperatures. Chickens at comfort temperature showed high motivation to perform the behaviors of Preening (P), Foraging (F), Lying down (Ld), Eating (E), and Walking (W) whose sequences <{Ld,P}>; <{Ld,F}>; <{P,F,P}>; <{Ld,P,F}> and <{E,W,F}> were the only ones observed in both treatments. All other sequential patterns (comfort and stress) were distinct, suggesting that environmental enrichment alters the behavioral pattern of broiler chickens. Heat stress drastically reduced the sequential patterns found at the 20% threshold level in the tested environments. The behavior of lying laterally "Ll" is a strong indicator of heat stress in broilers and was only frequent in the non-enriched environment, which may suggest that environmental enrichment provides the animal with better opportunities to adapt to stress-inducing challenges, such as heat.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Antioxidant activity, Bioactive compounds, Elementary analysis, Nutritional and phytochemical composition, Seaweed.

Objective: To employ Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to investigate dietary intake patterns among Sudanese children aged 0 to 2 years and to examine the association of these patterns with sociodemographic factors. Methods: This study leveraged the Sudan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014 data to uncover dietary intake patterns among 7,362 children using latent class analysis (LCA). We investigated class memberships concerning demographic and socioeconomic factors. The model's adequacy was determined using several fit indices, including BIC, AIC, entropy, CAIC, and SABIC, providing a holistic evaluation of the model's accuracy in capturing dietary behaviors. Results: Three latent classes were identified: Class 1 (55%) with an average nutrition composition, Class 2 (28%) with limited nutrition composition, and Class 3 (17%) with good nutrition composition. Significant associations were found between latent class membership and sociodemographic factors, particularly mother's education level and household wealth. The three-class solution provided the best balance between model fit and class distinction. Conclusions: The LCA revealed distinct dietary intake patterns and underscored the influence of sociodemographic factors on child nutrition. The findings suggest that targeted nutritional interventions should be developed according to the specific needs of different latent classes. The study also highlights the utility of LCA as a robust statistical and machine learning tool in public health research, capable of informing tailored interventions and policies for improving child nutrition. Implications: The study emphasizes the importance of maternal education and socio-economic status in shaping dietary behaviors of children in Sudan. It implies the need for policies that address educational disparities, food security, and economic development as part of comprehensive nutritional interventions.

The Meissner effect is a special property of superconductors. In this paper, based on the characteristics of the Meissner effect, a superconducting phase transition model of a superconductor under a changing magnetic field is proposed. A thermodynamic analysis was performed on the model to calculate both the changes in the thermodynamic parameters of the superconductor during the phase transition and the changes in the overall work and energy of the model. For Model 1 in the present study, the thermodynamic energy of the superconductor was not conserved due to the phase change of the superconductor under a changing magnetic field.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing decision-making procedures in healthcare information systems (HIS), increasing the efficacy, accuracy, and personalization of healthcare. Notwithstanding remarkable progresses, yet there remain gaps in the holistic comprehension and implication of AI-driven technologies across various HIS scenarios. These gaps, consisting limited integration of AI across a variety of HIS parts and inadequate emphasize on interpretability and privacy, motivate our study to conduct a structured evaluation of recent AI applications in this domain. In this study, we present a novel taxonomy for the AI implication in medical decision-making. We analyzed 30 articles and categorized them into six groups including: Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), Predictive Analytics, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer-Aided Diagnostics (CAD), Robotic-Assisted Surgery, and Virtual Health Assistants (VHAs/chatbots). Our study aims to propose a holistic perspective of the fast evolving perspective of AI in HIS. The majority of the investigated studies were published from 2023 and 2022, with Springer as the leading publisher (33%). Python and MATLAB were the most well-known simulation languages, applied in 48% and 20% of the papers, respectively, reflecting the technical trends in the area. By emphasizing on pivotal criteria like interpretability, accuracy, and privacy, this research aims to elucidate the crucial issues and development driving AI-driven decision-making in HIS.

The growing interest in fair AI development is evident. The ''Leave No One Behind'' initiative urges us to address multiple and intersecting forms of inequality in accessing services, resources, and opportunities, emphasising the significance of fairness in AI. This is particularly relevant as an increasing number of AI tools are applied to decision-making processes, such as resource allocation and service scheme development, across various sectors such as health, energy, and housing. Therefore, exploring joint inequalities in these sectors is significant and valuable for thoroughly understanding overall inequality and unfairness. This research introduces an innovative approach to quantify cross-sectoral intersecting discrepancies among user-defined groups using latent class analysis. These discrepancies can be used to approximate inequality and provide valuable insights to fairness issues. We validate our approach using both proprietary and public datasets, including EVENS and Census 2021 (England \& Wales) datasets, to examine cross-sectoral intersecting discrepancies among different ethnic groups. We also verify the reliability of the quantified discrepancy by conducting a correlation analysis with a government public metric. Our findings reveal significant discrepancies between minority ethnic groups, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in real-world AI applications. Additionally, we demonstrate how the proposed approach can be used to provide insights into the fairness of machine learning.

This paper deals with wh-in situ elements (i.e. wh-elements that stay in the argument position) in islands such as adverbial clauses, conditionals, relative clauses, complement clauses, etc. extracted from corpora of Italian and Spanish. I will show that there are two types of wh-in situ embedded inside an island in these languages. One type is a real genuine question. Another type is an echo question. There are several approaches that convincingly account for the insensitivity of echo questions to islands. The genuine question type is still a puzzle for semantic and syntactic approaches. It turns out that wh-in situ questions with a genuine question interpretation are only possible inside islands that are not marked for sentence type and do not contain any operator that could block the question interpretation of the wh-in situ. This way question alternatives can be passed higher up the clause until they meet a question operator in the matrix clause that interprets them. Consequently, the question is well-formed and interpreted without any problem. Real islands contain semantic operators or quantifiers that interpret question alternatives triggered by wh-in situ until they reach the question morpheme to be interpreted as question alternatives. The result is that the derivation crashes.

The article delves into the landscape of the plant-based food industry, exploring innovative market entry strategies and their interplay with the evolving food market and shifting consumer preferences and lifestyles. Adopting a multidimensional approach, the study reflects diverse perspectives at play. Through a comparative analysis of strategic promotion and growth strategies employed by both innovative startups and established industry giants in the plant-based meat alternatives sector in Germany, the study aims to capture the challenges faced by the 'newer' wave of plant-based alternatives. This examination is particularly relevant for navigating the complexities of entering a competitive market. Striving to penetrate evolving consumer lifestyles, the study draws insightful comparisons with their "older" counterparts. In addition, through in-depth interviews with selected companies, the study investigates the entry methods of startups venturing into the German market, aiming to identify parallels and contrasts in market strategies with established brands. This provides valuable insights into innovation within the alternative food market. Furthermore, the study explores the process of brand "platformization" by scrutinizing the websites of the selected companies and analyzing customers' online reviews of their brand experience. This comprehensive analysis unveils distinctive patterns in communication strategies, brand positioning, and consumer engagement, offering insights into plant-based innovation shaping new, caring lifestyles.

Parents play an important role in shaping the eating habits of their children through: appropriate selection of food products, snacking between meals and appropriate exposure to information from television advertisements, the press or the Internet. The level of parents' knowledge about proper nutrition and substances added to food is therefore crucial in promoting appropriate dietary choices in children and adolescents in order to prevent diet-related diseases. Objectives: Assessment of the consumption of snack foods by children and adolescents according to the surveyed parents and analysis of parents' knowledge about additional substances in food. Methods: The study was conducted among 129 parents of students from selected primary schools. The research tool was an original survey questionnaire consisting of 24 questions. Survey interviews were conducted with parents during meetings at schools. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson ch2 test, the significance level was set to p<0.05. Results: Parents most often indicated sweets, confectionery products and sweetened drinks (25%) and vegetables or fruit (21%) as the form of snack for their children. 46% of children and adolescents drank sweetened drinks at least once a day. Parents had an average level of knowledge about food additives. Significant correlations were found between the level of knowledge of parents of school-age children about food additives and their level of education. Parents' knowledge and education did not significantly influence the level of snack consumption by their children. Children's eating behavior should be considered unsatisfactory. Conclusions: Research has shown the need for parents to be educated about food additives and to pay more attention to reading food labels so that they can reliably prepare their children to make the right food choices. Measures should be implemented to improve the eating habits of children and adolescents.

This review is dedicated to sustainable practices in liquid chromatography. HPLC and UHPLC methods contribute significantly to routine analytical techniques. Therefore, the transfer of classical liquid chromatographic methods into sustainable ones is of utmost importance in moving toward sustainable development goals. Among other principles to render a liquid chromatographic method green, substitution of the organic solvent component in the mobile phase with a greener one received great attention. This review concentrates on choosing the best alternative green organic solvent to replace the classical solvent in the mobile phase for easy rapid transfer to a more sustainable normal phase or reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The main focus of this review will be on describing the transfer of non-green to green and white chromatographic methods in an effort to elevate the sustainability best practice in analytical chemistry. The greenness properties and greenness ranking in addition to the chromatographic suitability of seventeen organic solvents for liquid chromatography are mentioned to have a clear insight into the issue of rapidly choosing the appropriate solvent to transfer a classical HPLC or UHPLC method into a more sustainable one. A simple guide is proposed for making the liquid chromatographic method more sustainable.

The purpose of the study is to analyse and to identify specific structural characteristics of melanocytic nevi. So, for better conclusions, using the optical microscope, could be possible a proper describtion related melanocytic nevi, reffering to youth pacients. In this research direction, good to mention that in a human individual life, play a significant role, different factors. That include in line, genetic, epigenetic, microbiomic, and proteomic factors. Future directions refers to preventive and prophylactic methods.

Newborn screening using biochemical tests is a widespread practice. However, the recent availability of genetic sequencing has enabled the rapid screening of many monogenic disorders. The purpose of our study was to assess the outcomes of whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) as the primary newborn screening test. This cohort study enrolled 26 symptomatic neonates and infants exhibiting a spectrum of neurological symptoms and issues. Genome sequencing (GS) identified relevant diagnostic variants in 9 patients (point mutations, CNVs and one case of aneuploidy), suggesting that using GS as the primary newborn screening test in a general newborn population enhances traditional screening's detection capabilities. This evidence-based finding may support considering GS as a critical method for first-tier screening.

The learning equations of an ANN are presented, giving an extremely concise derivation based on the principle of backpropagation through the descendent gradient. Then, a reflection is developed on the dual attention network that applies the learning equations and coordinates subnetworks toward purposeful behaviors. Speculation is made on possible developments of functionalities that could provide additional skills and at the same time shed light on competencies typical of ``natural intelligence".

Manuka honey (MH) exhibits potential antitumor activity in preclinical models of a number of human cancers. Treatment in vitro with MH at concentrations ranging from 0.3-5.0% (w/v) led to significant dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, but anti-proliferative effects of MH were less pronounced in triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Effects of MH were also tested on non-malignant human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) at 2.5% w/v, and it was found that MH reduced proliferation of MCF-7 cells but not that of HMEC. Notably, the antitumor activity of MH was in the range of that exerted by treatment of MCF-7 cells with the antiestrogen tamoxifen. Further, MH treatment stimulated apoptosis of MCF-7 cells in vitro, with most cells exhibiting acute and significant levels of apoptosis that correlated with PARP activation. Additionally, effects of MH induced activation of AMPK and inhibition of AKT/mTOR downstream signaling. Treatment of MCF7 cells with increased concentrations of MH induced AMPK phosphorylation in a dose dependent manner that was accompanied by inhibition of phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR downstream effector protein S6. In addition, MH reduced phosphorylated STAT3 levels in vitro which may correlate with MH and AMPK-mediated anti-inflammatory properties. Further, in vivo, MH administered alone significantly inhibited the growth of established MCF-7 tumors in nude mice by 84%, resulting in an observable reduction in tumor volume. Our findings highlight the need for further research into the use of natural compounds, such as MH, for antitumor efficacy and potential chemoprevention and investigation of molecular pathways underlying these actions.

Colchicine has a number of effects that suggest it may be useful in the treatment of COVID-19. Myeloid cells are a major source of dysregulated inflammation in COVID-19. The hyperactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the subsequent cytokine storm take place precisely inside them and can lead to multiorgan damage and death. NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition has been assessed at micromolar colchicine concentrations which cannot be achieved in serum. However, colchicine has remarkable ability to accumulate intensively in leukocytes, where the cytokine storm is generated. Over 50 observational studies and randomized clinical trials, small randomized non-controlled trials and retrospective cohort studies were initiated to test its healing effect in vivo, leading to conflicting, rather disappointing results. WHO gives ”Strong recommendation against” the use of colchicine for COVID-19 treatment. This is because low doses of colchicine are always used, where the concentrations required to inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome in leukocytes cannot be reached. Considering this, from March 2020 we started the administration of higher doses of colchicine. Our assumption was that safe increase in colchicine doses to reach micromolar concentrations in leukocytes will result in NLRP3 inflammasome/cytokine storm inhibition. We demonstrated that in 785 inpatients treated with increasing doses of colchicine, mortality fell between 2 and 7 times. Our data, including also a large number of COVID-19 outpatients, showed that nearly 100% of the patients treated with this therapeutic regimen escaped hospitalization. In addition, post-covid symptoms in those treated with colchicine were significantly less. As a large number of viruses can overactivate the NLRP3 inflammasome (like seasonal influenza), we are convinced that higher colchicine doses would be useful in these cases as well.

In the history, architects, engineers or artists traditionally visualized architectural, urban planning, urban design, or landscape design projects with physical models in a smaller scale to represent their ideas. The biggest problems of traditional materialistic models are the long production time and limitation of mobility. Thanks to advancements in digital technology, 3D models can now be generated easily from 2D blueprints using computer software. However, eventually the digitalized approach could not replace the whole industry of making physical models, because of a lack of stereoscopic 3D imaging of space and structures. In this study, we discuss two points: the normal procedure of visualizing 3D models in urbanism and architecture design projects; and proposal of the stereographic hologram visualization for 3D models created with CHIMERA hologram printer as a new approach to solve all the problems in spatial projects visualization of both digitalized and physical models. The experiment's results indicate that tabletop holograms' visualization quality can potentially replace traditional methods in the near future. Moreover, the input data for this method can be seamlessly integrated into current architectural and urban design workflows, making holograms a promising approach for 3D immersive content in this field.

(1) Background:The objective of this study was to explorethe dynamic changes of gut microbiota in Simmental calves before weaning, and compared microbial composition and functionality differences between diarrhea and health calves; (2) Methods: Fourteen neonatal Simmental calves were divided into a health group (n = 8) and diarrhea group (n = 6). The rectal stool samples were collected from each calf on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18, 22, 26, 30, 35, and 40. The high-throughput sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene V1–V9 region was conducted to explore the changes in gut microbiota over time in both groups and assess the influence of diarrhea on microbiota structure and function; (3) Results: E.coli, B.fragilis, and B.vulgatus were the top three bacterial species of pre-weaning Simmental calves.Meanwhile, the major functions of fecalmicrobiota included the “Metabolic pathways”,“Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites”,“Biosynthesis of antibiotics”, “Microbial metabolism in diverse environments”, and “Biosynthesis of amino acids”. For calves in health group, PCoA revealed that the bacterial profiles generated from days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 separated from days 15, 18, 22, 26, 30, 35, and 40. While the microbial profiles of calves on day 12 crossed with both clusters, suggesting that the dynamic changes of microbial structures with the increasing of ages. When compared the difference of the relative abundance of bacteria between calves in health and diarrhea groups, the results showed that the relative abundance of the beneficial L.johnsonii, F.prausnitzii, and Limosilactobacillus in the health group were significantly higher than those in the diarrhea group (p

The global movement of inputs, raw materials, products, and the marketing of products requires the use of supply chains. Green logistics refers to the set of policies and measures aimed at reducing the environmental impacts generated by logistics activities. The traditional supply chain has a certain inability to adapt to the rules agreed in Coop 15. The Green Supply Chain deals with the distribution flows of goods with a view to generating low environmental impact. The Green Supply Chain (GSC) involves aspects of reducing negative impacts throughout the logistics chain, from raw material suppliers, production to the distribution of the product to the customer. In this way, this article seeks to identify the factors that generate negative impacts in the traditional Supply Chain, thus helping to decarbonize it, and create a path for the development of the GSC and thus avoid interruptions in the distribution flow due to not meeting environmental targets. The main problem in decarbonizing the Supply Chain is its difficulty in complying with the rules agreed by the nations in COOP 15. To this end, a systematic literature review was carried out based on the available literature. Based on various articles and books, the parameters that define a Green Supply Chain and the factors that generate environmental impacts in conventional chains were identified. As a result, it was possible to verify a positive relationship between the carbon emission reduction factors that are linked to the supply chain performance factors found in the literature. Of the factors relating to the decarbonization of supply chains, some were more clearly related, such as reducing carbon emissions, reducing environmental risks and the ability to operate using new technologies. Future research could build on the limitations of this study.

It is axiomatic to underscore that a well-managed education system is deemed globally as one of the crucial prerequisites for not only the growth and development of every society or geopolitical space but also one of the veritable hallmarks of a diversified and functional economy that will, in the long run, culminate in economic emancipation of the people. The education industry faces enormous challenges in several countries in Africa, and Nigeria is not an exception. Even though education remains the bedrock or superstructure on which other societal structures such as politics, culture, religion, economics, etc. are laid; it is quite disheartening that education in Nigeria is not effectively and efficiently managed for economic diversification and emancipation of the recipients of such education. Indeed, the industry faces innumerable challenges, especially in contemporary times than in the pre-colonial era when the education system was essentially functional. The hydra-headed nature of the challenges with Nigeria’s educational system has inevitably resulted in different dimensions of economic quagmires entangling the country and making most of its citizens find it extremely difficult to eke out and or survive. The level of dysfunctionalities in various sections of the education system has made it seemingly intractable to palliate the economic predicaments that have been confronting the country let alone emancipate it from the monoculture of its overdependence on oil. The author of this treatise is diagnostic in his approach to understanding the intricacies of the challenges that frontally battle the Nigerian education system and deprive it of being a veritable tool for a functional economy as well catalyst for the economic emancipation of its people. The paper, through the analyses of relevant literature, amplifies the conceptual and operational dimensions of the identified challenges, offers probable suggestions on the ways by which the challenges can be tackled and finally draws a conclusion.

Singapore, being a land-scarce country, is heavily dependent on imported food, which poses a challenge in ensuring food security. In addition, the substantial amount of food waste generated in Singapore further deepens food insecurity challenges, imposing enormous pressure on the country's food and land resources. In the recent years, valorising food waste streams into higher value products has been an increasing trend in tackling food wastage due to its economical and environmental benefits. This paper provides a thorough review on food waste valorisation in Singapore and summarizes critical information from the current food landscape to the food waste management strategies adopted. The review highlights the prototypes developed from food waste streams by the local research and development capabilities and the technological processing and techniques used for versatile applications ranging from food and nutraceuticals to urban agriculture. The challenges associated with the valorisation of food waste are also addressed. Two ambitious Initiatives by the Singapore government Zero Waste Plan and the 30-by-30 food security goal to encourage food waste valorisation are explored and presented. The review serves as a reference for other countries in ensuring food security and achieving sustainable development goals.

Radial nerve palsies present a challenging clinical scenario, often leading to substantial functional impairment. This study focuses on evaluating the outcomes of tendon transfer surgeries in patients with post-traumatic radial nerve injuries. The radial nerve, vital for upper limb movements, faces various etiologies such as trauma, compression, or idiopathy. Patients with radial nerve palsy encounter difficulties in daily activities, emphasizing the need for effective management strategies. The research introduces a novel evaluation protocol, aiming to comprehensively assess tendon transfer outcomes. This protocol incorporates functional movements of wrist and finger joints, encompassing both objective and subjective parameters. The retrospective study includes eleven patients treated between 2010 and 2022, with a minimum follow-up of one year post-surgery. Tendon transfers demonstrated positive results. The evaluation protocol covers a wide range of parameters, including wrist and finger mobility, thumb function, grip strength, and patient satisfaction. The results indicate successful restoration of motor function, with an average grip strength of 70% compared to the healthy arm. The proposed evaluation protocol facilitates standardized and reproducible assessment, minimizing subjective errors in clinical evaluations. Despite the study's limitations, such as a relatively small sample size, the findings underscore the effectiveness of tendon transfers in treating radial nerve palsies. The introduced evaluation scheme provides a comprehensive and reproducible approach to assess outcomes, contributing to the global standardization of tendon transfer assessments in radial nerve injuries.

Growth monitoring of crops is a crucial aspect of precision agriculture, essential for optimal yield prediction and resource allocation. Traditional crop growth monitoring methods are labor-intensive and prone to errors. This study introduces an automated segmentation pipeline utilizing multi-date aerial images and orthomosaics to monitor the growth of cauliflower crops (Brassica Oleracea var. Botrytis). The methodology employs YOLOv8, Grounding DINO, and the Segment Anything Model (SAM) for automatic annotation and segmentation. The YOLOv8 model was trained using initial datasets, which then facilitated the training of the Grounded SAM framework. This approach generated automatic annotations and segmentation masks, classifying crop rows for temporal monitoring and growth estimation. The study's findings highlight the efficiency of this automated system in providing accurate crop growth analysis, promoting informed decision-making in crop management and sustainable agricultural practices. Results indicate consistent and comparable growth patterns between aerial images and orthomosaics, with significant periods of rapid expansion and minor fluctuations over time. The integration of these advanced techniques demonstrates the potential for enhancing precision agriculture through reduced labor and increased accuracy in crop growth monitoring.

Research into lightweight structural concrete using volcanic tuff is of great importance to the construction industry. These materials have excellent thermal insulation properties, which helps improve the energy efficiency of buildings. A three-factor experimental design was used to build the statistical model. The test methods used were methods for determining the crushability of volcanic tuff, determining the average density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of lightweight structural concrete. The influence of basalt fiber on the properties of lightweight structural concrete has been determined. The optimal compositions of lightweight structural concrete using tuff have been selected. The compressive strength of lightweight structural concrete reached 32.0 MPa. The average density range is 1754.6-2114.0 kg/m³. Good thermal conductivity values ​​were obtained in the range of 0.653-0.818 W/m·K. The article obtained the optimal compositions of lightweight structural concrete using volcanic tuff as a filler.

Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) are present in a wide variety of microorganisms, including protozoan parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, Trichomonas vaginalis, Leishmania major, Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia intestinalis, all of which cause important neglected diseases. PPIases are classified as cyclophilins, FKBPs, or parvulins and play crucial roles in catalyzing the cis-trans isomerization of the peptide bond preceding a proline residue. This activity assists in correct protein folding. However, the biological structure‒function characterization of PPIases from these protozoan parasites is still incomplete. The recombinant production of these enzymes is highly relevant for this ongoing research. In this review, we explore the structural diversity, functions, recombinant production, and activity and inhibition of protozoan PPIases. We also highlight their potential as biotechnological tools for the in vitro refolding of other recombinant proteins from these parasites. These applications are invaluable for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

This study assessed the impact of inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) on stress-resistance and growth-promoting metabolites in Salicornia europaea L. across controlled and field conditions. Salicornia europaea seeds, inoculated with Brevibacterium casei EB3 and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans RL18, were grown in controlled laboratory experiments and in a nat-ural field setting. Metabolite composition was analyzed using GC-MS and UHPLC-MS. Under controlled conditions, PGPB inoculation significantly increased levels of unsaturated fatty acids, sugars, citric acid, acetic acid, chlorogenic acids, and quercetin. Inoculation under field condi-tions increased glucose, fructose, quercetin, and apigenin, alongside decreased unsaturated fatty acids and sterols, indicating a stress response shift in plant metabolism. Under controlled condi-tions, enhanced metabolite profiles induced by inoculation likely contributed to augmented bio-mass production and environmental stress resistance. Field plants revealed distinct phytochemi-cal profiles, suggesting higher stress levels. However, the accumulated metabolites from inocula-tion could enhance the plant's ability to cope with adverse conditions and improving stress tol-erance. This study unveils the intricate metabolic adaptations of Salicornia europaea under con-trolled and field stress conditions, highlighting PGPB's potential to enhance plant stress tolerance. Elevated stress-related metabolites may fortify plant defense mechanisms, laying the ground-work for stress-resistant crop development through PGPB-based inoculants, especially in saline agriculture.

Flavonoids are important natural compounds characterized by their extensive biological activities. Citrus flavonoids form a significant segment within the broader flavonoid category. Naringenin, an integral part of this series, is recognized for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In addition, considering the lack of existing research on naringenin's potential effectiveness and intracellular mechanisms of action in skin-related applications, especially as a cosmetic ingredient, this study aimed to explore naringenin's role in reducing the fundamental generation of reactive oxygen species. This was achieved by examining its inhibitory effects on the expression levels of NADPH oxidase and iNOS, ultimately leading to a reduction in NO production. This research examined the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities of naringenin by employing a cellular senescence model of LPS-induced HDFs. The evaluation of naringenin's efficacy was validated through several investigative procedures, including the NF-κB luciferase assay, ELISA assay, and qRT-PCR. To verify the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of naringenin, the study measured the responsive elements of NF-κB using a luciferase reporter assay. This assessment revealed that naringenin could decrease the concentration of genes activated by NF-κB. Moreover, the study found that naringenin inhibited the transcriptional expression of known NF-κB regulated inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8. In addition, results from the qRT-PCR analysis indicated a reduction in iNOS expression facilitated by naringenin. Based on the data gathered and analyzed in this study, it can be conclusively inferred that naringenin possesses promising potential as a cosmetic ingredient, offering both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

In this study, we examined the effects of the organizational power resources used by school principals on teachers' work alienation and trait anxiety levels. Then, we examined the mediating role of trait anxiety in the relationship between organizational power resources and work alienation. We used the correlational scanning model and mediation model in the research. The research sample consists of 400 teachers working in Turkish public schools. In our research, "Organizational Power Scale in Schools", "Work Alienation Scale" and "Trait Anxiety Scale" were used. As a result of the research, we found significant relationships between the variables. Accordingly, there is a positive relationship between trait anxiety and work alienation, a positive relationship between trait anxiety and coercive power and legal power, a negative relationship between trait anxiety and expert, charismatic and reward power, a positive relationship between work alienation and coercive power, and a positive relationship between work alienation and reward power. Negative relationships were observed between expertise and charismatic power. Finally, it was determined that trait anxiety had a mediating role in the relationship between the power resources used by school principals and the level of work alienation of teachers.

This research explores the development of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) blends derived from natural rubber (NR) and ethylene-butene copolymer (EBC) using a specific blend ratio and melt mixing technique. A comprehensive full factorial design of experiments (DOE) methodology is employed to optimize the processing parameters. TPVs are produced through dynamic vulcanization, combining rubber crosslinking and melt blending within a thermoplastic matrix under high temperatures and shear. The physico-mechanical properties of these TPVs are then analyzed. The objective is to enhance the mechanical performance by assessing the influence of blend ratio, mixing temperature, rotor speed, and mixing time on crucial properties, including tensile strength, elongation at break, compression set, tear strength, and hardness. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) identifies the optimal processing conditions that significantly improve material performance. Validation is achieved through atomic force microscopy (AFM), confirming the phase-separated structure and thus a success of dynamic vulcanization. Rubber process analyzer (RPA) and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) assessments provide insights into the viscoelastic behavior and dynamic mechanical responses. Deconvolution analysis of temperature-dependent tanδ peaks reveals intricate microstructural interactions influencing the glass transition temperature (Tg). The optimized TPVs exhibit enhanced stiffness and effective energy dissipation capabilities across a wide temperature range, making them suitable for applications demanding thermal and mechanical load resistance. This study underscores the pivotal role of precise processing control in tailoring the properties of NR/EBC TPVs for specialized industrial uses. It highlights the indispensable contribution of the DOE methodology to TPV optimization, advancing material science and engineering, particularly for industries requiring robust and flexible materials.

The term immersive technology refers to various types of technologies and perspectives that are constantly changing and developing. It can be used for different purposes and domains such as: education, healthcare, entertainment, arts, and engineering. This research paper aims to examine which training method is more effective between the traditional approach, using PowerPoint and the immersive technology approach, through mixed reality using a HoloLens 2 device. The experiment involves comparing two groups of students who received different training methods: the first group saw a PowerPoint slide with an image of the human muscular system, while the second group saw a 3D hologram of the human body that showed the same muscle groups as in PowerPoint. The researchers wanted to test whether mixed reality devices could enhance students' cognitive functions and to investigate if the IQ of the participants had any influence in the effectiveness of the teaching method. The main finding of this study is that the instructions given with mixed reality technology, via the Microsoft HoloLens 2 device, are more appropriate for participants who have an IQ score below 100 points. For the other participants, with an IQ score above 100 points, the PowerPoint support was more suitable.

This article presents the analysis of the allocation of important plant areas (IPA), which urgently identifies the most valuable sites for protecting plant objects. The study is based on a comprehensive inventory of the species composition of plants in the flora of the Western Karatau Ridge and the Mangyshlak Peninsula (arid regions)- key sites Akmysh, Samal, and Kogez, considered standard and the best preserved with natural vegetation cover. The flora of these critical sites was analysed using a combination of field surveys, herbarium studies, and a literature review. The results revealed a rich biodiversity, with 104 species from 82 genera and 33 families. Most species belong to 9 families, making up 60.6% of the total taxa. By the nature of life forms, perennial herbaceous plants dominate in all key sites (30 species, 50.0%). The eco-phylogenetic spectrum showed that a significant share of the flora of the studied IPAs is made up of xerophytes (21 species, 35%) and xeromesophytes (9 species, 15%); desert and mountain-steppe species prevail (53.0%). Rare, endangered and Red Book species account for 10-21.3% of those growing in the region. Regarding economic value, fodder, ornamental, honey, medicinal and food species dominate. The Shannon, Simpson, and Jaccard indices assessed alpha-beta and gamma diversity. The index showed that biodiversity in the Samal and Kogez sites is higher and more evenly distributed compared to the Akmysh site. The Whittaker, Harrison and Cody indices confirm significant differences in the species composition between the sites. In light of these compelling results, a clear and urgent call to action is proposed to allocate these areas to the IPA category, a crucial step towards ensuring the long-term existence of natural biocenoses.

The optimization of photovoltaic (PV) systems is vital for enhancing efficiency and economic viability, especially under Partial Shading Conditions (PSCs). This study focuses on the development and comparison of traditional and advanced algorithms, including Perturb and Observe (P&O), Incremental Conductance (IC), Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC), Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), for efficient Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). Simulations conducted in MATLAB/SIMULINK evaluated these algorithms’ performance under various shading scenarios. The results indicate that while traditional methods like P&O and IC are effective under uniform conditions, advanced techniques, particularly ANN-based MPPT, exhibit superior efficiency and faster convergence under PSCs. The study concludes that integrating AI and ML into MPPT algorithms significantly enhances the reliability and efficiency of PV systems, paving the way for broader adoption of solar energy technologies in diverse environmental conditions. These findings contribute to advancing renewable energy technology and support the green energy transition.

The high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is well-established, with p16 expression being a strong predictor. HPV-related tumors exhibit unique mechanisms targeting p16 and p53 proteins. However, re-search on HPV prevalence and the combined predictive value of p16 and p53 expression in head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (HNCSCC), especially in Asian populations, is limited. This retrospective study surveyed 62 HNCSCC patients (2011–2020), excluding those with facial warts or other skin cancers. All patients underwent wide excision and biopsy. Immuno-histochemical staining for HPV, p16, and p53 yielded both positive and negative results. The relevance of each marker was investigated by categorizing the tumor locations into high-risk (Area H) and mid-risk (Area M) zones based on recurrence frequency. Of the 62 patients, 20 (32.26%) were male, with an average age of 82.27 years (26–103). Area H included 19 cases (30.65%), with the eyelid and lip being the most common sites (five cases, 8.06%). Area M in-cluded 43 cases (69.35%), with the cheek being the most common site (29 cases, 46.77%). p16 ex-pression was positive in 24 patients (38.71%), p53 expression in 42 patients (72.58%), and HPV in five patients (8.06%). No significant association was found between p16 expression and HPV presence (p > 0.99), with a positive predictive value of 8.33%. This indicates that p16, a surrogate marker of HPV in OPSCC, is not a reliable marker for HPV in HNCSCC. This study enhances our understanding of the relationship between HPV, p53, and p16 in HNCSCC in Asian populations and offers valuable insights for further research.

This paper presents an approach to the analysis of beams with rectangular cross-sections subjected to Saint-Venant torsion using the Fourier analysis, body forces being not considered. The Saint-Venant torsion of beams, also called free torsion or unrestrained torsion, is characterized by the absence of axial stresses due to torsion; only shear stresses are developed. The solution to this torsion problem consists of finding the Prandtl stress function that satisfies the governing equation and the boundary conditions, the governing equation being such that the Laplacian of the stress function has a constant value within the cross-section. In this paper, Fourier sine series was utilized to describe the constant value of the above mentioned Laplacian, while double sine series or simple sine series was utilized to describe the Prandtl stress function. Closed-form solutions in form of infinite series were derived for shear stresses, torsional constant and warping function. Those solutions were identical to the exact solutions.

The critical systems, which the failure and malfunction may result in human, environment and financial severe damages, are essential components in various sectors and particularly in energy domains. Although unwished, integration error problems in supervision of critical systems occurs, incurring significant expenses because of operator’s subjective analysis and on hardware topology failures. In this work, a malleable model design approach is proposed to formulate and solve the integration error problem in the critical systems supervision in terms of reliability. A real Hybrid Power Plant (HPP) case is considered as a requirement for a study case with simulated data. A method framework with informal approach (C4 diagram) and formal approach (Hierarchical Coloured Petri Nets) in radial spectrum is applied to the HPP supervision design. Using formal methods, a formulation and solution to this problem through structured, scalable and compact mathematical representations are possible. This malleable model intends to guarantee functional correctness and then reliability of the plant supervision system based on system software architecture. Outcomes suggest corroboration that the malleable model is appropriate for energy domain, and can be used for other types of critical systems, bringing all the benefits of this methodology to the context in which it will be applied.

Two experiments were conducted to develop a Nano green manganese and assess its effect on grapevines. The first experiment was microbiological, where several incorporation strategies were utilized to enrich the yeast with manganese, as follows: (1) adding manganese to the liquid medium (growth phase), (2) adding after 24 h of incubation (non-growth phase). As the results, growth phase reduced the possibility of medium contamination. Manganese concentration in the yeast cells was increased as that of manganese sulphate in the medium. Manganese incorporation in yeast cells was 99.93% higher than that of the medium at 0.0195 g/l of manganese. Although the concentration of manganese in the medium raised the OD of yeast cell biomass, manganese sulphate had no passive influence on it. The second experiment was horticultural, done on Flame Seedless grapevines, since both active fresh and frozen yeast enriched with manganese resulted from the first experiment were sprayed twice a year at 10 or 20 cm3/l comparing with manganese sulphate, and manganese chelate. The results demonstrated that yeast extracts in both forms increased the yield and improved fruit properties. The most effective treatment on vegetative growth, yield and fruit properties was the frozen yeast enriched with manganese at 20 cm3/l.

The growing requirements regarding the safety of using polymers and their composites are related to the emergence of more effective, sustainable, and hazardous-limited fire retardants (FR). Significant amounts of FR are usually required to effectively affect the polymer burning behavior, while the knowledge of their recycling potential is still insufficient. At the same time, concerns are related not only to the reduced effectiveness of flame retardancy but, above all, to the potential deterioration of mechanical properties caused by the degradation of temperature-affected additives under processing conditions. This study describes the impact of four-time reprocessing of bio-based polyamide 11 (PA11) modified with an intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system composed of ammonium polyphosphate (APP), melamine cyanurate (MC) and pentaerythritol (PER) and its composites containing additionally short basalt fibers (BF). Composites manufactured by twin-screw extrusion were subjected to four reprocessing cycles by injection molding, comprehensively analyzing structural, mechanical, and fire behavior changes in each cycle. The obtained results confirmed the safety of using the proposed flame-retardant system for polyamide, processed under the recommended process parameters, without the risk of significant changes in the structure despite the partial increase in flammability caused mainly by the degradation of the polymer.

There is limited real-world data from India examining the treatment characteristics, safety, and efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam against Gram-negative organisms especially multidrug-resistant pathogens including Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales and Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas. In this retrospective study, the real-world treatment patterns, effectiveness, and safety of ceftazidime-avibactam in treating Gram- negative infections were assessed. Data was extracted from electronic health records of adult patients admitted to the hospital with documented Gram-negative infection who had received treatment for at least 48 hours with ceftazidime-avibactam as a part of routine clinical management. Among the 189 patients, on day 3, clinical symptoms improvement was recorded in 79.6% of patients. Clinical success was achieved in 79.5% and 76.3% of assessed patients on day 7 and day 14/End-of-treatment, respectively. Microbiological success was reported in 76% of patients on day 7 and in 60.3% of patients on day 14 or EOT. The mean treatment duration of ceftazidime-avibactam therapy was 6.92 (± 4.1) days. No new safety concerns were identified. In conclusion, this study provides real-world evidence on treatment patterns and clinical outcomes associated with ceftazidime-avibactam in India, complementing the previously reported literature. The results suggest ceftazidime-avibactam is an effective and tolerable option for the management of Gram-negative infections in critically ill patients.

Despite chronic fibrosis and associated excess extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and crosslinking occurring in many pathological conditions, few in vitro studies examine how fibrosis-induced ECM stiffening impacts lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) behavior and subsequent new lymphatic vessel growth and function. This study examined the stiffening profile of PhotoCol®—commercially available methacrylated type I collagen—photo-crosslinked with photoinitiators Lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP), Irgacure 2959 (IRG), and Ruthenium/Sodium Persulfate (Ru/SPS) prior to evaluating PhotoCol® permeability and LEC response to PhotoCol® at low and high stiffness levels representing normal and fibrotic ECM stiffness. Ru/SPS produced the highest maximum stiffness for photo-crosslinked PhotoCol® hydrogels. While Ru/SPS stiffness values did not differ significantly with increased light exposure, permeability decreased significantly with increasing light exposure for 40 kDa dextran. Finally, LECs on softer PhotoCol® appeared smaller with less prominent VE-Cadherin (cell-cell junction) and F-actin expression compared to cells on stiffer PhotoCol®. Overall, PhotoCol® with Ru/SPS photoinitiator provides the fibrillar microstructure and dynamic stiffness range that enables systematic study of LEC stiffness responses relevant to the stiffened ECM observed in pathologies with significant fibrotic activity. Therefore, this study demonstrates the utility of PhotoCol® with Ru/SPS for disease modeling applications, particularly modeling lymphatic vascular growth and function during fibrosis.

Increased anthropogenic pressure on forest resources leads to deforestation and forest degradation, significantly limiting the regeneration capacity of native woody species and consequently the restoration of miombo woodlands in anthropized habitats within the rural area of Lubumbashi. This study assessed the diversity and natural regeneration capacity of miombo species through floristic inventories in three different habitats (unexploited forests, degraded forests, and post-cultivation fallows). The results reveal that for the adult’s stratum unexploited and degraded forests exhibit higher dendrometric (density, mean square diameter, basal area) and floristic parameter (taxa, genera, families) values compared to post-cultivation fallows. Furthermore, the regeneration of miombo woody species is higher in degraded forests (21 taxa; 105 juveniles/plot). However, regarding the sapling’s stratum (1 cm ≤ dbh < 10 cm), the three habitats display nearly similar situations. Additionally, the floristic composition and diversity of unexploited and degraded forests show a significantly higher similarity (76.50%) among them compared to these habitats and the post-cultivation fallows (56.00%). These findings indicate that miombo woodlands have the potential to regenerate and maintain floristic diversity. To sustain this natural regeneration capacity of miombo woody species and promote the restoration of forest mass and its floristic diversity, it is imperative to determine the rotation period after habitat exploitation and regulate anthropogenic activities and late bush fires, particularly in anthropized habitats at the village level.

Currently, foam mixers are predominantly categorized into two types: low-pressure and high-pressure. Low-pressure mixers primarily use agitator rotation to mix materials. However, they face challenges such as difficulty in cleaning and complex structures. High-pressure mixers, widely adopted for their structural simplicity and lack of need for cleaning devices, effectively mitigate issues associated with low-pressure mixers. Nonetheless, they encounter problems with uneven mixing when processing high-viscosity materials. Historically, the primary solution to this issue was increasing the working pressure. However, the capacity to increase pressure is finite, and higher pressure demands higher quality materials for the mixers. To address the issues high-pressure mixers face when dealing with high-viscosity materials, this study focuses on the polyimide high-pressure mixer. After reviewing previous studies, four design variables were selected: the mixer's impingement angle, inlet diameter, outlet diameter, and impingement pressure. Using a Full Factorial Design of Experiments (DOE), the significance of the impact exerted by these four variables on Mixing Unevenness was analyzed, determining the extent of their influence. Optimal Latin Hypercube Sampling generated several random sample points, followed by the establishment of both a Back Propagation (BP) Neural Network approximation model and a Kriging approximation model. A Genetic Algorithm was then applied to optimize these two approximation models, resulting in the optimal combination of design variables. The research findings indicate that the BP Neural Network exhibits higher predictive accuracy compared to the Kriging prediction model. The optimal combination of parameters, optimized through the Genetic Algorithm (GA), reduced the Mixing Unevenness by 69.1%, effectively decreasing the Mixing Unevenness of the mixer head.

The article discusses issues related to the optimization of the operation of medium voltage networks, focusing on the optimization of network division points and the selection of the optimal network configuration aimed at reducing power and energy losses. The article provides a critical review of selected scientific works from recent years on the issue of network configuration optimization. The developed solution uses non-deterministic network models and statistical and probabilistic approaches. Optimization studies were carried out using heuristic optimization methods and proprietary algorithms for forecasting the load and power generated from renewable energy sources. The solution proposed in the article has many application possibilities. It can be used to optimize the location of network division points (reducing economic costs related to the modernization of network infrastructure) as well as to optimize the reconfiguration process in order to reduce power losses while maintaining voltage criteria.

Respiratory infections with RSV account for ¼ of hospital admissions for acute respiratory infections. Nirsevimab has been developed to reduce the hospital burden of these infections: Since it has a long shelf life thanks to its high affinity for FcRn (neonatal receptor for the Fc fragment of IgG), it requires only a single injection and can be administered to all children under 2 years of age, unlike palivizumab, which is reserved for at-risk children and requires several injections. With the reservation of a large or unknown number of excluded treated subjects in both clinical trials and post-marketing observational studies, nirsevimab has been shown to be highly effective in reducing hospitalization rates for RSV infections. In rare cases, however, RSV infections were more severe in the treated group than in the placebo group. The 2023-2024 immunization campaign involved 4 countries (USA, France, Spain, Luxembourg). Analysis of the results of the 2023 immunization campaign does not allow us to conclude on the efficacy of nirsevimab in the USA (coverage being too low at around 20%); in the 3 other countries coverage is ≥ 80%. Neither clinical trials nor observational studies point to a reduction in all-cause hospitalizations in the immunized age group in this same season compared with previous seasons. The rate of hospitalization for RSV in the treated age bracket is significantly reduced compared with previous seasons in France, Spain and Luxembourg, but biases (exclusion of a large or unknown number of subjects, and changes in diagnostic criteria in France) may moderate this reduction. In France, there is a significant signal of an increase in newborn deaths between 2 and 6 days of age during the 2023-2024 immunization campaign. This signal could be attributable to ADE (antibody-dependent-enhancement). ADE has been observed with RSV F-protein antibodies in inactivated vaccine trials. The theoretical risk of ADE with an anti-RSV F-protein antibody such as nirsevimab has been eliminated by the EMA following clinical trials. In vitro evaluation of nirsevimab's effector functions on FcγR (cellular IgG Fc receptors) and the properties of FcRn cannot exclude the possibility of an ADE. This risk has been incompletely assessed in preclinical in vivo trials. In clinical trials, pharmacokinetic studies show the possibility in rare individuals of sub-neutralizing circulating levels of nirsevimab in the blood and pulmonary mucosa, in the days following injection and at longer distances. This could explain the rare cases of aggravated RSV infections in treated subjects. ADE by disruption of the immune system has not been studied, and could explain why the all-cause hospitalization rate has not fallen in treated age groups: mAbs are indeed capable of promoting infections by binding to FcRn. Given the high price of nirsevimab, the cost-effectiveness of mass immunization campaigns may therefore be debated from an economic as well as a scientific point of view.

The aim of this case-series report article is to provide a new topical view of the styletubation (video intubating stylet technique) in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgeries. In contrast to various conventional direct laryngoscopes (DLs), videolaryngoscopes (VLs) have been applied in such obese population with potentially difficult airway populations. The safety and effectiveness of VLs have been repeatedly studied and the superiority of VLs then has been observed and is advocated as a routine use. In this article, among our vast use experiences of the styletubation (more than 54,998 patients since 2016) for routine tracheal intubation, we present such unique experience to apply such intubating technique in obese patient undergoing bariatric surgery. Consistent with the experiences applied in other patient populations, we found the styletubation technique to be swift (the time to intubate from 5 s to 24 s), smooth (first-attempt success rate: 100%), safe (no airway complications), and easy (high subjective satisfaction). The learning curve can be steep but is easily overcome if technical pitfalls are avoided. We, therefore, propose that the styletubation technique can be feasibly applied for tracheal intubation in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

In many of the current software applications, numerous vulnerabilities may be present.1 Attackers attempt to exploit existing vulnerabilities that lead to security breaches, unauthorized entry,2 data theft, or incapacitation of a computer system. Rather than addressing software or hardware3 vulnerabilities at a later stage, it is better to address them immediately. DevSecOps, when utilized4 in application development, tackles these vulnerabilities at an early stage. AIBughunter is a tool5 that addresses this problem in software and was developed by the ASWM research group to predict,6 classify, and repair software vulnerabilities. AIBughunter integrates LineVul to find vulnerable7 code lines and returns information about the type of vulnerability and its severity to developers.8 It also includes a tool, VulRepair, which detects and repairs vulnerabilities. VulRepair currently9 predicts patches for vulnerable functions at 44%. In order to become truly effective, this number 10 needs to be increased. This study examines VulRepair to see whether the 44% Perfect Prediction 11 can be increased. VulRepair is a T5 based model that uses Natural Language and Programming 12 Languages for pre-training along with Byte Pair Encoding. It outperforms other existing models, 13 such as VRepair and CodeBERT. However, the hyperparameters may not be optimized due to the 14 development of new optimizers. We review a Deep Neural Network (DNN) optimizer developed by 15 Google in 2023. This optimizer called Evolved Sign Momentum (LION) is available in PyTorch. We 16 applied this optimizer to VulRepair and tested its influence on hyperparameters. After adjusting the 17 hyperparameters, we obtained a 56% Perfect Prediction, which exceeds the value of the VulRepair 18 report of 44%. This means that VulRepair can repair more vulnerabilities and avoid more attacks. As 19 far as we know, our approach of utilizing an alternative to AdamW, the standard optimizer, has not 20 been previously applied to enhance VulRepair and similar models. 21

Van Wyk Grumbach syndrome refers to the development of peripheral precocious puberty, long-standing hypothyroidism, and gonadal masses; when not diagnosed, an unnecessary gonadectomy may be done; Here we present a case of a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome, short stature, and vitiligo presented with vaginal bleeding, and a pelvic mass, in whom bilateral gonadectomy was performed. Most cases of Van Wyk Grumbach syndrome present in women, and classic hypothyroidism symptoms always precede the diagnosis; 11% of patients have Down Syndrome, sometimes tumor markers get elevated, and some develop severe symptoms (myopathy, short stature, mental delay, ascites, pericardial effusion, Cullen sign, pituitary hyperplasia, and severe anemia), that respond to levothyroxine treatment; Conclusions: Children with peripheral precocious puberty and gonadal masses, must be studied for hypothyroidism before any radical decision is made. Keywords: Puberty, Precocious; Ovarian Cysts, gonadectomy, Van Wyk Grumbach Syndrome

Alginate-silver nanocomposites in the form of spherical beads and films were prepared using a green approach by using the aqueous extract of Ajwa dates seeds. The nanocomposites were fabricated by in situ reduction and gelation method by ionotropic crosslinking using calcium ions in solution. The rich phytochemicals of the dates seeds extract played a dual role as reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was studied using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and a distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 421 nm characteristic of silver nanoparticles confirmed the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The morphology of the nanocomposite beads and film was compact with even distribution of silver nanoclusters. The catalytic property of the nanocomposite beads was evaluated for the degradation of 2-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The degradation followed pseudo-first order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.40 ´ 10^-3 s^-1 at 23 °C with an activation energy of 18.45 kJ mol^-1. The thermodynamic parameters such as changes in enthalpy and entropy were evaluated to be 15.22 kJ mol^-1 and -197.50 J mol^-1 K^-1, respectively. The nanocomposite exhibited properties against three clinically important pathogens (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria)

Background: Differentiating essential tremor (ET) and functional tremor (FT) remains challenging due to their overlapping clinical presentations. Objective: In this study, we aimed to elucidate the demographic and psychometric differences between the aforementioned tremor types to enhance the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic strategies. Methods: In this prospective study, we included 96 patients diagnosed with ET or FT and analysed their related demographic data, clinical symptoms, and psychometric evaluation scores. Our statistical analysis involved Pearson’s chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, and logistic regression to assess how the different variables impact tremor diagnosis. Results: Our study demonstrated a higher ET prevalence in males (p = 0.015). Furthermore, we demonstrated that patients with ET displayed a significantly lower body mass index and a lower age of onset compared to those with FT (p = 0.050 and p = 0.023, respectively). Our psychometric assessments revealed higher cognitive and body image scores in patients with ET, whereas those with FT scored higher on depression and anxiety scales. The misdiagnosis rate was 14.5%, emphasising the need for improved diagnostic criteria. Conclusions: We established specific demographic and psychometric distinctions between ET and FT, which could potentially benefit clinicians in making accurate diagnoses and tailoring treatment approaches. These findings support the inclusion of comprehensive psychometric evaluations into standard diagnostic procedures to better differentiate tremor types.

NSCLC is a very aggressive solid tumor, with a poor prognosis due to post-surgical recurrence. Analysis of the specific tumor and immune signatures of NSCLC samples is a critical step in prognostic evaluation and management decisions for patients after surgery. Routine histological assay has some limitations. Therefore, new diagnostic tools with the capability to quickly recognize NSCLC subtypes and correctly identify various markers are needed. We developed a technique for ex vivo expansion of cancer and immune cells from surgical tumor and lung tissue samples of patients with NSCLC (adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas) and their examination on ex vivo cell preparations and, parallelly, on histological sections after Romanovsky–Giemsa and immunofluorescent/immunochemical staining for cancer-specific and immune-related markers. As a result, PD-L1 expression was detected for some patients only by ex vivo analysis. Immune cell profiling in the tumor microenvironment revealed significant differences in the immunological landscapes between the patients’ tumors, with smokers’ macrophages with simultaneous expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, neutrophils, and eosinophils being the dominant populations. The proposed ex vivo analysis may be used as an additional diagnostic tool for quick examining cancer and immune cells in whole tumor samples and avoiding false negatives in histological assays.

Breast Cancer Associated Susceptibility Proteins Type 1/2 (BRCA1/2) promote cellular functioning by modulating NRF2-mediated antioxidant signaling. Redox failure in women with BRCA1/2 insufficiency increases the risk for breast/ovarian/uterine cancers. Risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy (RRSO) is a prophylactic surgery of the reproductive organs, which is frequently conducted by the age of 40 to lower the occurrence of cancer in women with BRCA1/2 mutations. However, abrupt estrogen decline following RRSO causes ovarian failure, which implicates various cellular physiological processes, resulting in increased release of free radicals and subsequent severe onset of menopausal symptoms. Comfort measures (e.g., hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)) may improve chronological menopause-related quality of life, but their specific effects are not clear in women with gene mutations. Aiming to fill the gap, this study used path analysis to examine the effects of HRT and MBSR on menopausal symptoms among RRSO patients (N = 199, mean age = 50.5 ± 6.7 years). HRT alleviated menopausal symptoms in BRCA2 carriers and women who were physically active, premenopausal at the time of RRSO, had a high BMI, and had no history of breast cancer. It increased the severity of urogenital symptoms in those with a history of cancer. MBSR, on the other hand, was associated with increased intensity of most menopausal symptoms. The results suggest that young women undergoing recent RRSO may benefit from HRT at an individual level while their need for extensive measures to optimize their psychological wellbeing is ongoing. Adverse effects of MBSR, which are captured in the present study imply that MBSR may interfere with redox sensitivity associated with estradiol fluctuations in BRCA1/2 carriers. Investigations are needed to test this hypothesis and elaborate on the underlying mechanisms in those women.

Accurately predicting drug-drug interactions (DDIs) is crucial for preventing adverse drug events in clinical settings. However, existing methodologies often rely on complex models built from diverse data sources, posing challenges in computational drug discovery. To address the need for precise computational methods in predicting unknown DDIs, this study introduces a novel Deep Neural Network (DNN)-based approach. By leveraging a wide range of drug-related information, including substructure, targets, side effects, pathways, and indications, our method calculates multiple drug similarities. These similarities are then synthesized using a nonlinear fusion method to extract high-level features. Subsequently, a tailored neural network is deployed for interaction prediction. Comparative evaluation against three prominent machine learning classifiers—Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Adaptive Gradient Boosting (AdaBoost), and Light Gradient-Boosting Machine (LGBM)—using three benchmark datasets demonstrates the superior performance of DNN. It achieves outstanding accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score metrics, all reaching 94.6% in cross-validation. Additionally, case studies involving numerous drug pairs confirm the reliability of DNN in accurately predicting unknown DDIs. These findings underscore DNN as a potent and reliable method for DDI prediction, with promising implications for drug discovery and healthcare applications.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) are associated with higher recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful catheter ablation (CA). The same has been proven for left atrial volume index (LAVI). It has also been shown that there is a correlation between LAVI and BMI. However, whether LAVI prognostic impact on AF recurrence is BMI independent, remains unclear. METHODS: We prospectively included 62 patients with paroxysmal AF who were referred to our institution for CA. All patients underwent radiofrequency CA with standard pulmonary veins isolation. Transthoracic 2-D echocardiography was performed one day after CA to obtain standard measures of cardiac function and morphology. Recurrence was defined as documented AF within 6 months of follow-up period. Patients were also instructed to visit outpatient clinic earlier in case of symptoms suggesting AF recurrence. RESULTS: We observed AF recurrence in 27% of patients after 6 months. The mean BMI in our cohort was 29.65 ± 5.08 kg/cm2 and the mean LAVI was 38.04 ±11.38 ml/m2. We further divided patients into 2 groups according to BMI. Even though LAVI was similar in both groups, we found it to be significant predictor of AF recurrence only in obese patients (BMI ≥ 30), but not in the non-obese group (BMI < 30). There was also no significant difference in AF recurrence between both cohorts. The significance of LAVI as AF recurrence predictor in obesity group was also confirmed in multivariate model. CONCLUSION: According to our results LAVI tends to be significant predictor of AF recurrence after successful catheter ablation in obese patients, but not in normal-weight and overweight patients. This would suggest different mechanisms of AF in non-obese patients in comparison to the obese. Further studies are needed in this regard.

Although fine dust can cause various disorders, including cardiovascular, neurological, renal, reproductive, motor, systemic, respiratory, and cancerous diseases, there are not enough research for an oral disease. In this study we used various methods, including quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, ELISA, and Alizarin O staining, to reveal the preventive effects of hemp-derived biomaterials in periodontal cells against fine dust. In this study, the two biomaterials (MSE; mature hemp stem extract and IE; induced exosomes derived from gingival cells exposed to MSE) revealed three main biological functions against fine dust. First, two materials suppressed the levels of inflammatory genes and activated anti-inflammatory genes in gingival cells. Second, these materials activated differentiation to osteoblast, periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) and pulp progenitor cells (PPCs) from periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). Third, IE and MSE activated upregulation of LL-37 and down-regulation of MCP-1 in gingival cells and PDLSCs, respectively. Consequently, MSE and IE showed potential as a functional biomaterial in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and foods.

ChatGPT has significantly increased in popularity in recent months because of its capacity to generate novel content and provide genuine responses to questions. Nevertheless, like all technologies, it is crucial to assess its limitations and features prior to implementing it into an educational setting. A major obstacle associated with ChatGPT is its tendency to produce consistent yet occasionally unreliable and inaccurate responses. Our study provides students with training in this area, and its objective was to analyse the opinion of those same university students studying education-related degrees regarding the efficacy of the usefulness of ChatGPT for their learning. We used a mixed methodology and two instruments for data collection: questionnaires and discussion groups. The sample comprised 150 university students pursuing degrees in Teaching and Social Education. The results show that the majority of students are familiar with the technology, but have not had any formal training at university. They use this tool to complete academic assignments outside the classroom, and they emphasise the need for training in it. Furthermore, following the training, the students highlight an increase in motivation and a positive impact on the development of generic skills such as information analysis, synthesis and management, problem-solving and learning how to learn. Ultimately, this study provides an opportunity to consider the implementation of educational training of this tool at university level in order to ensure its appropriate use.

Unlike fowl pox, pigeon pox virus (PPV) has not been described in Ghana. This is the first report of the disease and virus in Ghana based on gross necropsy, histopathological analysis and molecular techniques. This index case was presented as the occurrence of both cutaneous (dry) and diphtheritic (wet) forms of the pigeon pox disease in a 5-month-old female pigeon. Although the observation of Bollinger bodies during histology is confirmatory of pox viruses, the amplification of the p4b gene using polymerase chain reaction and its visualisation by gel electrophoresis confirmed the presence of an avian pox virus. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the isolates from this case showed 100% relatedness to the reference PPV isolate FeP2. Thus, confirming the presence of PPV. The discovery of this virus in the Ghana raises the need for surveillance of both wild and domestic avian populations in preparation for any future outbreak, protection of the production birds and decision on the need for other pox viruses in the country.

The morphological aspects of urban growth on wetlands in Africa are under-researched. Using the Densu Delta Ramsar site in Accra, Ghana, as a case study, this paper analyses the morphological patterns and drivers of urban growth and its impact on wetlands. Data were obtained through remote-sensing, ground truthing and limited key informant interviews. The analysis combined land use/land cover, building coverage and multiple regression techniques, with the aid of GIS and STATA software. The findings reveal that urban growth at the Ramsar site follows discernible spatial patterns consistent with the spreading pancake, village magnet and ribbon development models. However, the primary force behind these patterns is growing demand for land to meet housing needs, aided by the failure of state institutions to perform their land use control and wetland protection functions. To achieve sustainable urban development, there is an urgent need to ensure effective wetland management by enforcing existing land use, development control and wetland protection measures. This calls for the strengthening, resourcing and closer collaboration between the various state agencies responsible for urban planning and wetland management. There is also the need to engage and sensitise political leaders to increase their commitment to implementing wetland protection and pro-environmental policies.

Poor therapeutic outcomes have been attributed to inter-individual and interethnic variability in cytochrome P450 (CYP450)-dependent metabolism and altered drug retention associated with P-glycoprotein (P-gp). An individualized pharmacotherapeutic approach would benefit the genetically diverse South African population. The study aim was to develop a validated, targeted, analytical method to quantify seven probe drugs and their metabolites in dried blood spots (DBS) using the Mitra™ volumetric absorptive micro-sampling device for blood collection. An Agilent liquid chromatography (LC) system coupled to a Sciex 4000 QTRAP tandem mass spectrometer (MS) was used for method optimization and validation. Targeted LC-MS/MS methods were validated according to ICH guidelines. The validated LC-MS/MS method met the required bioanalytical standards for specificity, sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, carry-over, and stability. This study successfully validated the use of DBS, collected with the Mitra™ microsampling device, to measure expected probe drug and metabolite concentrations using the “Geneva phenotyping cocktail” for the purpose of simultaneous phenotyping of in vivo CYP450 metabolic activity of the CYP1A2, -2B6, -2C9, -2C19, -2D6, and -3A4 enzymes, and P-gp transport activity. However, statistical analysis using Bland-Altman plots showed that not all analytes exhibited linear distribution pharmacokinetics between DBS and plasma, which influenced the predicted vs real plasma concentrations based on measurements in a DBS matrix. These findings were attributed to the blood-to-plasma concentration ratio, the physicochemical properties and stability of the analytes, and the extraction efficiency of the Mitra™ sampler. More research is required before DBS sampling can be substituted for conventional plasma sampling

2019-n-CoV is the seventh coronavirus known to infect humans and cause serious illness, and due to its lethality there was a worldwide mobilization for the development of new drugs and new vaccines for Covid-19. Therefore, the present work aims to carry out a virtual screening of terpenes with potential anti SARS-CoV-2 activity. To perform the ligand-based virtual, a model was constructed regarding the compounds which already showed inhibitory activity of the SARS-CoV-2. The test series corresponded to terpenes isolated in the Fabaceae Family. The compounds that were most likely to activity were subjected to Molecular Docking and the best poses obtained were subjected to Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations carried. The molecules under study were submitted to in vitro evaluation to assess inhibitory activity of compounds against SARS-CoV-2 in a phenotypic screening model of the virus. The compounds selected by in silico screening corresponded to triterpenoids from the lupane series. In the in vitro test, both demonstrated activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virtual screening performed managed to identify the compounds with the highest probability of activity, as well as the most stable compounds, and the method used was validated by the in vitro study carried out.

In this paper, we introduce new formulas for calculating the restoring and repulsive magnetic forces between two non-coaxial circular loops with parallel axes. These formulas are derived from a modified version of Grover’s formula for mutual inductance between the coils in question. Utilizing these formulas, we compute the restoring and repulsive magnetic forces between two non-coaxial thick coils of rectangular cross-sections with parallel axes. In these calculations, we apply the filament method and conduct investigations to determine the optimal number of subdivisions for the coils in terms of computational time and accuracy. The method presented in this paper is also applicable to all conventional non-coaxial coils, such as disks, solenoids, and non-conventional coils like Bitter coils, all with parallel axes. This paper emphasizes the accuracy and computational efficiency of the calculations. Furthermore, the new method is validated according to several previously established methods

With increasing electronic medical data and the development of artificial intelligence, Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) assist clinicians in diagnosis and prescription. Traditional knowledge-based CDSSs follow an accumulated medical knowledgebase and a predefined rule system, which clarifies the decision-making process; however, maintenance cost issues exist in the medical data quality control and standardization process. Non-knowledge-based CDSSs utilize vast amounts of data and algorithms to effectively decide; however, the deep learning black-box problem causes unreliable results. EXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)-based CDSS provides a valid rationale and explainable results. It ensures trustworthiness and transparency by showing the recommendation and prediction results process through explainable techniques. However, existing systems have limitations, such as the scope of data utilization and the lack of explanatory power of AI models. This study proposes a new XAI-based CDSS framework to address these issues; introduce resources, datasets, and models that can be utilized; and provides a foundation model to support decision-making in various disease domains. Finally, we propose future directions for CDSS technology and highlight societal issues that need to be addressed to emphasize the potential of CDSS in the future.

Remote work as a new working pattern is considered of high importance in determining the competitiveness of the institutions that adopt this form of work. This trend toward remote working has benefited workers greatly in terms of flexibility and work-life balance and has had unanticipatedly positive effects on sustainability. The issue has grown in importance considering recent development of digitalization and high concern of countries to achieve the sustainable goals. This study attempts to examine the effect of three explanatory variables: remote work, institutional efficiency, and work management on the competitiveness of finance institutions in Saudi Arabia. To collect the primary data, a survey was conducted on a stratified random sample that comprised 1270 respondents. The sample covers the three finance sector segments: banks, insurance, and finance companies. Correlation analyses, one-sample t-tests, and multi-regression analyses are applied to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that there is a positive significant relationship between the three explanatory variables of the study and institutional competitiveness. Besides, the regression model revealed that the two explanatory variables; remote work and institution efficiency are statistically significant at 95% confidence intervals, while work management is not statistically significant. The study recommends promoting remote work to increase the finance institution's competitiveness by restructuring the work policies, designing work strategies, and introducing a new management system compatible with remote work.

A 64-year-old woman with primary Sjogren’s syndrome which was not treated, was admitted to our hospital for nasal bleeding, oral bleeding, and purpura on her entire body. On this admission, laboratory findings were as follows: WBC counts, 8,910 /μL; hemoglobin, 9.9 g/dL; and platelet counts, 0.1×10⁴/μL. Although the anti-PLT antibody was positive, other autoimmune antibodies such as anti-DNA were negative. Moreover, cytomegalovirus IgM, Parbovirus B19 IgM, and Helicobacter pyroli IgG antibodies were not detected. No abnormal findings suggestive of infection were identified in the systemic examination. A bone marrow aspiration smear revealed normal bone marrow. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with primary Sjogren’s syndrome-related immune thrombocytopenia. The patient initially received intravenous immunoglobulin, methyl prednisolone pulse therapy, and subsequent high dose prednisolone without significant improvement. Therefore, eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin-receptor agonist, was added. Subsequently, erythromycin was also added, considering its immunomodulatory effects. After initiating the erythromycin treatment, the platelet counts increased. Therefore, add-on eltrombopag and erythromycin treatment was effective; however, the platelet counts gradually decreased with reducing the prednisolone dosage. Instead of increasing the prednisolone dosage again, tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, was successfully added. Consequently, the prednisolone dosage could be reduced. This case shows that treatment with erythromycin and tacrolimus may be efficacious when conventional immunosuppressants show limited effectiveness in primary Sjogren’s syndrome-related immune thrombocytopenia.

Due to Motor Neurone Diseases, a large population remains disabled worldwide, negatively impacting their independence and quality of life. This typically involves a weakness in the hand and forearm muscles, making it difficult to perform fine motor tasks such as writing, buttoning a shirt, or gripping objects. This project presents a vision-enabled rehabilitation hand exoskeleton to assist disabled persons in their hand movements. The design goal was to create an accessible tool to help with a simple interface requiring no training. This prototype is built on a commercially available glove where a camera and embedded processor were integrated to help open and close the hand, using air pressure, thus grabbing an object. An accelerometer is also implemented to detect the characteristic hand gesture to release the object when desired. This passive vision-based control differs from active EMG-based designs as it does not require individualized training. Continuing the research will reduce the cost, weight, and power consumption to facilitate mass implementation.

Long COVID-19 affects a significant percentage of survivors and is characterized by a wide range of symptoms, including weariness and mental fog as well as emotional symptoms like worry and sadness. COVID-19 is closely linked to the autoimmune disorders that are becoming more prevalent worldwide and are linked to the immune system hyperactivation, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) development, and molecular mimicry pathways. Long-term COVID-related autoimmune responses include a watchful immune system, altered innate and adaptive immune cells, autoantigens secreted by living or dead neutrophils, and high concentrations of autoantibodies directed against different proteins. The microbiome, which consists of billions of bacteria living in the human body, is essential for controlling immune responses and supporting overall health. The microbiome can affect the course of long-term COVID-associated autoimmunity, including the degree of illness, the rate of recovery, and the onset of autoimmune reactions. Although the precise role of the microbiome in long COVID autoimmunity is still being investigated, new studies indicate that probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary changes—interventions that target the microbiome—may be able to reduce autoimmune reactions and enhance long-term outcomes for COVID-19 survivors. It is clear that more research is required to precisely understand how the microbiome affects COVID-19-related autoimmunity and to create tailored treatment plans.

One of the main challenges in the treatment of industrial wastewater is the removal of oil-in-water emulsions, which are stable and therefore difficult to treat. Bacterial cellulose (BC) has structural characteristics that make it an ideal filtration membrane. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a BC membrane filtration system for the treatment of oily industrial wastewaters. The results demonstrated that BC is highly effective at removing oily contaminants (~99%), reducing the colour and particulate matter of wastewater, as well as eliminating nearly the entire microbiological load (~99%). SEM, MEV, FTIR, XRD, and TGA demonstrated the presence of oil in the interior of the membrane after filtration, characteristic peaks of its chemical composition, and a 40% reduction in crystallinity. TGA revealed an increase from three (pre-filtration) to five (post-filtration) stages of thermal degradation, indicating the retention of the contaminant in the BC. The mechanical tests demonstrated that the membrane has tensile strength of 72.13 ± 8.22 MPa and tolerated elongation of up to 21.11 ± 4.81% prior to tearing. The BC membrane also exhibited excellent flexibility, as it could be folded &gt; 100 times at the same point without exhibiting signs of tearing. The BC surpasses traditional methods, such as activated charcoal and effluent treatment stations, in the removal of emulsified oils. The findings demonstrate that BC is promising for the treatment of industrial wastewaters, which is a field that requires continual technological innovations to mitigate the environmental impacts of the oil industry.

In the context of rapid urbanization, the spatiotemporal patterns of socio-economic exposed to high seismic hazard in large cities lacks quantitative assessment, thus, it is difficult to understand the evolution of earthquake catastrophe risk there. In this paper, exposure change rate, and absolute and relatively exposure indices were proposed to quantitatively study the changes of spatiotemporal exposure to high seismic hazard in urban areas of large cities (i.e., permanent residents in urban areas more than 1 million) in Chinese mainland, using a set of multi-temporal population, GDP, and built-up datasets and a seismic hazard zoning map. The results show that, 64 out of 78 large cities are entirely or partially located in high seismically hazardous zones. Although the urban areas of large cities in high seismically hazardous zones (HSHUAs) cover only 1.73% (167177 km²) of mainland China, their share of population, GDP, and built-up land amounted to 18.14%, 30.24% and 24.55%, respectively, in 2015. Unprecedented urbanization has led to a dramatic exposure growth in HSHUAs between 1990 and 2015. The population, GDP, and built-up land in HSHUAs increased by 110 million people (with an average annual growth rate of 2.37%), 273.71 trillion USD(average annual growth rate of 11.15%), and 10593 km2 (average annual growth rate of 2.02%), respectively. HSHUAs experienced much faster population and GDP growth than the whole country, while relatively slower growth in built-up land. Exposure growth in HSHUAs also was varied for different types of large cities. Megacities had a higher proportion of increased GDP and population in HSHUAs, induced by industry and population agglomeration. Whereas, Type II large cities had a higher proportion of increased built-up land in HSHUAs, driven mainly by urban sprawl. Our analysis indicates that, for large cities under rapid urbanization, it is an urgent need to strengthen resilient urban planning, renewal and construction.