Creating accurate emission models capable of capturing the variability and dynamics of modern propulsion systems is crucial for future mobility planning. This paper presents a methodology for creating THC and NOx emission models for vehicles equipped with start-stop technology. A key aspect of this endeavor is to find techniques that accurately replicate the engine stop stages when there are no emissions. To this end, several machine learning techniques were tested using the Python programming language. Random forest and gradient boosting methods demonstrated the best predictive capabilities for THC and NOx emissions, achieving R2 scores of approximately 0.9 for both cold and hot engine emissions. Additionally, recommendations for effective modeling of such emissions from vehicles are presented in the paper.

In the past two decades, several floods have affected people and their properties in Burkina Faso, with the unprecedented flooding occurring in Ouagadougou in September 2009. So far, most studies have focused on Ouagadougou and surrounding localities and have paid little attention to other flood-prone regions in Burkina Faso. Specifically, there is a data and knowledge gap about the flood risk in the Haut-Bassins region, which in turn hampers the development of mitigation strategies and risk reduction measures in communities. This study demonstrates how data collected at the household level can be used to understand flood risk and its components at the village level in this data-scarce region. Using an indicator-based method, we analyze both flood risk and flood risk perception at the village level. Moreover, we determine the factors influencing flood risk perception at the household level using an ordered logit model. We find that 12 out of the 14 villages considered, experience high levels of flood risk. The management of runoff from the nearest urban areas and poorly designed civil engineering infrastructures, such as roads, were highlighted by the households as significant factors that increase their vulnerability. Hence, dependencies in space and between urban and rural areas may play a substantial role in modifying risk. The perceived flood risk consistently exceeds the estimated flood risk, with an insignificant positive correlation between both risk indices. Regression results indicate that flood risk perception is mainly influenced by informational and behavioral factors of the households. The findings of this study can provide valuable information to municipal and regional authorities involved in disaster risk management in the study area. Moreover, the method is transferable to other data-scarce regions

Human hair is characterized by significant diversity, which is dictated by the individual genetic makeup. It is estimated that up to 70% of the world’s population has textured hair, with a signif-icant proportion also living in areas with high exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). This highlights the unique requirements for textured hair care products that can protect hair shafts from the harmful effects of the environment whilst enhancing the natural features of the fibre. In this study, we investigated the UV-protective effects of hair conditioner formulated from active ingredients, mangiferin, ferulic acid and naringin. The analysis of UV-irradiated straight and textured hair was performed by measurements of hair thickness and darkness, the uptake of the fluorescent dye, spectral absorbance of keratin extracts, ATR-FTIR and SEM. We found that tex-tured hair was more sensitive to UVR-induced changes than straight hair, with the primary mo-lecular targets represented by chemical groups in keratins. Pre-treatment of the hair with condi-tioner had protective effects against structural damage and oxidative stress caused by UVR. These data indicate the importance of the personalized approach to hair research and the formu-lation of hair care products tailored to the individual demands of textured hair types.

Our hypothesis that controlled ozone applications interfere into the redox balance of the biological organism (first published in 1998 with a preclinical trial on protecting the liver from CCl4 intoxication), has been verified over the last 2 decades in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced mitochondrial pathologies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, aging processes, diabetes-2 and in prevention of intoxications. Low-dose ozone acts as a redox bioregulator: The restoration of the disturbed redox balance is comprehensible in a number of preclinical and clinical studies by a remarkable increase of the antioxidant repair markers, here mainly shown as glutathione increase and a reduction in oxidative stress markers, mainly malondialdehyde. The mechanism of action is shown, relevant data are displayed, evaluated and comprehensively discussed: The repair side of the equilibrium increases by 21% up to 140% compared to the non-ozone treated groups and depending on the indication; the stress markers are simultaneously reduced, the redox system regains its balance.

Understanding and addressing dehumanization in healthcare is crucial due to its profound impact on patient care, ethical implications on patient dignity and autonomy, and its potential to affect the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals. The primary aim of this study was to develop reliable and valid instruments measuring two different types of dehumanization, namely animalistic dehumanization (i.e., stripping one of their uniquely human characteristics) and mechanistic dehumanization (i.e., striping one of their human nature characteristics) among healthcare professionals. In a cross-sectional validation study among healthcare professionals, we developed and tested measures of both animalistic and mechanistic dehumanization, focusing on dehumanization of patients (hetero-dehumanization) and oneself (self-dehumanization), respectively. All measures were developed and validated based on a concept analysis, a literature review, and an appraisal of pre-existing scales. The research was conducted among 400 nurses and medical doctors employed in Greek public hospitals. Coefficient Validity Ratio results showed that 100% of items were acceptable for both measures. The newly developed hetero-dehumanization scale encompassed two-factors (factor 1: animalistic dehumanization, factor 2: mechanistic dehumanization, Cronbach’s alpha was equal to 0.86 for each measure). The self-dehumanization scale was a mono-factorial measure mechanistic dehumanization (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.97). Two validated measures of (self and hetero-) animalistic and mechanistic dehumanization measures were developed for the assessment of dehumanization among health professionals, which will form the basis for future research in this important scientific field.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by genetic mutations in the cytoskeletal-sarcolemmal anchor protein dystrophin. Repeated cycles of sarcolemmal tearing and repair lead to a variety of secondary cellular and physiological stressors that are thought to contribute to weakness, atrophy, and fibrosis. Collectively, these stressors can contribute to a pro-inflammatory milieu in locomotor, cardiac, and respiratory muscles. Given the many unwanted side effects that accompany current anti-inflammatory steroid-based approaches for treating DMD (e.g., glucocorticoids), there is a need to develop new therapies that address inflammation and other cellular dysfunctions. Adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) agonists, which stimulate AdipoR1 and R2 isoforms on various cell types, have emerged as therapeutic candidates for DMD due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and pro-myogenic properties in pre-clinical human and rodent DMD models. Although these molecules represent a new direction for therapeutic intervention, the mechanisms through which they elicit their beneficial effects are not yet fully understood, and DMD-specific data is limited. The overarching goal of this review is to investigate how adiponectin signaling may ameliorate pathology associated with dystrophin deficiency through inflammatory-dependent and -independent mechanisms, and to determine if current data supports their future progression to clinical trials.

Network centrality analyses have proven successful in identifying important nodes in diverse host-pathogen interactomes. The current study presents a comprehensive investigation of the human interactome and SARS-CoV-2 host targets. We first constructed a comprehensive human interactome by compiling experimentally validated protein-protein interactions (PPIs) from eight distinct sources. Additionally, we compiled a comprehensive list of 1,449 SARS-CoV-2 host proteins and analyzed their interactions within the human interactome, which identified enriched biological processes and pathways. Seven diverse topological features were employed to reveal the enrichment of SARS-CoV-2 targets in the human interactome, with Load centrality emerging as the most effective metric. Furthermore, a novel approach called CentralityCosDist was employed to predict SARS-CoV-2 targets, which proved effective in expanding the pool of predicted targets. Pathway enrichment analyses further elucidated the functional roles and potential mechanisms associated with predicted targets. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and the host cellular machinery, contributing to a deeper understanding of viral infection and immune response modulation.

How many different writers authored the huge number of texts attributed to Galen of Pergamum (129~216 AD), medical doctor and philosopher, a giant in the history of medicine? To find out which texts were his and which ones were written by others is known as the “Galenic Question”. We propose a “solution” to it through a multidisciplinary approach based: (a) on historical research and (b) on a mathematical analysis of the Greek texts. The historical approach has considered historical independent sources and anachronisms. The mathematical approach has been based on a mathematical theory concerning deep–language variables, rarely consciously controlled by any author, therefore capable of giving indications on similarity of texts, with little or no bias. The multidisciplinary approach has convinced us that at least three authors wrote the texts attributed to Galen. The first two very likely were real historical persons: (a) a certain Galen living between the end of the I century BC and the second half of the I century AD; (b) the historical Galen of Pergamum (II–III centuries AD) and (c) several unknown authors hiding under the name Galen, but surely living after Galen of Pergamum’s death.

The atomic structures of Zn and Na borophosphate glasses were studied by X-ray and neutron diffraction. Peaks assigned to the B−O, P−O, and O−O distances confirm that only BO4 units co-exist with the PO4 tetrahedra. The Zn−O and Na−O coordination numbers are found to be a little larger than four. The narrowest peaks of the Zn−O first-neighbor distances exist for the glasses along a line connecting the Zn(PO3)2 and BPO4 compositions (50 mol% P2O5) which is explained by networks of ZnO4, BO4, and PO4 tetrahedra with twofold coordinated oxygens. Calculated amounts of the available oxygen support this interpretation. Broadened peaks occur for glasses with lower P2O5 contents, consistent with the presence of threefold coordinated oxygens. The two distinct P−O peak components of the Zn and Na borophosphate glasses differ in their relative abundances which is interpreted by Na+ cations that coordinate oxygens in some P−O−B bridges, something not seen for the Zn2+ ions.

In numerical simulations, achieving high accuracy without significantly increasing computational costs is often challenging. To address this, this paper presents an improved finite volume weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme tailored for applicability in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and implemented in the flow solver NUAA-Turbo for simulating turbomachinery flows using both RANS and RANS/LES coupling. Firstly, the new WENO scheme is validated against classic numerical test cases to assess its stability and reliability in handling discontinuities, the Double problem, and Raleigh-Taylor (RT) instability issues. Compared to the original format, this enhanced finite volume WENO scheme demonstrates superior stability near discontinuities and resolves flow features with the same grid resolution more effectively. Next, for engineering applications related to turbomachinery, such as compressor and turbine characteristics, computations are performed using RANS, and the results obtained using WENO-ZQ3 and WENO-JS3 are compared. Finally, the new fifth-order WENO scheme is applied to RANS/LES coupled simulations of turbine wakes and film cooling. The results show that the enhanced finite volume WENO scheme offers improved stability and accuracy in engineering applications, allowing for high-precision calculations with fewer grid points to capture more detailed flow physics, thereby reducing computational costs in aerodynamic applications.

The definition of patients with Special Needs (SN) is used in the literature to refer to individuals with mental and physical disorders for whom the usual perioperative pathways are not applicable due to lack of cooperation, regardless of age. Studies in the literature recognize the appropriateness of general anesthesia for performing day surgery dental care in this type of patient. The present retrospective, single-center, observational study involved 41 uncooperative patients aged between 3 and 17 undergoing dental surgery under general anesthesia. The main objective was to assess the possible incidence of difficult airway management, understood as difficulty ventilating and/or intubating the patient. A secondary objective was to highlight the influence of general anesthesia on patient outcomes by testing the incidence of perioperative complications. Tracheal intubation was successfully completed in all of the patients considered, and in no case did the patient have to be woken up because of difficulty in airway management. No perioperative complications attributable to anesthesia were found in any patients. From the present experience, it can be concluded that general anesthesia is a suitable option for performing dental care in pediatric subjects with special needs, and that although the peculiar peri-operative management of these patients might increase the risk of possible anesthesia-related side effects, no complications have been encountered in any case.

Worldwide emission standards are now required to cover engine operation under extreme ambient conditions, which affect the raw emissions and the efficiency of the exhaust aftertreatment systems. These regulations also target new combustion technologies for decarbonization, such as neat hydrogen (H2) combustion or dual-fuel strategies, which involve a challenge to the analysis of exhaust aftertreatment systems requirements and performance. This work addresses the impact of high altitude and low ambient temperature conditions on the reactivity of an oxidation catalyst in the presence of H2. A reaction mechanism is proposed to cover the main conversion paths of CO, HC, and H2, including the formation and consumption of high-energy surface reaction intermediates. The mechanism has been implemented into a faster-than-real-time reduced-order model for multi-layer washcoat honeycomb catalytic converters. The model was utilized to investigate the effect of H2 concentration on the reactivity of CO and HC within the catalyst under various operating and ambient conditions. By applying the model and examining the selectivity towards different reaction pathways in the presence H2, insights into surface intermediates and reactivity across different cross-sections of the monolith were obtained. This analysis discusses the underlying causes of reactivity changes promoted by H2 and its relative importance as a function of driving boundary conditions.

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

The article presents a multiphase numerical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for simulating hydrothermal liquefaction of sewage sludge in a continuous plug-flow reactor. The discrete particle method (DPM) was used to analyze the solid particle interaction in liquid-solid high shear flows to investigated coupling computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete phase model (DPM) method. Increasing solid particles interaction were observed with increasing liquid velocity. The study examined the influence of parameters such as flow rate, temperature and residence time on the efficiency of bio-oil production. Furthermore, the trajectories of the solid particles are affected significantly by the ash flow and the solid particle size, thus the trajectories of particles resembles the streamlines. A parametric study is performed to investigate the effect of slurry flow rate, temperature and external heat transfer coefficient on the biocrude oil productions performance. This simulation data will be used in the future to design and scale up a large-scale HTL reactor.

Prostate cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), ranks as the fourth most prevalent type in the population, even though it is highly frequent when detected early and promptly treated, resulting in a low mortality rate. However, in some cases, despite adherence to proper clinical protocols, there is a progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In these cases, as outlined in clinical guidelines such as those developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), one approach involves the utilization of the pharmaceutical agent abiraterone to implement androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), aimed at suppressing the production of hormones directly implicated in disease progression. Another noteworthy aspect is the limited literature on clinical protocols and their efficacy concerning the Amazonian indigenous population, which often exhibits unique genomic profiles, with descriptions of variants not yet documented in the literature. Building upon these considerations, this study aims to survey the variants identified in genes associated with the abiraterone signaling pathway, their frequencies in the Amazonian indigenous population, and the correlation of these frequencies with those observed in other global populations. The objective is to contribute to the refinement of clinical practices in the treatment of prostate cancer within this population.

A ~3-kb deletion-type DNA copy-number variation (CNV, esv3587290) located at intron 7 of the VANGL1 gene (1p13.1, MIM*610132) has been proposed as a genetic factor for developing lupus nephritis (LN) in adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients across European-descent populations, but its replication in other ethnicities has been inconsistent and its association with LN in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) remains unknown. Here, we performed an exploratory association study in a sample of 66 unrelated cSLE Mexican patients (11 males, 55 females; ages 7.8 to 18.6 years). Two stratified groups were compared: cSLE patients with (N=37) or without (N=29) LN, as diagnosed by renal biopsy (N=15), proteinuria (N=33), urinary protein:creatinine ratio >0.2 (N=34), and erythrocyturia and/or granular casts in urinary sediment (N=16). For esv3587290 CNV genotyping, we performed an end-point PCR assay with breakpoint confirmation by Sanger sequencing. We also determined the allelic frequencies of the esv3587290 CNV in 181 deidentified ethnically-matched individuals (reference group). The obtained genotypes were tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) by 2 test. Associations between LN and esv3587290 CNV were tested by calculating the Odds Ratio (OR) and using Pearson's 2 tests with a 95% confidence interval and p≤0.05. Contrary to the results described in European-descent populations, the esv3587290 CNV showed a significant protective effect against LN development (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.066-0.31, p≤0.05), whereas the wild-type homozygous VANGL1 genotype showed a risk trend for LN development (OR 2.15, 95% CI 0.7711-6.18, p≤0.05). Finally, we characterized the precise breakpoint of the esv3587290 CNV as NG_016548.1(NM_138959.3):c.1314+1339_1315-897del (https://databases.lovd.nl/shared/variants/0000918418#00025811) in our population. This report supports the notion that a broad genetic heterogeneity underlies the susceptibility for developing LN.

In everyday life, the birth of a number of blind people takes place and millions of people are already available. Visually impaired people struggle to walk safely and in- dependently because they have trouble detecting obstacles. In this work, we suggest a novel approach to detecting obstacles utilizing an Arduino UNO board and an ul- trasonic sensor (HC-SR04). The main goal of this research is to increase the mobility and security of blind people in a variety of settings. The suggested system makes use of the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor’s capability to precisely measure distance and identify nearby obstructions. As the main processor component, the Arduino UNO board processes algorithms for real-time obstacle detection while also collecting data from the sensor. The device is intended to give the visually impaired user immedi- ate aural input while informing them of the location and proximity of obstacles. To Extensive testing is done in controlled and real-world settings to assess the system’s performance and dependability. In the studies, the effectiveness of obstacle detec- tion, the system’s response time, and its practicality and usefulness for blind people are all measured. The findings show that the suggested obstacle detection method provides very accurate obstacle identification at a safe distance. Users who are blind or visually handicapped may successfully understand their surroundings thanks to the aural feedback system, which helps them to navigate by making judgments that are well-informed. Additionally, the system responds quickly, guaranteeing that the user receives real-time obstacle updates to increase safety and confidence while mov- ing. The study’s conclusions demonstrate the possibility of using the Arduino UNO board with the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor as a practical and affordable approach for detecting obstacles.

This narrative review critically evaluates the multidimensional impacts of team sports on student wellness through the Wellness Wheel framework, encompassing physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, occupational, and environmental well-being. Methodologically, the review synthesizes empirical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses from the last 20 years, extracted from databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, to construct a comprehensive understanding of how team sports contribute to holistic student development. Our findings highlight team sports as a vital component of educational and wellness programs, significantly enhancing not just physical health but also emotional stability, cognitive performance, social skills, spiritual enrichment, and environmental awareness. The review underscores the necessity of integrating team sports into educational curricula to promote a balanced and comprehensive approach to student well-being. It also identifies existing gaps in literature, particularly the need for further research on enhancing inclusivity and accessibility in team sports, ensuring that all students can benefit from their wide-ranging impacts. This study advocates for strategic initiatives to incorporate team sports in educational settings, emphasizing their essential role in cultivating a well-rounded, healthy, and inclusive student body.

Background: Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) is caused by prolonged tachycardia leading to left ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction with heart failure. Although TIC is more common in adult, it is rare in early infant. Methods: Clinical testing was performed as part of medical evaluation and management. Next gene se-quencing (NGS) was performed for a patient with TIC. Literature review about TIC was con-ducted. Results: The case was a 5-month-old infant referred the hospital due to symptoms with heart failure at least lasting two months. Heart rate was 200 beats per minute, left ventricular ejection fraction fell below 14%, and electrocardiograms showed atrial flutter, suggesting TIC. After cardiover-sion, there was no recurrence of atrial flutter, and cardiac function was improved at 98 days after tachycardia arrest. There were no pathogenic variants identified according to NGS. Literature review identified 8 early infantile cases with TIC reported. However, there were no previous re-ports such as our case with longer duration of TIC. Conclusions: Improvement of cardiac function depends on the duration of TIC. TIC should be considered in all patients with a dilated cardiomyopathy of uncertain origin and who have tachycardias such as atrial flutter.

Lymphocyte collection by apheresis for CAR-T production usually does not include mobilized blood using Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) due to the widespread knowledge that it causes a decrease in the number and functionality of lymphocytes. However, it is used for stem cell transplant, which is a common treatment for hematological malignancies. The growing demand for CAR therapies (CAR-T and NK-CAR), both in research and clinic, makes necessary to evaluate whether mobilized PBSC products may be potential candidates for use in such therapies. This review collects recent work that experimentally verifies the role and functionality of T and NK lymphocytes, and the generation of CAR-T, from apheresis after G-CSF mobilization. As discussed, T cells do not vary significantly in their phenotype, the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ remains constant and the different sub-populations remain stable. In addition, its expansion and proliferation rate are invariant regardless mobilization with G-CSF, as well as the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and the cytotoxic ability. Therefore, cells mobilized before apheresis are postulated as a new alternative source of T cells for adoptive therapies that will serve to alleviate high demand, increase availability, and take advantage of the substantial number of existing cryopreserved products.

Advancements in computer vision are rapidly revolutionizing the way traffic agencies gather roadway geometry data, leading to significant savings in both time and money. Utilizing aerial and satellite imagery for data collection proves to be more cost-effective, more accurate, and safer compared to traditional field observations, considering factors such as equipment cost, crew safety, and data collection efficiency. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop more efficient methodologies for promptly, safely, and economically acquiring roadway geometry data. While image processing has previously been regarded as a time-consuming and error-prone approach for capturing these data, recent developments in computing power and image recognition techniques have opened up new avenues for accurately detecting and mapping various roadway features from a wide range of imagery data sources. This research introduces a novel approach combining image processing with a YOLO-based methodology to detect turning lane pavement markings from high-resolution aerial images, specifically focusing on Florida's public roadways. Upon comparison with ground truth data from Leon County, Florida, the developed model achieved an average accuracy of 87% at a 25% confidence threshold for detected features. Implementation of the model in Leon County identified approximately 3,026 left turn, 1,210 right turn, and 200 center lane features automatically. This methodology holds paramount significance for transportation agencies in facilitating tasks such as identifying deteriorated markings, comparing turning lane positions with other roadway features like crosswalks, and analyzing intersection-related accidents. The extracted roadway geometry data can also be seamlessly integrated with crash and traffic data, providing crucial insights for policymakers and road users.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) present chronic inflammatory challenges marked by increased oxidative stress. This study assessed the collective impact of Curcumin plus piperine on oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers in mild to moderate IBD patients. Methods Patients diagnosed with CD or UC, aged ≥18 years with preserved kidney and liver functions, were randomized into three groups: placebo, Curcumin (1000 mg/day), and Curcumin plus piperine (1000 mg + 10 mg/day) for 12 weeks. Blood and fecal samples were collected to analyze oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, before and after the intervention period. Results: Curcumin plus piperine group had significantly higher serum SOD compared to the placebo group, after adjusting for sex, age, and type of IBD (4346.9 ± 879.0 vs 3614.5 ± 731.5; p=0.041). There were no significant differences in the other oxidative stress or inflammatory markers between groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that 12 weeks of Curcumin plus piperine supplementation effectively enhances the enzymatic antioxidant defense, particularly SOD, in IBD patients. These findings hold promise for managing redox imbalance in individuals with IBD, highlighting potential therapeutic benefits.

This paper investigates the importance of enhancing the safety of research reactors, especially in newcomer countries where experience may be limited. The focus is on the role of Independent Assessment (IA) and assessors in addition to using Best Estimate plus Uncertainty (BEPU) approach in enhancing safety measures. By using the best estimate codes to perform uncertainty calculations, the BEPU technique logically connects nuclear thermal hydraulics and nuclear reactor safety. BEPU is based on an understanding of the phenomena related to the reactor state. Reactor circumstances, such as those related to operations or accidents, could be identified in this way. The IA process, involves experts supporting design, installation, safety analysis, decommissioning, and modification. In order to shape the use of IA process in this study feedback from nuclear professionals was collected through questionnaires, revealing a consensus on the necessity of qualified regulatory bodies in newcomer countries. Additionally, the questionnaires highlighted the potential benefits of IA, such as minimizing accident risks and providing valuable insights for future analyses. The results indicate a global anticipation of increased research reactor construction, particularly in newcomer countries. The study discusses the propagation of input uncertainties, emphasizing the importance of considering various factors and parameters in safety assessments. The BEPU method was applied by using the COBRA-TF code by modeling onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) conditions for VVR-K research reactor. For uncertain parameters; ±1% inlet/initial pressure, ±1% inlet temperature, and ±1% linear heat rate, the ONB temperature in the axial region with the average cladding temperature was calculated to be 114.44℃. Table 2 (our references) provided a value of 114.6℃. The close agreement between the reference value and the COBRA-TF result shows that the model used in the calculation of the reference value and the Chen relation used by COBRA-TF are compatible.

Uncertainties in initial water saturation and early water breakthroughs of un-known sources and paths, which occurred in the low resistivity Lower Haushi sand-stone (LHS) reservoir at the beginning of oil production, imply that the bypassed oil can yet remain in the reservoir. In addition, the upper part of LHS is a tight oil reser-voir, which can still contain a significant amount of unrecovered oil. This opens the opportunity to produce the remaining oil instead of abandoning this reservoir. Low resistivity can exaggerate water saturation, leading to misinterpretation and premature water flooding due to inadequate oil-water contrast. Our analysis revealed a correlation between low resistivity and robust porous network connectivity, along-side elevated formation water salinity in highly porous layers. In regions of high po-rosity, sufficient oil-water contrast facilitates precise water saturation determination, affirming oil presence in all wells. However, within tight oil zones, near-complete wa-ter saturation contradicts actual oil presence. Factors contributing to saturation un-certainty and water breakthroughs were reassessed. Utilizing a 1:1 verti-cal-to-horizontal permeability ratio derived from core data enhanced simulation alignment with water production rates. Investigation into the impact of relative per-meabilities on water production was conducted. Water saturation maps were gener-ated to pinpoint remaining oil reserves. Depletion around wells is evident in lower po-rous regions, while oil persists across the entire tight reservoir, notably in two unex-plored sections.

Urbanization-induced land use transition results in a decline in ecosystem services, which has implications for regional ecological security. In order to explore the relationship between ecosystem services and land use transition, this paper utilizes the InVEST model, geographically weighted regression model to examine the impact of land use transition on ecosystem services in the Dongting Lake area (DLA). The results showed that (1) During the period 2000-2020, the intensity and motivation of land-use transition showed obvious spatial and temporal heterogeneity with the variation of urbanization development. (2) Habitat quality and Carbon sequestrations showed a downward trend. In contrast, food supply followed an upward trend; soil conservation and water yield services initially increased and dropped later. The overall spatial changes in habitat quality and Carbon sequestration appear to be insignificant. Food supply shows significant differences in the plains compared to other areas; while soil conservation and water yield service shows significant changes in places other than the DLA. (3) From 2000 to 2020, land use transition dynamics, population density, GDP density, night lighting and transition intensity had mainly negative effects on ecosystem services. Only the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) showed a positive effect on ecosystem services. The results of the research will provide valuable references for the development and implementation of spatial ecological restoration planning and land use policies in the national territory.

Laser-targeted weeding methods further enhance the sustainable development of green agriculture, with one key technology being the improvement of weed localization accuracy. Here, we propose an improved YOLOv8 instance segmentation based on bidirectional feature fusion and deformable convolution (BFFDC-YOLOv8-seg) to address the challenges of insufficient weed localization accuracy in complex environments with resource-limited laser weeding devices. Initially, by training on extensive datasets of plant images, the most appropriate model scale and training weights are determined, facilitating the development of a lightweight network. Subsequently, the introduction of the Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN) during feature fusion effectively prevents the omission of weeds. Lastly, the use of Dynamic Snake Convolution (DSConv) to replace some convolutional kernels enhances flexibility, benefiting the segmentation of weeds with elongated stems and irregular edges. Experimental results indicate that the BFFDC-YOLOv8-seg model achieves a 4.9% increase in precision, an 8.1% increase in recall rate, and a 2.8% increase in mAP50 value to 98.8% on a vegetable weed dataset compared to the original model. It also shows improved mAP50 over other typical segmentation models such as Mask R-CNN, YOLOv5-seg, and YOLOv7-seg by 10.8%, 13.4%, and 1.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the model achieves a detection speed of 24.8 FPS on the Jetson Orin nano standalone device, with a model size of 6.8MB that balances between size and accuracy. The model meets the requirements for real-time precise weed segmentation, suitable for complex vegetable field environments and resource-limited laser weeding devices.

The radiation-induced optical absorption at 1.5-5.5 eV (up to the beginning of fundamental absorption) has been analyzed in CVD diamond disks exposed to 231-MeV 132Xe ions with four fluences from 1012 to 3.81013 cm-2. The 5-mm diameter samples (thickness 0.4 mm) were prepared by Diamond Materials, Freiburg (Germany), average grain size at growth site was around 80 m, the range of xenon ions was R= 11.5 m. The intensity of several bands grows with ion fluence thus confirming radiation-induced origin of the defects responsible for these bands. The recovery of radiation damage has been investigated via isochronal (stepwise) thermal annealing procedure up to 650°C, while all spectra were measured at room temperature. Based on these spectra, the annealing kinetics of several defects, in particular carbon vacancies (GR1 centers with a broad band 2 eV) and complementary C-interstitial-related defects ( 4 eV), as well as vacancies located nearby nitrogen substitutional atoms (narrow bands around 2.5 eV) have been constructed. The experimental kinetics have also been analyzed in terms of the diffusion-controlled bimolecular reactions. The migration energies of tentatively interstitial atoms (mobile components in recombination process) are obtained, their dependence on the irradiation fluences is discussed.

This study delves into the dynamics of 'Variations' and 'Claims' within construction projects, specifically under the FIDIC-Red Book 1999 (FIDIC 1999) framework. It aims to identify, categorize, and devise mitigation strategies for key types of Variations and Claims, aligning with the FIDIC Conditions of Contract. The research, drawing on inputs from construction industry professionals including Contract Administrators and Project Managers, focuses on the MENA re-gion. This choice is driven by the region's extensive adoption of FIDIC standards and its rapidly growing construction sector. Data collection encompassed a questionnaire distributed to 80 industry experts, predominantly through interviews, focusing on countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt. These locations were chosen to reflect diverse construction practices and the involvement of international firms. Utilizing SPSS-V.25 for statistical analysis, the study uncovers the most prevalent and impactful causes of Variations and Claims, highlighting the critical need for managerial intervention. A key feature of this study is the integration of Scientometric Analysis for a quantitative review of current literature, providing a comprehensive academic context. A significant addition to the methodology is the implementation of a k-means clustering analysis. This advanced statistical technique further classifies the data into distinct clusters, each representing unique combinations of 'Frequency' and 'Impact' of Variations and Claims. The k-means analysis elucidates intricate patterns and potential solutions, offering profound insights into effectively managing these issues. These analytical advancements are crucial in identifying significant and manageable responses to reduce the frequency and impact of Variations and Claims in construction projects.

Many neurodegenerative diseases are directly related to the formation of toxic protein aggregates, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, which are associated with the aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) and beta-amyloid (Aβ ), respectively. In this context, protein fibrils are the hallmark of these neurodegenerative diseases. In this sense, planning or designing compounds that are capable of preventing or reducing the formation of protein aggregation in the brain can be of fundamental importance for the curative treatment of these diseases. This work presents an in silico and experimental study to investigate the inhibitory potential of the ligands Octovespin (bioinspired by the wasp venom Polybia Occidentalis) and Fraternine-10 (bioinspired by the wasp venom Parachartergus fraternus wasp) against the aggregation of fibrils of the peptides Aβ(17-42) and α-syn, respectively. Using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations with 100 ns, the disaggregation capacity of these ligands was studied. The results obtained indicate that Octovespin and Fraternine-10 interact with the Aβ and α-syn protein fibrils throughout the simulation time. The RMSD values and the interactions with amino acids responsible for fibril aggregation demonstrate that both Octovespin and Fraternine-10 have a significant disaggregation potential, which corroborates the observations in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, experimental results of Fraternine-10 demonstrate an anti-aggregation effect, indicating that it can promote the disaggregation of fibrils and prevent them from aggregating again to form oligomers. These discoveries qualify these molecules as potential candidates to become medicines against Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Rapidly digestible starch can be obtained by gelatinization (cooking), cooking extrusion, use of small granule starch, breaking down starch granules, or by hydrolysis to maltodextrins. Resistant starch includes five groups: the first group is physically encapsulated starch within a food/polymer matrix, the second one is some native starch, the third one is recrystallized starch, the fourth one is chemically modified starch, and the fifth one is starch-lipid complexes. Starch digestion in the human body is also influenced by the degree of chewing, activity of α-amylase in the intestine, and transit time through the stomach and small intestine. Resistant starch or dietary fiber (DF) enriches specific bacterial groups located in the large intes-tine. They produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gases, causes the lowering of the pH, and inhibits pathogens. SCFAs are considered endogenous signaling molecules, acting through their free fatty-acid receptors 2 and 3 which can trigger the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide PYY, being released together following a meal to mediate postprandial satiety. A sufficient intake of DF reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, hyperten-sion, colorectal cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Gluten matrix or phenolic compounds can lead to a low digestion rate of starch.

The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) presents global health challenges, with Brazil witnessing out-breaks since its introduction in 2014. In 2023, Minas Gerais (MG) experienced a CHIKV outbreak, prompting entomological investigations to identify vectors, viral lineages, and assess insecticide resistance. This study utilized social media platforms and citizen science concept to conduct a comprehensive entomological survey. Following Instagram posts, residents with CHIKV sus-pected cases were able to schedule mosquito aspirations. During the aspirations, 421 mosquitoes (165 Aedes aegypti and 256 Culex quinquefasciatus) were captured from 40 households in Salinas city (MG) and tested for Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses through RT-qPCR. Twelve out 57 pools (10 of Ae. aegypti and 2 of Cx. quinquefasciatus) tested positive for CHIKV RNA. Viral RNA was also detected in the heads of 9 Ae. aegypti individuals (but not in Cx. quinquefasciatus). Genome sequencing revealed that CHIKV belonged to the East-Central-South-Africa (ECSA) genotype. Additionally, genetic analyses revealed high frequencies of kdr alleles, suggesting resistant to pyrethroids insecticides in this Ae. aegypti population. These findings emphasize the urgent need for innovative vector study and control strategies to combat arbovirus transmission, and inter-disciplinary approaches in public health interventions.

Informal settlements pose multifaceted challenges to urban development, necessitating a reconsideration of traditional upgrading approaches. This study examines the integration of the Street-Led Approach within the Ezbit Hegazi informal settlement, leveraging the Alexandria University Centre of Excellence for Smart Urban Governance's (ALEXU-CoE-SUG) innovative framework. It highlights the centrality of 'Demand for Good Governance' (DFGG) practices in bridging the gap between governmental (supply-side) and community (demand-side) objectives, fostering a collaborative urban upgrading process. Through an in-depth case study analysis, this paper reveals the potential of aligning governmental agendas with local aspirations, emphasizing the importance of local dynamics in sustainable urban development. The findings contribute to the urban studies literature by providing insights into the synergies between supply and demand perspectives in the context of informal settlement upgrading, offering implications for policy and practice in similar urban settings globally.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID are characterized by debilitating post-exertional malaise and other core symptoms related to immune dysregulation resultant from post-viral infection, including mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic neuroinflammation and gut dysbiosis. The reported associations between altered microbiota composition and cardinal symptoms of ME/CFS and Long COVID, suggesting that use of microbial preparations, such as probiotics, by restoring the homeostasis of the brain-immune-gut axis may help in the management of symptoms in both conditions. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the implications of alerted gut microbiome and assess the evidence supporting use of microbial-based preparations, including probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics alone and/or in combination with other nutraceuticals in the management of fatigue, inflammation, as well as neuropsychiatric and gastrointestinal symptoms among patients with ME/CFS and Long COVID.

In this study, the fundamentals of electroencephalography signals, their categorization into frequency sub-bands, the circuitry used for their acquisition, and the impact of noise interference on signal acquisition are examined. Additionally, design specifications for medical-grade and research-grade EEG circuits and a comprehensive analysis of various analog front-end architectures for electroencephalograph (EEG) circuit design are presented. Three distinct selected case studies are examined in terms of comparative evaluation with generic EEG circuit design templates. Moreover, a novel one-channel battery-supplied EEG analog front-end circuit designed to address the requirements of usage protocols containing strong com-pound muscle movements is introduced. Furthermore, a realistic input signal generator circuit is proposed that models the human body and the Electromagnetic Interference from its surroundings. Experimental simulations are conducted in 50 Hz and 60 Hz electrical grid environments to evaluate the performance of the novel design. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed system, particularly in terms of bandwidth, portability, common mode rejection ratio , gain, suppression of muscle movement artifacts, electrostatic discharge and leakage current protection. Conclusively, the novel design is cost-effective and suitable for both commercial and research single-channel EEG applications. It can be easily incorporated in Brain Computer Interfaces and neurofeedback training systems.

The study evaluated the regenerative responses of the lacrimal functional unit (LFU) after Lacrimal Gland (LG) ablation. The LG of Wistar rats were submitted to G1) partial LG ablation, G2) partial ablation and transplantation of an allogeneic LG, or G3) total LG ablation, (n=7-10/group). The eye wipe test, slit-lamp image, tear flow, and histology were evaluated. RT-PCR analyzed inflammatory and proliferation mediators. The findings were compared to naïve controls after 1 and 2 months (M1 and M2). G3 presented increased corneal sensitivity, and the 03 groups have shown corneal neovascularization. Histology revealed changes in LG, and corneal inflammation. In the LG, there was an increase in MMP-9 mRNA of G1 and G2 at M1 and M2 and RUNX-1 at M1 and M2 in G1 and RUNX-3 mRNA at M1 in G1, and in G2 at M2. TNF-α mRNA rose in the corneas of G1 and G2 at M2. There was an increase in the IL-1β mRNA in the Trigeminal Ganglion of G1 at M1. Without changes in tear flow or evidence of LG regeneration, LG ablation or grafting are unreliable models for dry eye or LG repair in rats. The surgical manipulation extended inflammation to the LFU.

Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder in which Thyrotropin Receptor Antibodies (TRAb) continuously stimulate thyroid receptors, leading to excessive production of thyroid hormones. TRAb also affect the orbital tissues, causing Graves' ophthalmopathy. Treatment to control Graves' disease consists of antithyroid drugs, radioiodine and thyroidectomy, and through such treatments, TRAb is reduced and the disease is alleviated. The mechanism by which TRAb, which play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Graves’ disease, decreases after GD treatment is still unknown. This paper presents a theoretical mechanism of how GD patients maintain a vicious cycle and how GD treatment can reduce the TRAb levels and breaks the cycle using stress-based ideas.

Marmosets from the Callithrix genus (six species) are anthropoids distributed in many Brazilian biomes, but anthropogenic pressure is a risk for hybridization and virtually the extinction of some species. Despite this, only a few data are available on reproductive ecology, which is a gap in understanding the physiological modulation of the socio-sexual behavior of free-ranging marmosets. In this study, we characterized fecal concentrations of progesterone, estrogens, and glucocorticoids of six breeding and non-breeding females from two groups of free-ranging C. penicillata, which is the species with the largest geographical distribution and most important in hybridization studies. The fecal progesterone was significantly higher in females who gave birth than non-breeding females, which was linked to reproductive status. The levels of fecal estrogens and glucocorticoids did not differ between breeding and non-breeding females. The data are according to the few studies on steroid values of free-ranging and captive marmosets. This study shows the concentrations of progesterone and glucocorticoids in free-ranging C. penicillata for the first time. Overall, the high levels of progesterone associated with pregnancy in free-ranging C. penicillata as well as levels of estrogens and glucocorticoids close to those reported for other species, suggest a conserved pattern of hormonal secretion between Callithrix species that have been studied in captivity.

Timber-concrete composite (TCC) systems join the positive aspects of engineered wood products (good seismic behaviour, low thermal conductivity, environmental sustainability, good behaviour under fire if appropriately designed) with those of concrete (high thermal inertia, durability, excellent fire resistance). TCC facades are typically composed by an internal insulated timber-frame wall and an external concrete slab, separated by a ventilated air cavity. However, there is very limited knowledge concerning the performance of TCC facades, especially for what concerns their thermal behaviour. The present paper deals with the development and optimisation of a 2D CFD model for the analysis of TCC ventilated façades thermal behaviour. The model is calibrated and validated against the experimental data collected during the annual monitoring of a real TCC ventilated envelope in the north of Italy. Also, a new solver algorithm is developed to significantly speed up the simulation. The final model can be used for the time-efficient analysis and optimisation of the thermal performance of TCC ventilated facades, as well as other ventilated facades with external massive cladding, avoiding the expensive and time-consuming construction of mock-ups, or the use of comparably slow (conventional) CFD solvers that are less suitable for optimization studies.

In a previous study we could show a change of membrane morphology and gas separation performance by varying the recipe of a casting solution based on polysulfone in a determined solvent system. Although all results were very reproducible, all used solvents were harmful and not sustainable. In this study therefore, the solvents tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) are replaced by the more sustainable solvents 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran (2M-THF), N-butyl pyrrolidinone (NBP) and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME). The gas permeation performance and for the first time morphology of the membranes before and after solvent replacement were determined and compared by single gas permeation measurements and SEM microscopy. It is shown, that THF can be replaced by 2M-THF and NBP without decreasing the gas permeation performance. With CPME replacing THF no membranes were formed. Best gas permeation results showed systems with 2M-THF as THF alternative. Permeances for the tested gases oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) were 2.66·10-4, 3.89·10-5, 1.53·10-3 and 4.52·10-5 mL(STP)/cm²·min·bar, respectively. permselectivities of those membranes for the gas pairs O2/N2, CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 were 6.7, 38.3 and 34.0, respectively. When additionally replacing DMAc in the solvent system no or only porous membranes were obtained, even if the precipitation procedure was adjusted. These findings indicate that a complete replacement of the solvent system without affecting the membrane morphology or gas permeation performance is not possible. By varying the temperature of the precipitation bath an easy adjustment to mechanically stable PSU membranes is possible, if just THF was replaced by 2M-THF.

Methionine oxidation to the sulfoxide form (MSox) is a poorly understood post-translational modification of proteins associated with nonspecific chemical oxidation from reactive oxygen species (ROS) whose chemistries are linked to various disease pathologies including neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence shows MSox site occupancy is in some cases under enzymatic regulatory control mediating cellular signaling including phosphorylation and/or calcium signaling, raising questions as to the speciation and functional nature of MSox across the proteome. The 5XFAD lineage of the C57BL/6 mouse has well-defined Alzheimer’s and aging states. Using this model, we analyzed age, sex and disease dependent MSox speciation in mouse hippocampus. In addition, we explore chemical stability and statistical variance of oxidized peptide signals to understand needed power for MSox based proteome studies. Our results identify mitochondrial and glycolytic pathway targets with increases in MSox with age as well as neuroinflammatory targets accumulating MSox with AD in proteome studies of mouse hippocampus. Further, the paper establishes a foundation for reproducible and rigorous experimental MSox-omics appropriate for biological discovery novel target identification, and biomarker analysis in ROS and other oxidation linked diseases.

Broflanilide is a novel active ingredient from a unique insecticide class (IRAC Group 30) and was investigated as a control option against modern insecticide resistant strains of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius. The susceptibility of technical grade broflanilide and efficacy of a broflanilide-based aerosol formulation (Earth Corp., Japan) were evaluated against five C. lectularius strains (MONH, SYD, DARL, PARRA, RIPPO). Results demonstrated that bed bugs had high susceptibility to broflanilide (RR50: SYD=1.22-fold, DARL=1.03-fold, PARRA=3.65-fold, RIPPO=2.77-fold), compared to the susceptible MONH strain. The aerosol showed high efficacy to adult bed bugs (97.5–100 % mortality to five strains after 24 hrs post-spray) and produced a notable decrease in egg hatch rates (MONH=9.7–23.4 %, PARRA=14.9–22.6 %). The aerosol also demonstrated high residual activity with 97.5–100% mortality in all five bed bug strains within 7 days exposure. The impact of different surface types upon aerosol residual efficacy was limited, although residues on a non-porous surface (tile) killed bed bugs slightly quicker than that on a porous surface (filter paper). The aerosol provided long residual activity to bed bugs, as 6-month-old residues were as equally efficacious to that of fresh residues. Bed bugs did not avoid surfaces treated with the aerosol. The high efficacy (including ovicidal efficacy), long residual activity, and non-avoidance of bed bugs on treated surfaces, demonstrated that broflanilide is highly suitable for modern bed bug management.

In the last decades we have experienced great social, cultural, and educational changes, spending more time performing tasks in near vision and less hours in outdoor activities, having more overexposure to digital screens, especially the youngest and increasingly from younger ages. It is common to see cases when performing tasks in near vision the posture or position of the head is not adequate, especially the youngest, being essential to have a correct posture of the head to avoid visual, muscular, or articular problems. We present a procedure to try to control the correct position of the head in real time when performing close-up activities. The aim is to detect the inclination of the head and to know if a bad position is adopted due to a visual problem or simply to inadequate visio-postural habits, warning us of the postural anomaly to correct it.

Fish species diversity in the Black Sea is affected by the introduction of non-indigenous species, particularly through the process of "mediterranization" and the expansion of the ranges of invasive species. In August 2023, we documented an increasing quantity of four non- indigenous sparid species, namely Spicara smaris (Linnaeus, 1758), Diplodus puntazzo (Walbaum, 1792), Diplodus annularis (Linnaeus, 1758), and Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758), in the coastal Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea, based on citizen science data obtained from small-scale fisheries and pelagic trawlers. However, in the autumn of 2022, only small quantities of S. smaris were collected periodically, indicating significant fluctuations in abundance and occasional presence. The other three species were recorded in August 2023 in the central coastal region near the Fandakliyska River, at depths of less than 10 m. This brief communication presents information on the identified species, including sampling locations and biological data, and examines the sparid species records in the Black Sea. In addition, we reviewed recent studies on the distribution and biological traits of the identified species in their natural Mediterranean habitats.

Influenza viruses pose a continuing public health challenge due to their high mutation rate and the need for annual vaccine updates. A recent advancement in nanoparticle-based vaccine technology for developing a universal influenza vaccine. We focused on four key studies investigating the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), nanoparticle immunogens, and multivalent epitope-based nanoparticles. The studies demonstrated promising results. The single-dose mRNA -LNP vaccine targeting five influenza B virus antigens effectively protected mice from a broad range of strain. Additionally, nanoparticle immunogens designed to display multiple influenza virus strains induced broad protective immunity in mice. Furthermore, LNPs enhanced the efficacy of mRNA and protein subunit vaccines by stimulating robust T follicular helper cell and humoral responses. Finally, an intranasal multivalent epitope-based nanoparticle vaccine offered broad protection against diverse influenza viruses. These findings highlight the potential of nanoparticle-based approaches for developing a universal influenza vaccine that offers long-lasting and broad-spectrum protection. Further research is needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these novel vaccines in humans.

Recently, methods to detect DoS and spoofing attacks that occur on in-vehicle networks using CAN Protocol are being studied through deep learning models such as CNN, RNN, and LSTM. These studies have produced significant results in the field of In-Vehicle Network attack detection using deep learning models. In addition, significant results are being achieved through research on applying time series-based deep learning models such as LSTM to detect DoS attacks and replay attacks occurring in in-drone networks by expanding them to drones using the UAVCAN protocol. In this paper, we conducted an experiment to detect in-drone network attacks through non-time series analysis using machine learning models and deep learning models, and through appropriate learning for each attack type, it can also be analyzed through non-time series analysis. The results showed that it was possible to detect attacks.

In the field of visualization, understanding users’ analytical process is important to determine the effectiveness of a designed visualization application. To understand the users’ analytical process, numerous studies have been performed to capture and analyze user interactions. Although many studies have emphasized the importance of analyzing user interactions to understand users’ analytical reasoning processes, few have successfully linked these interactions to users’ reasoning processes. This paper introduces an approach that bridges this gap by correlating semantic user interactions with analysis decisions through an interactive wire transaction analysis system and a visual state transition matrix. With the designed analysis system, interactive analysis can be performed to evaluate financial fraud in wire transactions. It also allows the mapping of captured user interactions and analytical decisions back onto the visualization, revealing users’ distinct results. The visual state transition matrix further aids to help understanding users’ analytical flows, revealing their decision-making processes. Classification machine learning algorithms are applied to assess the effectiveness of our approach in understanding analysts’ strategies by connecting them to their decisions. From the study, we observed an average of 72% accuracy in clearly classifying the semantic user interactions. For classifying individual decisions, we observed an average of 70% classification accuracy. This emphasizes the importance of capturing semantic user interactions to understand users’ analytical processes. Overall, it is determined that the proposed approach not only enhances the understanding of analytical behaviors but also offers a robust approach for evaluating user interactions in visualization tools.

Environmental factors, such as drought-stress, significantly impact maize growth and productivity worldwide. To improve yield and quality, effective strategies for early detection and mitigation of drought-stress in maize are essential. This paper presents a detailed analysis of three imaging trials conducted to detect drought-stress in maize plants using an existing, custom-developed, low cost, high throughput phenotyping platform. We propose a pipeline for early detection of water stress in maize plants using a Vision Transformer classifier and analysis of distributions of near-infrared (NIR) reflectance from the plants. We also explored suitable regions on the plant that are more sensitive to drought-stress and show that the region surrounding the youngest expanding leaf (YEL) and the stem can be used as a more consistent alternative to analysis involving just the YEL. Our results show good separation between well-watered and drought-stressed trials for two out of the three imaging trials both in terms of classification accuracy from data-driven features as well as through analysis of histograms of NIR reflectance.

After the end of colonial rule in 1997, the Hong Kong education system has been experiencing a policy reform on Senior Secondary Education (NSS) Curriculum commenced in September 2009 aiming to educate students as globalized Hong Kong citizens for the Western. Although previous scholars argued that it is hard to differentiate between domestic values and the Western values in account of curriculum development (Sewpaul, 2007), this study demonstrates an analysis using the dichotomy to investigate how local curriculum, especially in the post-colonial areas, embrace both the Western values and domestic values. Using content analysis on the NSS curriculum guides, this article evaluates the influence of the Western values and Chinese values in the NSS curriculum through investigating: (1) how the Western values and Chinese values was incorporated into the curriculum throughout its development (2) why some values are more significantly highlighted in the curriculum guide. Findings include that more Chinese values are involved in the curriculum documents. This may be because of the upholding of domestic values as a post-colonial city. The Western values which are academically related are greatly incorporated into the local curriculum.

The corrosion inhibition behavior of cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC) on mild steel (MS) in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution was examined using the weight loss method and potentiodynamic polarization method. The experimented MS surface was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Corrosion rate and corrosion efficiency was calsulated via weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization methods where the corrosion rate in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ , 0.000192 M, and 0.0077 M of CPC solution was 12.09×10^-3, 8.23×10^-3, 6.63×10^-5 (mm/Year), respectively and the inhibition efficiency of 94.42% and 98.54%. FESEM studies demonstrated the corrosion attack on MS surface. Also, the EDX showed the presence of nitrogen of CPC. Thus, CPC acts as an important corrosion inhibitor.

The dynamic landscape of AI adoption and its impact on employment in Malaysia demands a multifaceted approach to navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities presented. While the government's commitment to fostering AI adoption through initiatives like the National AI Framework and the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint is commendable, it is imperative to address concerns regarding job displacement and ensure inclusive growth. This study identifies the pressing research problem of workforce readiness for the AI-driven future, emphasizing the need to explore strategies for reskilling and upskilling affected workers. By employing critical lenses such as Marxist, feminist, and postcolonial perspectives, scholars highlight the power dynamics and societal implications inherent in AI deployment, guiding the development of policies and interventions that prioritize workers' interests and address social inequalities. Moving forward, a comprehensive approach combining policy interventions, educational reforms, and inclusive strategies is essential to maximize the benefits of AI adoption while mitigating its potential risks. Longitudinal studies, interdisciplinary research, and comparative analyses will further advance our understanding and inform evidence-based policymaking in this evolving field. Ultimately, by prioritizing workforce preparedness, social equity, and sustainable development, Malaysia can position itself as a leader in the AI-driven global economy, fostering a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous society for all.

Introduction: Subtalar Arthroereisis (STA) is a surgical intervention for pediatric flexible flatfoot (PFF), primarily targeting hindfoot alignment by limiting excessive subtalar eversion. However, its effects on forefoot parameters remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate radiological changes following STA in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive patients treated with STA for PFF. First ray-related angles, including Hallux Valgus Angle (HVA) and Inter-Metatarsal Angle (IMA), alongside hindfoot radiological parameters such as Meary, Calcaneal Pitch, and Costa Bartani angles, were assessed. Subgroup analysis by gender was performed, and correlations between demographic and pre-operative radiological parameters were examined. Results: Forty-one patients (81 feet) with a mean age of 11.6 years were included, with a mean follow-up duration of 6.4 months. No significant differences were observed in first ray-related an-gles pre- and post-operatively, with mean IMA changing from 7.97° to 7.18° and mean HV angles from 9.51° to 8.66°. Noteworthy improvements were seen in flat foot angles, including Meary, Calcaneal Pitch, and Costa Bartani angles, postoperatively. Age subgroup analysis revealed similar trends in IMA and HVA changes between Group A (operated before peak growth) and Group B (operated later). Higher preoperative angles tended to improve, while lower preoperative IMA and HVA tended to worsen postoperatively, all remaining within normal ranges. Conclusion: STA showed positive radiological outcomes for PFF treatment, while negligible changes in first ray-related angles were observed. Age subgroup analysis indicated similar trends regardless of operation timing. Higher preoperative angles tended to improve, while lower preoperative angles tended to worsen postoperatively, despite all falling within non-pathological ranges. Further re-search is warranted to confirm this correlation.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a highly prevalent and a critical complication of cardiac surgery (CS). Serum lactate levels (sLac) have consistently shown an association with morbimortality after CS. We performed a cross-sectional study including 264 adult patients that had a cardiac surgery between January and December 2020. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with AKI development. We measured the postoperative levels of sLac to all participants immediately after CS (T0) and after 4 hours (T4) of the surgical intervention. Linear regression model was carried out to identify the factors influencing both levels of sLac. We identified four risk predictors of AKI; one was preoperative (atrial fibrillation), one intraoperative (cardiopulmonary bypass time), and two were postoperative (length of hospital stay and postoperative sLac). T0 and T4 sLac levels were higher among CS-AKI patients than in Non-CS-AKI. Postoperative sLac levels were significant independent predictors of CSA-AKI and the sLac levels are influenced by length of hospital stay, the number of packed red blood cells transfused and the use of furosemide in CS-AKI patients. These findings may facilitate the earlier identification of patients susceptible to AKI after CS.

Abstract: Background: With the growing trends in recreational marijuana use, our study aims at analyzing the association between Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and Ventricular Fibrillation (Vfib) and cannabis use disorder in young adults (18 – 45) Methods: National In-patient Sample was used for population analysis. Probit logistic regression was used for analyzing the associations between diagnosis of ACS/ Vfib and documented cannabis use disorder. Propensity Score matched samples were made from the ACS/Vfib admissions with Cannabis use disorder to analyze the in-hospital outcomes. Results: Statistically significant association was found between admission diagnosis of ACS/ vfib, and documented cannabis use disorder in the study population. The association remained sig-nificant after accounting for potential confounders. Documented race as black, documented di-agnosis of uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes were found to have significant association with admissions for ACS among the population with documented Cannabis use disorder. No difference in mortality were found between ACS admissions with and without documented cannabis use disorder in the propensity matched cohorts. Conclusions: Documented diagnosis of Cannabis use disorder has statistically significant associ-ation with admission diagnosis of ACS/Vfib even after accounting for confounders. Documented race as black, and co existing diagnosis of uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes had significant association with admission diagnosis of ACS in population with documented cannabis use dis-order. Keywords: Cannabis use disorder; ACS; Ventricular fibrillation

The Sanhetun tellurium-gold (Te-Au) deposit, located in the Duobaoshan polymetallic metallogenic belt (DPMB) within the eastern section of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is a newly discovered small scale gold deposit. The mineralization, with resource of ≥ 4t Au, is mainly hosted in 3 NNE-trending alteration zones between granitic mylonite and volcanogenic-sedimentary formations. It’s the genesis and timing of formation of this deposit are poorly constrained. Here, we report the results of petrographic studies, TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA), major and trace element concentrations, and in situ S isotope of pyrite and U-Pb ages of calcite. The results show that there are five species of telluride, including native tellurium, tetradymite, tsumoite, hessite and petzite and four types of pyrite, including coarse-grained euhedral Py1, fine-grained quartz-Py2 vein crosscutting Py1 and anhedral aggregated Py3 and Py4. The pre-ore Py1, containing negligible Au, Te and other trace elements, have a relatively narrow range of δ34S values ranging from -1.20 to -0.57‰. The Py2 have slightly high concentrations of Au and Te and distinctly high concentrations of Mo, Sb, Zn and Mn with markedly positive δ34S values of 4.67 to 14.43‰. The main ore stage Py3 contains high Au and Te concentrations and shows narrow δ34S values ranging from -5.69 to 0.19‰. The post-ore stage Py4 contains low Au concentrations with the δ34S values ranging from 2.66 to 3.86‰. Calcite from ore stage yield a U-Pb age of 135 ± 22 Ma, interpreted as the age of Te-Au mineralization. Our geochemical and geochronological data indicate that the Te was derived from partial melting of mantle metasomatized by the Te-rich fluids that originated from oceanic sediments. We correlate the tectonic setting with the subduction of Paleo Pacific plate in Early Cretaceous.

This study proposed the combination system consisting of biogas dry reforming reactor and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Since a biogas dry reforming is an endothermic reaction, this study adopted a membrane reactor operated due to the non-equilibrium state with H2 separation from the reaction space. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst using for a biogas dry reforming membrane reactor. Additionally, this study also investigated the comparison of the characteristics of Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst with that of Ni/Cr catalyst. The impact of operation temperature, the molar ratio of CH4 : CO2, the differential pressure between the reaction chamber and the sweep chamber and the introduction of sweep gas on the characteristics of the biogas dry reforming membrane reactor using Pd/Cu membrane and Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst was examined. The concentration of H2 using Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst was larger than that using Ni/Cr catalyst by 2871 ppmV for the molar ratio of CH4 : CO2 = 1.5 : 1 at the reaction temperature of 600 ℃ and the differential pressure of 0 MPa without a sweep gas, especially. Under this condition, CH4 conversion, H2 yield and thermal efficiency were 67.4 %, 1.77×10-2 % and 0.241 %, respectively.

Это исследование сосредоточено на разработке системы искусственного зрения для гибкого дельта-робота-манипулятора и ее интеграции с межмашинной связью для оптимизации взаимодействия устройств в реальном времени. Эта интеграция направлена ​​на увеличение скорости роботизированной системы и улучшение ее общей производительности. Предлагаемое сочетание системы искусственного зрения с межмашинной связью позволяет обнаруживать и распознавать цели с высокой точностью в режиме реального времени в ограниченном пространстве, предназначенном для позиционирования, дальнейшей локализации и выполнения производственных процессов, таких как сборка или сортировка деталей. . В данном исследовании RGB-изображения используются в качестве входных данных для алгоритма MASK-R-CNN, а результаты обрабатываются в соответствии с особенностями прототипа дельта-манипулятора робота. Данные, полученные от MASK-R-CNN, адаптированы для использования в системе управления дельта-роботом с учетом ее уникальных характеристик и требований к позиционированию. Технология M2M позволяет манипулятору робота быстро реагировать на изменения, например, на перемещение объектов или изменение их положения, что имеет решающее значение для задач сортировки и упаковки. Система была протестирована в условиях, близких к реальным, чтобы оценить ее производительность и надежность.

Aβ peptides are known to bind neural plasma membranes in a process leading to the deposit of Aβ-enriched plaques. These extracellular structures are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, the major cause of late-age dementia. The mechanisms of Aβ plaque formation and deposition are far from being understood. A vast amount of literature describes the efforts to analyze those mechanisms, using a variety of tools. The present review focuses on biophysical studies, mostly carried out with model membranes, or with computational tools. The review starts by describing basic physical aspects of lipid phases, and commonly used model membranes (monolayers and bilayers). This is followed by a discussion of biophysical techniques applied to these systems, mainly but not exclusively Langmuir monolayers, isothermal calorimetry, density-gradient ultracentrifugation, and molecular dynamics. The methodological section is followed by the core of the review, a summary of important results obtained with each technique. The last section is devoted to an overall reflection and an effort in understanding Aβ-bilayer binding. Concepts such as Aβ peptide membrane binding, adsorption, and insertion are defined and differentiated. The roles of membrane lipid order, nanodomain formation, and electrostatic forces in Aβ-membrane interaction are separately identified and discussed.

Background: Modulator therapies improve weight and body mass index (BMI) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. We aimed to compare the nutritional risk index (NRI) in adult CF patients receiving modulator (MT) or only non-modulator (conventional) therapies (non-MT). Methods: A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted between June-December 2023. The NRI based on weight gain and albumin was calculated at beginning and end of a 12 weeks period in both groups. This design was pragmatic, since based on individual patient access to MT for 12 weeks. Results: 107 patients were included [mean (SD) age: 23.85 (4.98) years, 54.7% male, 46.7% MT]. In the MT group, mean (SD) weight (kg) and albumin (g/dL) increased significantly [changes: +3.09 (2.74) and +0.17 (0.37); p

This is a study on fractals existing in music. The application case is the composition DIAPHONIES of Michael Paouris. Sliding-window fractal analysis indicate areas of continuous fractality dipped in non-fractal areas of possibly deterministic and stochastic nature. Diverging cases of pronounced non-fractal areas are addressed and also areas of mixed fractality and non-fractality. Many segments exhibit persistency-P (2

Pulmonary complications are frequently observed in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), with large airway disease being the most prevalent manifestation. In this case study, we explore the potential for Immunosuppressant, a monoclonal antibody, to induce pulmonary hemorrhage—a side effect not previously documented with its use. The subject, a young male in his twenties with a six-year history of UC, tragically died suddenly. Found in a pool of blood without external injuries, extensive post-mortem examinations were required to determine the cause of death. The patient had been on biologic therapy, receiving Immunosuppressant intermittently over the past two years, including an infusion five days prior to death. External examination revealed bloody, pinkish foamy material expelling from his nose and mouth. An autopsy supported an atypical presentation of UC, while histopathology confirmed diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage, marked by edema and emphysematous changes. Additionally, there was a notable lymphomonocytic infiltration around the arterial walls, and signs of bronchiolitis and focal pleural fibrosis were evident. We concluded that the cause of death was Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage (DAH), directly associated with the recent administration of Immunosuppressant. This finding underscores the need for vigilant pulmonary monitoring in patients treated with monoclonal antibodies to promptly identify and manage potential fatal adverse reactions.

This study introduces a novel algorithm tailored for the precise detection of lower outliers in univariate datasets, particularly suited for scenarios with a single cluster. The approach leverages a combination of transformative techniques and advanced filtration methods to efficiently segregate anomalies from normal values. Notably, the algorithm emphasizes high precision, ensuring minimal false positives, and requires only a few parameters for configuration. Its unsupervised nature enables robust anomaly filtering without the need for extensive manual intervention. To validate its efficacy, the algorithm is rigorously tested using real-world data obtained from photovoltaic (PV) module strings with similar DC capacities, containing various anomalies. Results demonstrate the algorithm's capability to accurately identify lower outliers while maintaining computational efficiency and reliability in practical applications.

Thoracic aortopathy encompasses a spectrum of conditions affecting the aorta, ranging from aneurysms to dissections, posing significant challenges in management and care. In recent years, remote care, facilitated by telemedicine and digital health technologies, has emerged as a promising approach to overcome barriers in delivering timely and efficient healthcare services. This paper explores the practical considerations and challenges associated with implementing remote care strategies in the management of thoracic aortopathy in India with the largest population in the world. By evaluating existing literature and drawing upon clinical experiences, we discuss the potential benefits, limitations, and best practices for incorporating remote care into the management of patients with thoracic aortopathy. Additionally, we address important factors such as patient engagement, technology integration, privacy concerns, and regulatory requirements to optimize the delivery of remote care in this specialized field.

This study evaluated the hip joints of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) through imaging and macroscopic analyses and proposed a surgical approach for arthrotomy procedures in this species. The study used four samples fixed in 10% formaldehyde and six thawed carcasses. Radiographic and ultrasound examinations and anatomical dissection allowed the proposal of a surgical approach for the hip joint. The radiographic evaluation occurred with frog-legged ventrodorsal and lateral projections, and the ultrasound enabled joint soft tissue assessment. The articular elements represented similar characteristics to other domestic species. Some anatomical particularities of muscle groups were the intermuscular septum between the tensor fasciae latae and superficial gluteus muscles at the level of the greater trochanter of the femur, which provides lateral access to the femoral head and neck more conservatively. In conclusion, the anatomical particularities of radiographic positioning, the clinical applications of joint ultrasound, and the arrangement of muscle groups must be considered when evaluating and surgically accessing the hip joint of the giant anteater.

Resveratrol (RSV), a naturally occurring phytoalexin, is the most important stilbenoid synthesized by plants, as a defense mechanism, in response to microbial aggression, toxins or ultraviolet radiation. RSV came to the attention of researchers both as a potential chemopreventive agent and a possible explanation for the low incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in French people with a high-fat diet. RSV is mainly administered as a food supplement, its properties being evaluated in vitro or in vivo, on various experimental models. RSV modulates signaling pathways that limit the spread of tumor cells, protects nerve cells from damage, is useful in the prevention of diabetes, and generally acts as an anti-aging natural compound. It was highlighted that RSV could ameliorate the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle caused by an exaggerated caloric intake. This paper reviews the evidence supporting the beneficial effect of RSV for various pathological conditions, e.g., neoplastic diseases, neurodegeneration, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, CVDs, immune diseases, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. The study also focused on the chromatographic analysis of trans-RSV (tRSV) in Romanian wine samples, providing a comprehensive overview of tRSV content across different types of wine.

Using assembly theory, we investigate the assembly pathways of binary strings of length N formed by joining bits present in the assembly pool and the strings that entered the pool as a result of previous joining operations. We show that the string assembly index is bounded from below by the shortest addition chain for N, and we conjecture about the form of the upper bound. We define the degree of causation for the minimum assembly index and show that for certain N it features regularities that can be used to determine a shortest addition chain. We show that a string with the smallest assembly index for N can be assembled by a binary program of length equal to this index if the length of this string is expressible as a product of Fibonacci numbers. We conjecture that there is no binary program that has a length shorter than the length of the string having the largest assembly index for N that could assemble this string. The results confirm that four Planck areas provide a minimum information capacity that corresponds to a minimum thermodynamic (Bekenstein-Hawking) entropy. Knowing that the problem of determining the assembly index is at least NP-complete, we conjecture that this problem is NP-complete, while the problem of creating the string so that it would have a predetermined largest assembly index is NP-hard. The proof of this conjecture would imply P ≠ NP, since every computable problem and every computable solution can be encoded as a finite binary string.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs, which contribute to the regulation of many physiolog-ical and pathological processes. Conventionally, miRNAs perform their activity in the cyto-plasm, where they regulate gene expression by interacting in a sequence-specific manner with mature messenger RNAs. Recent studies point to the presence of mature miRNAs in the nucleus. This review summarizes current findings regarding the molecular activities of nuclear miRNAs. These molecules can regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level by directly binding DNA on the promoter or the enhancer of regulated genes. MiRNAs recruit to these regions dif-ferent protein complexes, resulting both in activation or repression of transcription, through a number of molecular mechanisms. Haematopoiesis is presented as a paradigmatic biological process whereby nuclear miRNAs possess a relevant regulatory role. Nuclear miRNAs may af-fect gene expression also acting on nuclear mRNA processing and on the biogenesis of miRNA themselves by regulating pri-miRNA maturation. Overall, nuclear miRNAs are biologically ac-tive molecules that can be critical for the fine tuning of gene expression and deserve further studies in a number of physiological and pathological conditions

In recent years, the rapid development of computer-aided planning and design technology has provided a new perspective for the study of complex problems such as the generation of architectural complex forms. This study focuses on how to apply parameterization technology to analyze and articulate traditional spatial form composition rules, aiming to minimize reliance on subjective human judgment in the protection and renewal design of the historical style of traditional villages. It aims to establish digital generative design tools to address the challenges of accurately inheriting and innovatively utilizing historical and cultural information in traditional settlements. It introduces how to rely on parameterization technology to analyze the spatial form composition rules, parameter extraction rules, and spatial reconstruction rules of traditional villages, facilitating the complete process from spatial features to parameterization rules, and then to the application of computational methods to deduce spatial features. It also includes case studies demonstrating the application of parameterization technology tools for village protection and explores the role of generative design tools in preserving the spatial style of these settlements.

This study advances the field of infectious disease forecasting by introducing a novel approach to micro-level contact modeling, leveraging human movement patterns to generate realistic temporal dynamic networks. Through the incorporation of human mobility models and parameter tuning, this research presents an innovative method for simulating micro-level encounters that closely mirror infection dynamics within confined spaces. Central to our methodology is the application of Bayesian optimization for parameter selection, which refines our models to emulate both the properties of real-world infection curves and the characteristics of network properties. By focusing on the distinct aspects of infection propagation within confined spaces, our approach significantly improves the realism of temporal-dynamic contact networks, offering a powerful tool for assessing the impact of specific locations on pandemic dynamics. The resulting models shed light on the role of spatial encounters in disease spread and strengthen the capability to forecast and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. This work not only contributes to the scientific understanding of micro-level transmission patterns but also offers practical insights for public health strategies and digital contact tracing efforts, aiming at more effective intervention and containment measures during pandemics.

Residential segregation refers to the phenomenon where people of different socioeconomic backgrounds live in spatially separated areas. It is essential to ensure equitable access to urban amenities for all residents in pursuit of the normative values in urban planning. To achieve this planning goal, the disparity in accessibility to urban amenities needs to be appropriately diagnosed. Private apartments and public rental apartments are representative types of residences where residential segregation is likely to occur in the context of South Korea, since these two types show considerable differences in the education, income, and occupations. The objective of this study is to develop an analysis framework for diagnosing the difference in accessibility to urban amenities between the two residential types, and to empirically demonstrate their utility in the planning process. The empirical analysis conducted on Seoul revealed that not only were there significant local variations in accessibility between the two segregated residential areas, but the overall differences across the entire area were also pronounced. The proposed framework is useful in supporting decision-making processes for locating new public facilities or identifying regional priorities for guiding the placement of private amenities, with the aim of mitigating differences between segregated residential areas.

Glutamate functions as the major excitatory neurotransmitter for primary sensory neurons and has a crucial role in sensitizing peripheral nociceptor terminals producing sensitization. Glutaminase (GLS) is the synthetic enzyme that converts glutamine to glutamate. GLS-immunoreactivity (-ir) and enzyme activity are elevated in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuronal cell bodies during chronic peripheral inflammation, but the mechanism for this GLS elevation is yet to be fully characterized. It has been well established that, after nerve growth factor (NGF) binds to its high-affinity receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), a retrograde signaling endosome is formed. This endosome contains the late endosomal marker Rab7GTPase and is retrogradely transported via axons to the cell soma located in DRG. This complex is responsible for regulating the transcription of several critical nociceptive genes. Here, we show that this retrograde NGF signaling mediates the expression of GLS in DRG neurons during the process of peripheral inflammation. We disrupted the normal NGF/TrkA signaling in adjuvant-induced arthritic (AIA) Sprague Dawley rats by pharmacological inhibition of TrkA or blockade of Rab7GTPase, which significantly attenuated the expression of GLS in DRG cell bodies. These results indicate that NGF/TrkA signaling is crucial for the production of glutamate and has a vital role in the development of neurogenic inflammation. In addition, our pain behavioural data suggest that Rab7GTPase can be a potential target for attenuating peripheral inflammatory pain.

Heavy metals constitute pollutants particularly common in air, water, and soil. They are present in both urban and rural environments, on land and in marine ecosystems, causing serious environmental problems since they do not degrade easily, remain almost unchanged for long periods, and bioaccumulate. Detection, though especially quantification, is a systematic process as monitoring of their levels needs to be carried out at regular intervals since there is often seasonal variation. The need for rapid and low-cost determination of metals is therefore considerable. In the present study atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), using a flame or graphite furnace, and square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV), using a bismuth thin film electrode, a sensitive voltammetric method is being compared and analytically validated. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) represents a well-established analytical technique while anodic stripping voltammetry is being criticized for its applicability in complicated sample matrices such as soil samples. This sample-handling challenge is being investigated in the present study. The results show that both methods AAS and ASV were satisfactorily correlated and showed that the concentration of metals is lower than the limit values, but with increasing trend. Therefore, continuous monitoring of metal levels in the urban complex of the city is necessary and a matter of great importance. Regarding Cd, the detection limits of Cd are lower compared to those of AAS when using the graphite furnace, while an overestimation was noted when using flame-AAS in comparison with those found with SWASV. The SWASV method has the advantage of being cheaper and faster, enabling the simultaneous determination of heavy elements across the range of concentrations that these elements can occur in Mediterranean soils. Additionally, we applied a dsDNA-modified electrode which can be used in the speciation analysis of Cu(I) and Cu(II). The changes in the characteristic peaks of guanine and adenine can be applied in the redox speciation analysis of copper in soil which represents an issue of great importance.

While the simple model of the total atmospheric carbon sink effect as a linear function of concentration has provided excellent prediction results, several problems remained to be investigated and solved. The most obvious open issue is the correct treatment of land use change emssions. It turns out that the model improves by mostly neglecting them after 1959. This effectively implies that land use change emissions have been constant and small since then. The key investigation starts with the observation, that the total carbon sink has a short term component which be explained by temperature changes commonly known as El Nin˜o. The apparent paradox is analysed and explained, why contrary to the short term changes no temperature caused trend can be detected in the model, despite the fact that several contributing processes exhibit temperature dependency. The result of this analysis leads to the model extension, where the total effect of sinks and natural emissions are a linear function of concentration and temperature. This model not only explains current measurements but also paleo climate from ice-core time series.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease characterized by typical clinical and immunopathogenic pe-culiarities, which correlate with age and sex/gender. Accordingly, MG patients show thymic al-terations and auto-antibodies productions, that can be the expression of a different pathogenetic mechanism related to age and gender. This determines, in relation to age at and sex/gender, a dif-ferent MG onset, prognosis, and outcome. Therefore, diverse MG forms can be identified, classi-fied, and characterized in relation to their different features, and precisely there are early onset and late-onset forms of MG. It has been hypothesized that the cause of appearance the two diverse forms of MG can be ascribed mainly to the diverse genetic and epigenetic factors. In this narrative review, we will analyze and discuss about the interplay of age- and sex-related factors (i.e. genet-ic and epigenetic factors) related to two different MG forms and how they contribute to their di-verse pathogenesis.

Neurologic symptoms associated with Long COVID result from the persistent infection of SARS-CoV-2 in the nasal neuroepithelial cells, leading to inflammation in the central nervous sys-tem (CNS). As of today, there is no evidence that vaccines or medications can clear the persistent viral infection in the olfactory mucosa. Recently published clinical data demonstrate that only 5% of Long COVID anosmia patients have fully recovered during the past 2 years and 10.4% of COVID patients are still symptomatic 18 months post infection. Our group demonstrated that ep-igallocatechin-3-gallate-monopalmitate (EC16m) nanoformulations possess strong antiviral activ-ity against human coronavirus, suggesting this green tea-derived compound in nanoparticle for-mulations could be developed as an intranasally delivered new drug targeting the persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as inflammation and oxidative stress in the CNS, leading to resto-ration of neurologic functions. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the mucociliary safety of the EC16m nasal nanoformulations and the efficacy against human coronavirus. Meth-ods: nanoparticle size and Zeta potential were measured using the ZetaView Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis system; mucociliary safety was determined using MucilAir Human Nasal Epi-thelium Model; contact antiviral activity and post-infection inhibition against OC43 viral strain were assessed by TCID50 assay for cytopathic effect on MRC-5 cells. Results: the saline-based EC16 mucoadhesive nanoformulations containing 0.005 to 0.02% w/v EC16m have no significant difference in comparison to saline (0.9% NaCl) on tissue integrity, cytotoxicity, and cilia beat fre-quency. A 5-minute contact inactivated 99.9% of the β-coronavirus OC43. OC43 viral replication was inhibited by >99% after infected MAR-5 cells were treated with one of the formulations. Con-clusion: the saline-based novel EC16m mucoadhesive nasal nanoformulations rapidly inactivated human coronavirus with mucociliary safety measurements comparable to saline, a solution widely used for nasal applications.

Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D printing (3DP) are novel technologies in the orthopedic field. Over the past decade, enthusiasm for these new digital applications is driving new perspectives in improving diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity in the field of traumatology. Currently, however, it is still difficult to quantify the value and impact in the medical-scientific field especially in the improvement of diagnostic in complex fractures. Acetabulum fractures have always been a challenge among orthopedics, for volumetric complexity and low diagnostic reliability.Background/Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine whether these methods can improve the learning aspect and diagnostic accuracy of complex acetabulum fractures compared to gold standard CT (computed tomography). Methods: Orthopedic residents of our department have been selected and divided into Junior (JUN) and Senior (SEN) groups. Associated fractures of acetabulum have been included in the study, obtaining : CT-scans, 3DP model, and AR model displayed on a tablet screen. In a double-blind questionnaire, each resident classified every fracture according to methods. Diagnostic accuracy (DA), response time (RT), agreement (R), and confidence (C) were measured. Results: 20 residents (JUN=10, SEN=10) classified five fractures. Overall DAs were 26% (CT), 18% (3DP), and 29% (AR). AR-DA resulted to be superior to 3DP-DA (p=0,04). DA means (JUN vs SEN respectively) were :CT-DA was 20% vs 32% (p<0.05), 3DP-DA was 12% vs 24% (p=0.08), and AR-DA was 28% vs 30% (p=0,80). Overall RT was 61.2 sec (±24,6) for CT, 35.8 sec (±20,1) for 3DP, and 46,7 sec (±20,8) for AR. R was fairly poor between methods and groups. 3DPs resulted to have superior overall C (65%). Conclusions: AR resulted to have the same Overall DA as CT, independent from experience, 3DP has minor DA and R, but it resulted to be the most confident and fast method. Intra and interobserver R between methods remain very poor in residents.

Background: Obesity is a global health crisis with a rapidly increasing prevalence among university students. Medical students are a unique population that may be at a higher risk of obesity due to the demanding nature of their studies and the associated stress. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and the associated risk factors among medical students at Jazan University in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 228 medical students from their 2nd to 6th academic years at the Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, dietary habits, comorbidities, medication use, family history, and lifestyle factors. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference were recorded. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to identify the risk factors associated with obesity. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the participants was 13.3% and 15% respectively. Hence, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity is 28.3%. The mean weight was 63.39 ± 18.93 kilograms, and the mean height was 163.48 ± 9.78 centimeters. On the other hand, 17.3% of participants had underweight whereas 54.4% had normal BMI. Most of the participants (61%) did not engage in regular exercise. A high proportion consumed fruits (82.9%) and vegetables (58.8%) 3 or fewer days per week, and 84.2% consumed 3 or fewer meals per day. Fast food consumption more than 3 days per week was reported by 42.1% of participants. Obesity was not significantly associated with sociodemographic factors, physical activity, dietary habits, comorbidities, medication use, or family histories. However, those with a monthly family income of 15,000-24,999 riyals had significantly lower odds of obesity than those in the lowest income group (OR 0.230, p = 0.045). Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among medical students at Jazan University is high. Although no significant associations were found between obesity and most risk factors, this study highlights the need for interventions that promote healthy lifestyles among medical students. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for preventing and managing obesity in this population.

According to the requirement of 20kg load of casting barrel, we design a three-dimensional model of the robot and analyze the three stages of liquid level change in the casting barrel during the casting process. Through the analysis, it is determined that the time and angle function is an implicit function, and it is impossible to find the analytical expression of time about angle. The kinetic function of the casting barrel is simulated by MATLAB, and it is found that the function image has mutation points, and when the original function is fitted and approximated by fifth-degree polynomial interpolation, the fifth-degree polynomial function image of the time versus the angular acceleration has a large amplitude of oscillation, especially the mutation points. A PID algorithm based on the discretization of the time and acceleration function is introduced for correction, and the results show that this method effectively reduces the oscillation amplitude of the image and improves the coincidence with the original function.

This study examines the nexus between oil prices and inflation in G20 economies, addressing critical gaps by adopting a comparative approach across three pivotal oil price downturns in 2008, 2014, and 2020 (COVID-19). The study utilized monthly time series data from January 2000 to December 2023 and the Bayesian Structural Time Series (BSTS) approach for causal impact analysis. The study found that during the global financial crisis (December 2007 to June 2014), advanced economies like Australia and the UK displayed varying degrees of negative absolute causal impact, aligning with the deflationary impact of falling oil prices. In contrast, emerging economies faced significant negative causal impacts. From June 2014 to January 2020, diverse inflation impacts were observed across G20 economies after a significant oil price decline. Advanced economies like Australia and emerging economies like Brazil experienced negative impacts, while others showed negligible effects. In the subsequent period from January 2020 to December 2023, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and substantial oil price decline, G20 countries exhibited varied inflation outcomes. Positive absolute effects indicated a notable rise in inflation with China standing out with a substantial negative impact. The wavelet coherence analyses also showed an asymmetrical impact of oil prices on inflation. The findings suggest that policymakers should adopt proactive and adaptive policy frameworks, considering the asymmetric responses of G20 economies to oil price dynamics.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) results from infection by the protozoa Leishmania infantum and L. donovani. HIV-coinfected patients may have a relapsing course of VL, even after secondary prophylaxis with amphotericin B. This study investigated whether host factors would explain the relapses. First, susceptibility to amphotericin B of L. infantum isolates was evaluated in vitro. Then, clinical data and the lipid profile of patients with relapsing and non-relapsing VL were assessed. Susceptibility to amphotericin B was similar between the isolates. CD4+ lymphocytes were reduced in both patients in the first episode and with relapsing VL. Still, the strongest blood cell associated with relapses was low total lymphocyte counts. Total plasma cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and, uniquely, triglycerides of the six individuals in the first episode and 23 with relapsing VL were lower in relapsing patients than those in the first episode. Deceased patients had extremely low, low-density lipoprotein. After CD4+ decrease, lymphocyte CD8+ reduction seem to be the final stage of the immunological failure. The lower lipid concentrations appear to be secondary to the depletion of fat stores by inflammation-induced cachexia provoked by the co-occurrence of both diseases, which can finally lead to death.

This study explores pressure, miscibility, and pore medium effects on heavy hydrocarbon recovery up to 65 MPa from four rock types: sand, tight sandstone, cavernous limestone, and oil sand. Results reveal MMP at 50 MPa, with peak recovery at 93% (56 MPa). Interestingly, recovery trends counter traditional expectations, notably decreasing in tight sandstone (42-56 MPa) and oil sand (50-65 MPa). Varied recoveries in cavernous limestone (25-56 MPa) highlight porosity and vug influence. Higher pressures hinder recovery due to SC-CO2's density and viscosity, favoring the immiscible process for efficient heavy hydrocarbon extraction.

Compared to the general population, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are less likely to be vaccinated, putting them at an increased risk of vaccine-preventable illnesses. This risk is further compounded by the immunosuppressive therapies commonly used in IBD management. Therefore, developing new treatments for IBD that maintain immune function is crucial, as successful management can lead to better vaccination outcomes and overall health for these patients. Here, we investigate the potential of recombinant banana lectin (rBanLec) as a supporting therapeutic measure to improve IBD control and possibly increase vaccination rates among IBD patients. By examining the therapeutic efficacy of rBanLec in a murine model of experimental colitis, we aim to lay the foundation for its application in improving vaccination outcomes. After inducing experimental colitis in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, we treated animals orally with varying doses of rBanLec 0.1-10 µg/ml (0.01 – 1 µg/dose) during the course of the disease. We assessed the severity of colitis and rBanLec’s modulation of the immune response compared to control groups. rBanLec administration resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in colitis severity (less pronounced weight loss, less shortening of the colon) and an improved recovery profile, highlighting its therapeutic potential. Notably, rBanLec-treated mice exhibited significant modulation of the immune response, favoring anti-inflammatory pathways (primarily reduction in a local [TNFα]/[IL-10]) crucial for effective vaccination. Our findings suggest that rBanLec could mitigate the adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapy on vaccine responsiveness in IBD patients. By improving the underlying immune response, rBanLec may increase the efficacy of vaccinations, offering a dual benefit of disease management and prevention of vaccine-preventable illnesses. Further studies are required to translate these findings into clinical practice.

To achieve n-type doping in diamond, extensive investigations employing first principles have been conducted on various models of phosphorus doping and boron-phosphorus co-doping. The primary focus of this study is to comprehensively analyze the formation energy, band structure, density of states, and ionization energy of these structures. It is observed that within a diamond structure solely composed of phosphorus atoms, the formation energy of an individual carbon atom is excessively high. However, the substitution of two carbon atoms leads to the conversion of diamond into a p-type semiconductor. Upon examining the P-B co-doping structure, it is revealed that the doped impurities exhibit a tendency to form more stable cluster configurations. As the separation between the freely doped atoms and the cluster impurity structure increases, the overall stability of the structure diminishes, consequently resulting in an elevation of the ionization energy. Analysis of the electronic density of states demonstrates that the electron orbit of the B atom makes negligible contributions to the impurity levels during P-B doping.

The paper describes the new method for image compression based on coordinated group signal transformation. The algorithm is a type of difference coding. Coordinated processing significantly simplifies the difference signal conversion scheme using a single group codec for all signals. The described method considers color channels as correlated signals of a multi-channel communication system. The specifics of the processed data required modification of the coordinated group processing algorithm. First, we changed how to calculate the difference signals to prevent data loss. Secondly, the group codec was supplemented with a neural network to improve the quality of reconstructed images. We considered the following types of neural networks: fully connected, recurrent, convolution, and convolution in the Fourier space. Based on the simulation results, it is best to use fully connected neural networks if the goal is to minimize processing delay time. These networks have a response time of 13 ms. On the other hand, if the priority is to improve quality in cases where delays are not critical, then convolution neural networks in the Fourier space should be used. These networks have a response time of 140 ms and are of significant interest.

The built environment sector’s growing impact on climate change is becoming increasingly important due to its share in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Global efforts have been undertaken to design and develop residential dwellings that aim towards zero energy and carbon emission, but there remains a multitude of obstructions to efficient construction processes. This study is focused on the gaps and barriers that have emerged during the pre-construction phase of a low-environmental-impact Passive House in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The technical, management, regulatory, and supply chain obstacles to the construction of a new three-story residential Passive House are documented to engage knowledge transformation in the design and construction of sustainable buildings of interest to developers and property owners. Primary data are collected by direct observation as well as open-ended interviews and secondary data collected through a literature review to understand the barriers and gaps faced by different key actors during the pre-construction phase in different regions. This local study highlighted the lack of interest, knowledge, and experience in sustainable building design among professionals having a significant influence on the project goals and timeline and was mentioned by participants as a common barrier as well as the inconsistency and inadequacy of regulatory framework of existing building codes to implement sustainable building design. These barriers along with other identified barriers are discussed and recommendations to overcome these barriers are provided.

The responses of inflammatory cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session were compared between 7 postmenopausal (57±2 y) and 8 premenopausal females (44±3 y) during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle, when estrogen and progesterone are highest, and. HIIT consisted of 10 x 1 min running intervals (90% maximum heart rate) separated by 1 min recovery intervals. Blood samples were collected at baseline (fasted), pre-exercise (postprandial), and 0, 30 and 90 min post-HIIT and analyzed for interleukin (IL-6) and 10 (IL-10), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and BDNF. IL-6 significantly increased from pre-exercise to 0 min post-HIIT in postmenopausal (+40%, p=0.01) but 30 min post-HIIT in premenopausal females (+60%, p=0.02). IL-6 remained elevated at 90 min post-HIIT in premenopausal (+104%, p=0.05) and to a higher degree in postmenopausal (+385%, p<0.001). IL-10 showed no response. TNF-α increased from pre- to 0 min post-HIIT (+10%, p=0.05), then decreased to below pre-exercise at 30 min (-10%, p=0.02) and 90 min (-5%, p=0.04) in both groups. BDNF increased immediate post-HIIT in premenopausal (+60%, p<0.001) but not postmenopausal females. The differences in IL-6 and BDNF response to HIIT between pre and postmenopausal females provide evidence of the role of female reproductive hormones in the regulation of these exercise-induced responses.

This review paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on the contamination of water systems by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs, organic contaminants characterized by two or more fused aromatic rings, are notably problematic due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and significant health risks. The review commences with an examination of various sources of PAHs in aquatic environments, encompassing both anthropogenic activities, such as industrial discharges, urban runoff, and oil spills, and natural phenomena including volcanic eruptions and wildfires. Subsequently, the discussion shifts to the distribution patterns of PAHs within different aquatic ecosystems, with an analysis of factors that influence their transport. Considerable focus is placed on the entry mechanisms of PAHs into water systems and their interactions with diverse environmental matrices. Additionally, the ecotoxicological effects of PAHs on aquatic life are scrutinized, with particular emphasis on molecular, individual, and ecosystemic impacts. This includes an exploration of PAH bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms and their potential mutagenic and carcinogenic consequences. The review further addresses the challenges associated with detecting and quantifying PAHs in aquatic settings, reflecting on the advancements in analytical methodologies and the complexities introduced by their varied physicochemical properties. The paper concludes with a summary of existing regulatory frameworks and guidelines governing PAH contamination in water systems, underscoring the imperative for global collaboration in the monitoring and management of PAH pollution.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) faces limitations in efficacy and significant side effects, aggravated by a recent global shortage. In this prospective clinical study, we report outcomes of sequential intravesical adminis-tration of gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) as the first-line treatment in BCG-naïve patients with high-risk NMIBC (HR NMIBC). From October 2019 until April 2022, we enrolled 52 patients and followed treatment protocol set by the University of Iowa. Follow-up assessments were con-ducted every 3 months. In this cohort, 25 (48.1%) patients were diagnosed with T1HG bladder cancer, 10 (19.2%) patients had carcinoma in situ (CIS), and 17 (32.7%) patients had a combination of CIS+T1HG. Median time to first recurrence in T1HG, CIS and T1HG+CIS groups was 11, 10.5 and 8.8 months, respectively. The recurrence-free survival was 98.1%, 94.2% and 80.8% at 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. The rate of progression-free survival was 100%, 98.1% and 92.3% at 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. We demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Gem/Doce therapy in BCG-naïve patients with HR NMIBC during a one-year follow-up. Further research with extended follow-up, as well as direct comparison of Gem/Doce and other anticancer agents, are essential.

An innovative superconducting mechanism was developed based on a patented discovery of room temperature superconductivity in several thorium (Th) salts or compounds. The rationale behind this discovery is through the experimental results about the unique electrical and magnetic properties of these Th salts. Accordingly, this new superconducting mechanism for these Th salts was obtained through the analyses of the compounds’ molecular configurations and the packings of their relevant crystal structures. Owing to the distinctive properties of the Th compounds in this discovery, we further established a different electron pairing scheme as opposed to the pairing of the Cooper pairs. Compared to the long distance electron pairing of the Cooper pairs, the new electron pairing in our mechanism is constructed by two closely correlated electrons that reside on the same atomic orbital of the Th cation as an electron lone pair. In this new superconducting mechanism, the Th cation is sitting on a relevant crystallographic lattice arrangement or a network of the relevant Th compounds. This network is constructed by many Th cations along certain crystallographic lattice arrangement where each Th cation contains one electron lone pair. This network allows the electron lone pairs on the Th cations to be delocalized over the network, “in pair”, and thus, reveals the electron lone pair in presence in a long distance fashion. The closely correlated electron lone pairs hop on this network and thus, construct the supercurrent over the network. This explanation about the superconductivity laid the basis for our superconducting mechanism. All these conclusions came from the previous studies about these compounds that illustrated their unusual features of a coexistence of high electrical conductivity and diamagnetism. These electrical and magnetic properties fall in line with that of superconductors but, surprisingly, these Th compounds have such properties at the ambient condition, meaning under room temperature and atmosphere pressure. We expect that this mechanism may be appropriate to be utilized to other superconducting cases and therefore, can be adapted to describe the superconducting phenomenon for other superconductors.

The early elongation events in transcription or translational control in the N-terminal of genes are assuming critical roles in their heterologous expression. The secretory expression of the alkaline pectin lyase APL in B. subtilis were studied to explore the effects of the N-terminal 5-7 amino acids sequences of different signal peptides on gene transcription and protein secretion in this study. The first 5 amino acid sequences of the N-terminal of the signal peptide LipA were identified to play an important role in promoting the expression of APL for the first time. Meanwhile, it also revealed that the signal peptide LipA could lead to higher secretory expression than other signal peptides not because of its sequence structure associated with secretion is stronger but because the N-terminal sequences showed greater advantages in gene transcription. At this basis, the recombinant strain structed in this work showed a new record for the highest extracellular yields (12 295 U/ml) of APL in B. subtilis which was 1.9 times higher than that expressed in the recombinant Escherichia coli strain we had reported before. The novel theories revealed in this study would assuming significance roles for improving expression of foreign proteins in or out of the cells.

The study assesses the direct effects of climate change by 2060, including extreme events, on the productivity of regional crop farming and livestock in Greece, and the broader socio-economic effects on the agri-food and other sectors. Different approaches (i.e., agronomic models, statistical regression models, equations linking thermal stress to livestock output) were combined to estimate the effects on productivity from changes in the average values of climatic parameters, and subsequently the direct economic effects from this long-term climate change. Recorded damages from extreme events together with climatic thresholds per event and crop were combined to estimate the direct economic effects of these extremes. The broader socio-economic effects were then estimated through input-output analysis. Under average levels of future extreme events, the total direct economic losses for the Greek agriculture due to climate change will be significant, from €437 million/ year to €1 billion/ year. These losses approximately double when indirect effects on other sectors using agricultural products as inputs (e.g., food and beverage, hotels, restaurants) are considered, and escalate further under a tenfold impact of extreme events. Losses in the GDP and employment are moderate at the national level, but significant in regions where the contribution of agriculture is high.

Litsea martabanica root's antioxidant and AChE activity showed promise as a pesticide detoxification agent in our previous study. In addition to roots, its leaves can help mitigate pesticide exposure, although there is limited scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. However, the use of roots in many countries, such as Thailand, could contribute to environmental degradation, as highland communities traditionally cut down whole trees to obtain them. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity and anti-pesticide potential of water extracts from L. martabanica leaves instead of its roots through in vitro and in vivo investigations. The findings showed that L. martabanica water extracts and fractions demonstrated varied antioxidant activity. The water extract, obtained using traditional extraction methods, was chosen for in vivo experiments. Rats received the extract followed by chlorpyrifos exposure for 16 days. Results indicated reduced acetylcholinesterase activity in chlorpyrifos-exposed rats, while treatment with leaf extract led to increased activity, suggesting its potential as a detoxifying agent. Histopathological examination revealed no liver cell necrosis and showed liver cell regeneration, indicating potential protection against free radical-induced liver damage without affecting rat liver weight or biochemical profiles. Utilizing L. martabanica leaves for healthcare purposes holds promise without negative environmental impact.

Some glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), first used in the treat-ment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have been approved for the treatment of obe-sity in patients with or without T2DM (liraglutide – LIR, semaglutide - SEM, and tir-zepatide - TIR). Social media had an important influence on the off-label use of GLP-1 RAs for obesity, especially for SEM. We analysed the Google queries related to SEM to assess people's interest in this drug. We also investigated the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by searching the EudraVigilance database (EV) for Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) that reported SEM as the suspected drug and performed a descriptive and a disproportionality analysis. Data obtained for SEM were compared to other GLP-1 RAs. SEM had the highest proportions of searches on Google associated with the term “weight loss” and presented the lowest number of severe ADRs, but it also had the highest number of ICSRs reported in EV. Even though no unexpected safety issues have been reported for it until now, SEM has a high tendency for overdose reports. The most frequent off-label use was reported for SEM and TIR. In order to lower the ADRs’ risks, the off-label use should be reduced and carefully monitored.

Scaffold guided breast tissue regeneration (SGBTR) can both transform reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery. Implant-based surgery is the most common method. However, there are inherent limitations as there is replacement of tissue rather than regeneration. Regenerating autologous soft tissue has the potential to provide a more like-for-like reconstruction with minimal morbidity. Our SGBTR approach regenerates soft tissue by implanting additively manufactured bioresorbable scaffolds filled with autologous fat graft. A pre-clinical large animal study was conducted implanting 100 ml breast scaffolds (n=55) made from medical-grade polycaprolactone in 11 minipigs for 12 months. Various treatment groups were investigated where immediate or delayed autologous fat graft, as well as platelet rich plasma were added to scaffolds. Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging was performed on explanted scaffolds to determine volume and distribution of regenerated tissue. Histological analysis was performed to confirm tissue type. At 12 months we were able to regenerate and sustain a mean soft tissue volume of 60.9 4.5 ml (95% CI) across all treatment groups. There was no evidence of capsule formation. There were no immediate or long-term post-operative complications. In conclusion, we were able to regenerate clinically relevant soft tissue volumes utilizing SGBTR in a pre-clinical large animal model.

The menace of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among low- and middle-income countries with no access to free HPV vaccine is a public health concern. HPV is one of the most common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Nigeria with high-risk HPV-16 and 18 genotypes. In this study, we explored the predictors of self-reported HPV infections and HPV genital warts infection among a population of students, non-academic staff, and academic staff of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) university located in Lapai, Nigeria. We also assessed their knowledge about HPV infections and genotypes, and sexual behaviors. An online cross-sectional study was conducted by setting up a structured questionnaire on google form and it was distributed to the University community via Facebook and other social media platforms of the university. The form captured questions on HPV infection, knowledge about HPV infection and genotypes, as well as sexual health of the participants. All variables were described using frequencies and percentage distribution, chi-squared test statistics was used to explore the association between HPV infection (medical records of HPV infection) and the participants’ profile, and logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors associated with HPV genital warts infection among the population. This study reveals those participants between the ages of 26 – 40 years (81.3%) and those currently not in a union (26.4%) who have self-reported having HPV-16 and -18 genotypes. Also, participants between 26 – 40 years of age (OR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.22 – 0.89) reported to be carriers of HPV genital warts. Therefore, this study reveals the factors associated with HPV infection and genital warts peculiar to IBB university students and staff. Hence, we suggest the need for HPV awareness programs and free HPV vaccine availability at IBB university.

The major issue of raw materials depletion and more specifically of phosphorous (an important fertilizer) has currently become an emergent aspect, due to expected depletion problems, needing immediate handling. This was the reason for the implementation of PhoReSe project that aimed to remove and recover phosphorus from the secondary (biologically treated) effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP “AINEIA”, located near Thessaloniki, N. Greece), treating the wastewaters of the nearby touristic area. Regarding the phosphorous supplementary removal and recovery treatment options, two methods mainly examined, initially in laboratory scale (batch experiments), i.e. (1) the adsorption of phosphorous, and (2) the chemical precipitation of phosphorus. Both methods further applied in pilot-scale, by performing initially the adsorption of phosphorous onto the AquAsZero commercial sorbent, which is a mixed manganese iron oxy-hydroxide, followed by the chemical precipitation of phosphorous, implemented after the de-sorption process of previously saturated adsorbent. The final precipitate of this procedure examined as an alternative/supplementary fertilizer, returning with this way phosphorus into the natural cycle. These experiments, as applied successfully in pilot-scale, set the basis for the larger-scale relevant application for similar WWTP facilities.

Reducing CO2 emissions is urgently needed to slow down the impacts of climate change. CO2 capture using an amine solution has been developed and implemented on pilot and commercial scales. However, amine scrubbing, in particular, produces a lot of degraded solvent as waste and is energy intensive. Solid sorbents have been called to overcome those drawbacks. In this work, waste biomass-derived carbon materials were developed and tested for CO2 capture and conversion. Advanced thermal chemical processes i.e. hydrothermal and pyrolysis were applied to produce materials from agri-food waste such as soybean and okara. It was found that the number of functional groups (-C=O and -OH) in activated carbon appears in the synthesized materials, implying the generation of surface oxygenated groups. Preliminary results showed that the synthesized activated carbons are obtained with good yields, and a relatively high surface area, which may be applied as CO2 adsorption materials to solve the CO2 emission problems.

The Software-Defined Networking concept plays an important role in network management. The central controller, which is the main element of SDN, allows to provide traffic engineering and security solutions in single and multiple-layer networks based on optical transmission. In this work, we compare selected open-source implementations of SDN controllers. Throughput and latency measurements were analyzed using the CBench program. The simulation of a link failure and a controller failure were conducted using the API provided by the Mininet network simulator. For detecting security vulnerabilities, a dedicated program, called sdnpwn, was used. The work provides an overview of the selected controllers, indicating their strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, some implemention suggestions and recommendations are presented.

Vitamin A, or retinol, is one of the most effective anti-ageing molecules, but it presents issues with photo-sensitivity and irritation. Retinol-like alternatives are emerging, but have so far been less effective. Here, we present a Silibum marianum extract (SME) as a retinol-like ingredient providing both safety and efficacy. SME was compared to the reference compound, retinol, and to the main alternative, bakuchiol. In ex vivo tests, skin explants from a 58-year-old donor were treated with pure retinol (0.1%), bakuchiol (0.2%) or SME (0.8%). After 5 days, collagen and hyaluronic acid levels were analysed. A placebo-controlled study involving 57 volunteers (ages 45-73 years) was also conducted, with products applied twice-daily for 56 days. Results were measured by AEVA-HE and VISA. Levels of collagen III were significantly increased by SME, by 23% and 16% compared to bakuchiol and retinol, respectively. Compared to bakuchiol, SME treatment increased hyaluronic acid production by 36%. In clinical tests, SME had a significantly stronger anti-wrinkle effect than bakuchiol – reducing the number of wrinkles on the forehead by 21%, and their circumference by 17% – producing effects similar to retinol, and better than bakuchiol. In the self-assessment, 43% of volunteers reported discomfort while using retinol, as compared to 0% for the SME formulation. By enhancing levels of collagen III – the youth collagen – and hyaluronic acid in the skin, SME paves the way for the maturation of collagen I fibrils and skin plumping. With its stronger efficacy compared to bakuchiol and enhanced safety profile compared to retinol, SME may be the next-generation of natural alternatives to retinoids.

Given the increased provision of international exchange programmes in higher education, this paper examines students’ perceptions of their learning process in one Erasmus+ programme in Food Innovation and Product Design. Using evaluation model of international exchange programme and triple helix model as the analytical framework, students’ testimonials from 2015–2021 were analysed using a critical discourse analysis. EU and non-EU students had similar perceptions of learning outcomes related to knowledge of the food innovation industry, but non-EU students had a stronger sense of awareness of both the international context and multicultural interaction.

This study aims to examine how the activation of nursing roles and professional identification as a nurse can influence moral judgments in terms of deontological and utilitarian inclinations. In Study 1, a priming technique was used to assess the impact of activating the nursing concept on moral reasoning. Participants were randomly assigned to either a nursing prime or neutral prime condition. By using a scrambled-sentences task, participants were prompted to think about nursing-related or neutral thoughts. Following the priming task, participants were asked to respond to 20 moral dilemmas. The process dissociation approach was employed to measure the degree of deontological and utilitarian tendencies in their moral reasoning. In Study 2, participants completed the nursing profession identification scale and the moral orientation scale before engaging in moral judgments similar to those in Study 1. The findings revealed that priming the concept of nursing roles resulted in an increase in deontological clinical inclinations, while having no significant effect on utilitarian inclinations. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between identification with the nursing profession and deontological clinical inclinations, whereas a negative correlation was found with utilitarian inclinations. Deliberation orientation acted as a complete mediator in the relationship between nursing professional identification and deontological tendencies, and as a partial mediator for utilitarian tendencies.