Recent evidence has highlighted the critical role of memory cells in maintaining lifelong food allergies, thereby identifying these cells as therapeutic targets. IgG⁺ memory B cells replenish pools of IgE-secreting cells upon allergen exposure, which contract thereafter due to the short lifespan of tightly regulated IgE-expressing cells. Advances in the detection and highly dimensional analysis of allergen-specific B and T cells from allergic patients have provided insight on their phenotype and function. The newly identified Th2A and Tfh13 populations represent a leap in our understanding of allergen-specific T cell phenotypes, though how these populations contribute to IgE memory responses remains poorly understood. Within, we discuss the mechanisms by which memory B and T cells are activated, integrating knowledge from human systems and fundamental research. We then focus on memory reactivation; specifically, on the pathways of secondary IgE responses. Throughout, we identify areas of future research which will help identify immunotargets for a transformative therapy for food allergy.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise a diverse class of non-protein coding transcripts that regulate critical cellular processes associated with cancer. Advances in RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) have led to the characterization of non-coding RNA expression across different types of human cancers. Through comprehensive RNA-Seq profiling, a growing number of studies demonstrate that ncRNAs, including long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNA), play central roles in progenitor B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) pathogenesis. Furthermore, due to their central roles in cellular homeostasis and their potential as biomarkers, the study of ncRNAs continues to provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms of B-ALL. This article reviews the ncRNA signatures reported for all B-ALL subtypes, focusing on technological developments in transcriptome profiling and recently discovered examples of ncRNAs with biologic and therapeutic relevance in B-ALL.

This paper investigates the photocatalytic characteristics of Ag Nanowire (AgNW)/TiO2 and AgNW/TiO2/Graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites. Samples were synthesized by the direct coating of TiO2 particles on the surface of silver nanowires. As-prepared AgNW/TiO2 and AgNW/TiO2/GO nanocomposites were characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV/visible absorption spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images confirmed the successful deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of AgNWs. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized nanocomposites was evaluated using Rhodamine B (RhB) in an aqueous solution as the model organic dye. Results showed that synthesized AgNW/TiO2/GO nanocomposite has superior photocatalytic activities when it comes to the decomposition of RhB.

The objective of this research is to measure the perception that teachers had about their own performance when they were forced to carry out an Emergency Remote Teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was provided to teachers of every educational stage in the Basque Country (Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education, Professional Training and Higher Education) obtaining a total of 4,586 responses. The statistical analysis of the data shows that the greatest difficulties reported by educators are shortcomings in their training in digital skills, which has made them perceive more workload during the lockdown and negative emotions. Another finding is the existing digital divide between teachers based on their gender, age and type of school. A further worrying result is the lower technological competence in lower educational levels, which are the most vulnerable in remote teaching. These results invite us to reflect on the measures to be taken to improve equity, social justice and resilience of the educational system, which align with some of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of Thalassia testudinum hydroethanolic extract, its polyphenolic fraction, and thalassiolin B on the activity of phase I metabolizing enzymes as well as their antimutagenic effects. Spectrofluorometric techniques were used to evaluate the effect of tested products on rat and human CYP1A and CYP2B activity. The antimutagenic effect of tested products was evaluated in benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-induced mutagenicity assay by Ames test. Finally, the antimutagenic effect of Thalassia testudinum (100 mg/kg) was assessed in a BP-induced mutagenesis in mice. The tested products significantly (p<0.05) inhibit rat CYP1A1 activity, acting as mixed-type inhibitors of rat CYP1A1 (Ki = 54.16±9.09 μg/mL, 5.96±1.55 μg/mL and 3.05±0.89 μg/mL, respectively). Inhibition of human CYP1A1 was also observed (Ki = 197.1±63.40 μg/mL and 203.10±17.29 μg/mL for the polyphenolic fraction and for thalassiolin B, respectively). In addition, the evaluated products significantly inhibit (p<0.05) benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-induced mutagenicity in vitro. Furthermore, oral doses of Thalassia testudinum (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced (p<0.05) the BP-induced micronuclei and oxidative damage, together with an increase of glutathione, in mice. In summary, Thalassia testudinum metabolites exhibit antigenotoxic activity mediated, at least, by the inhibition of CYP1A1-mediated BP biotransformation. Thus, the metabolites of T. testudinum may represent a potential source of chemopreventive compounds for adjuvant therapy of cancer.

Herewith we report a facile synthesis of zinc oxide doped with (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) titanium oxide nanocomposites in gelatin under ultra-sonication. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data revealed ZnO the formation in addition to a rutile phase TiO2. The ZnO phase size decreased, and the rutile TiO2 phase increased with a TiO2 loading increment. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed a combination of spherical and hexagonal particles with a 60 – 80 nm size distribution. The prepared nanostructures photocatalytic activity was assisted using Rhodamine B dye, where they showed enhanced photodegradation competence under visible light irradiation. The kinetics of photodegradation followed the first-order kinetics with the 20 % wt sample having the maximum activity. The mechanistic investigation revealed the dominance of h+ and •O2- species during the dye photodegradation. The results indicate the potential application of such gelatin stabilized nanostructures for dye illumination from aqueous solutions under sunlight.

Introduction: Dental health care workers, particularly dental medicine students (DMS), are at an increased risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of our study was to assess the level of knowledge on HBV and HCV, estimate needlestick injury (NSI) prevalence and reporting practice in DMS at the University of Zagreb and analyze how enrolment in obligatory and supplemental courses affects knowledge and needlestick injury reporting practice. Materials and methods: The knowledge was assessed by our questionnaires based on Centers for Disease Control general handouts. Additional information was collected to examine the prevalence and reporting practice of NSI. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis, independent-samples t-tests, proportion analyses and combined factor analyses of categorical and quantitative variables in SPSS and R. Results: In total, 206 students participated. The overall level of HBV and HCV-related knowledge was poor with average scores being 61.90% and 51.35% respectively. Moreover, students enrolled in the first year demonstrated significantly lower levels of knowledge in comparison with their older peers. Of all participants 18.2% sustained a needlestick injury, and majority of them (78.95%) never reported the injury. Conclusion: In conclusion, DMS have low levels of knowledge on important occupational pathogens and poor NSI reporting practice. Moreover, formal education in the current form failed to significantly improve competence of students and theoretical knowledge translates poorly into more conscientious injury reporting practice. We should look for a better way to increase student awareness and level of knowledge on this topic.

Sulphuric acid is a widely used raw material in the chemical industry. Its corrosive effect on materials varies considerably, depending on impurities, temperature and water content. Accordingly, good corrosion resistance under all conditions is very difficult to achieve. This is especially an issue for micro process apparatus with very thin walls. Furthermore, such devices are often joint by diffusion bonding what may alter materials properties due to high temperatures and long dwell times. In fact, for each new material, the diffusion bonding parameters must be optimized and the impact on mechanical as well as corrosion properties must be investigated. In this paper, two high molybdenum alloys, namely Hastelloy B3 and BC-1, were evaluated. Diffusion bonding tests were performed using ten layers of sheet material in between round stock. Corrosion tests were performed in 70 % sulphuric acid at 100°C for 1000 h. Tensile tests on both alloys were carried out for different material conditions, to determine the change in mechanical strength and elongation at fracture values. In general, independent of the condition of the materials, the fracture behavior of both alloys was found to be ductile and the specimens show the typical dimple structure, in the case of diffusion bonded samples, interrupted by weak spots or rather non-bonded areas. These areas are obviously causing the onset of material failure and thus, a degradation of mechanical properties. Tensile samples, that were aged in 70% sulphuric acid at 100°C for 1000 hours showed local corrosion attacks at the grain boundaries at the circumferential surfaces and especially at the joining planes – for Hastelloy B3 much more pronounced than for Hastelloy BC-1. Accordingly, a further decrease of both, the stress- and elongation at fracture values is observed. However, the typical material parameters like 0.2 % yield strength used for dimensioning components are found to be sufficient high, even when operating the materials under such harsh conditions. When concluding the results, at least Hastelloy BC-1 reveals both sufficient good mechanical properties and an excellent corrosion resistance, regardless of the heat treatment, and could be considered for manufacturing micro-process engineering apparatuses operated in a sulphuric acid environment. This is a significant advance compared to the results obtained within a AiF project, previously carried out on four different materials to investigate the corrosion resistance in sulphuric acid.

In the present paper, Co-B/SiC composite coatings were obtained via electrodeposition from colloidal suspensions with different concentrations of SiC particles and subsequent heat treatments at 350 °C. The composition, morphology and structure of the Co-B/SiC composite coatings were analyzed using glow discharge spectrometry (GDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Hardness and tribological properties were also studied. The results showed that an increase in the SiC concentration in the colloidal suspensions resulted in both an increase in the SiC content and a decrease in the B content in the obtained Co-B/SiC coatings. The Co-B/SiC coatings were adherent, glossy and soft and exhibited a homogeneous composition in all thicknesses. By contrast, an increase in the SiC particle content of the Co-B/SiC composite coating from 0 to 2.56 at.% SiC reduced the hardness of the film from 680 to 360 HV and decreased the wear volume values from 1180 to 23 mm³ N^-1 m^-1, respectively (that is, the wear resistance increased). Moreover, when the Co-B/SiC coatings with SiC content ranging from 0 to 2.56 at.% SiC were subjected to a heat treatment process, the obtained coating hardness values were in the range of 1200 to 1500 HV and the wear volume values were in the range of 382 to 19 mm³ N^-1 m^-1.

Endo-reticular stress induces the unfolded protein response including a highly conserved set of genes crucial for cell survival against a variety of onslaughts. Among the activated stress response genes is Ire1, which undergoes auto-phosphorylation and acquires a regulated Ire1-dependent mRNA decay activity. Ire1P non-canonically splices the mRNA for Xbp1 in the cytoplasm. This spliced Xbp1 serves as mRNA encoding a transcription factor for unfolded protein response genes. Meanwhile the mRNA decay function of Ire1P degrades other cellular mRNAs and can cause changes to the translation machinery by altering regulators in a cell specific manner. Naïve splenic B cells differentiate into Antibody Secreting Cells and activate Ire1 phosphorylation early on after LPS stimulation, within 18 hrs. When Ire1 is activated in B cells, in addition to Xbp1 splicing, there are large-scale changes in mRNA; inhibition of the mRNA degradation function of Ire1 both reduces the number and changes the type of genes involved in altered splicing patterns, including factors for snRNA transcription. Some of the splicing changes seen at 18 hrs after LPS persist into the late stages of antibody secretion, up to 72 hrs, while others are supplanted by new splicing changes introduced by the induction of ELL2, a transcription elongation factor. ELL2 changes mRNA processing patterns and is necessary for Immunoglobulin secretion. RNA splicing patterns in antibody secreting cells are thus shaped by endo-reticular stress, ELL2 induction, and are associated with changes in the levels of snRNAs.

B chromosomes (Bs) were discovered a century ago, and since then most studies have focused on describing their distribution and abundance using traditional cytogenetics. Only recently have attempts been made to understand their structure and evolution at the level of DNA sequence. Many questions regarding the origin, structure, function and evolution of B chromosomes remain unanswered. Here we identify B chromosome sequences from several species of cichlid fish from Lake Malawi by examining the ratios of DNA sequence coverage in individuals with and without B chromosomes. We examine the efficiency of this method, and compare results using both Illumina and PacBio sequence data. The B chromosome sequences detected in 13 individuals from 7 species were compared to assess the rates of sequence replacement. B-specific sequence common to at least 12 of the 13 datasets are identified as the “Core” B chromosome. The location of B sequence homologs throughout the genome provides further support for theories of B chromosome evolution. Finally, we identified candidate genes located on the B chromosome which may regulate the segregation and maintenance of the B chromosome.

B chromosomes are supernumerary chromosomes which are found in addition to the normal standard chromosomes (A chromosomes). B chromosomes are well known to accumulate several types of repeats. Although the evolution of B chromosomes has been subject of numerous studies, the mechanisms of accumulation and evolution of repetitive sequences is not fully understood. Recently, new genomic approaches have shed light on the origin and accumulation of different classes of repetitive sequences in the process of B chromosome formation and evolution. Here we discuss the impact of repetitive sequences accumulation on the evolution of plant B chromosomes.

We describe the genomes of two Echovirus isolates from Nigeria as reference enterovirus species B genomes for the region. These Echovirus 7 and 19 genomes have 7,411nt and 7,426nt, and were recovered from sewage contaminated water (in 2010) and an acute flaccid paralysis case (in 2014), respectively.

The tetracyclic pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole olivacine and four of its oxygenated derivatives have been synthesized by a late-stage palladium-catalyzed Heck-type cyclization of the pyrrole ring as key step. In a test for inhibition of the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 9-methoxyolivacine showed the most significant inhibiting activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with an MIC₉₀ value of 1.5 μM.

An analysis of the performance of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data received from the Grand Forks, North Dakota International Airport was carried out in this study. The purpose was to understand the vulnerabilities of Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) ADS-B system and recognize the effects on present and future Air Traffic Control (ATC) operation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated all the General Aviation aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B. The aircraft flying within United States and below the transition altitude (18,000 feet) are more likely to install an UAT ADS-B. At present unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and autonomous air traffic control (ATC) towers are being integrated into the aviation industry and UAT ADS-B is a basic sensor for both class 1 and class 2 Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems. As a fundamental component of future surveillance system, the anomalies and vulnerabilities of ADS-B system need to be identified to enable a fully utilized airspace with enhanced situational awareness. The data received was archived in GDL-90 format, which was parsed into readable data. The anomaly detection of ADS-B messages was based on the FAA ADS-B performance assessment report. The data investigation revealed ADS-B message suffered from different anomalies including drop out; missing payload; data jump; low confident data and altitude discrepancy. Among those studied, the most severe was drop out and 32.49% of messages suffered from this anomaly. Dropout is an incident where ADS-B failed to update within a specified rate. Considering the potential danger being imposed, an in-depth analysis was carried out to characterize message dropout. Three flight parameters were selected to investigate their effect on drop out. Statistical analysis was carried out and Friedman Statistical Test identified that altitude affected drop out more than any other flight parameters.

This work analyzes the severity and risk associated with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) message drop out in Detect and Avoid (DAA) function of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Performance assessment of the Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) ADS-B message implies that in some cases ADS-B fails to update within a specified update interval, which is referred to as drop out in this work. ADS-B is a fundamental surveillance sensor for both class 1 and class 2 DAA systems. Message loss or drop out has been found as one of the common limitations of the ADS-B system. The key feature of this study is incorporating the update rate of real ADS-B data transmitted from the manned aircraft. The data were received from the Grand Forks International Airport, North Dakota. Monte Carlo method has been adopted to resolve encounter scenarios in the presence of drop out. The change in the alert triggered by the UAS DAA in the presence of ADS-B drop out has been investigated. Furthermore, the risk matrices are created to quantify the associated risk with drop out affected alerts. Simulation results depict that both the duration of drop out and DAA look-ahead time affect the alert-triggering function of UAS. With a small look- ahead window and longer duration of drop out, the number of warning alerts increases. Also, alerts are affected more during an overtaking encounter than that of a head-to-head encounter. A system-level analysis is also carried out to recognize the potential reasons behind the ADS-B drop out.

Acidic ostreolysin A/pleurotolysin B (OlyA/PlyB, formerly known as ostreolysin (Oly), and basic 20 kDa equinatoxins (EqTs) are cytolytic proteins isolated from the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus and the sea anemone Actinia equina, respectively. Both toxins, although from different sources, share many similar biological activities: (i) colloid-osmotic shock by forming pores in cellular and artificial membranes enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin; (ii) increased vascular endothelial wall permeability in vivo and perivascular oedema; (iii) dose-dependent contraction of coronary vessels; (iv) haemolysis with pronounced hyperkalaemia in vivo; (v) bradycardia, myocardial ischemia and ventricular extrasystoles accompanied by progressive fall of arterial blood pressure and respiratory arrest in rodents. Both types of toxins are haemolytic within nanomolar range concentrations, and it seems that hyperkalaemia plays an important role in toxin cardiotoxicity. However, it was observed that the haemolytically more active EqT III is less toxic than EqT I, the most toxic and least haemolytic EqT. In mice, EqT II is more than 30 times more toxic than OlyA/PlyB when applied intravenously. These observations imply that haemolysis with hyperkalaemia is not the sole cause of the lethal activity of both toxins. Additional mechanisms responsible for lethal action of the two toxins are direct effects on heart, coronary vasoconstriction and related myocardial hypoxia. In this review, we appraise the pathophysiological mechanisms related to the chemical structure of OlyA/PlyB and EqTs, as well as their toxicity.

The objective of the this study was to reduce the benzo[a]pyrene-induced hepatotoxicity method in herbal medicine products and to give proof that neferine, daidzein, genistein possess antihepa-totoxic effects. B[a]P which classified as a group 1 carcinogen and metabolized to B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) causes mutagenic DNA addition products. The reduc-tion of BPDE-DNA adduct formation by B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) was derived by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). In HepG2 cells, B[a]P exhibited toxicity and substance treatment of the cells with B[a]P with neferine in lotus and daidzein, genistein in soybean reduced the BPDE-DNA ad-ducts level. The level of B[a]P-metabolites in the substance treatment of the cells was presented that BPDE levels were reduced by neferine in lotus and daidzein, genisten in soybean. These results suggest that neferine in lotus and daidzein, genistein in soybean prevent B[a]P-induced hepato-toxicity for BPDE-DNA adduct formation.

Livestock in the northern highlands of Peru is fed on the association of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) ecotype cajamarquino - white clover (Trifolium repens L.) Ladino variety constantly varies in its agronomic characteristics and nutritional value due to management considerations and its association with the soil and the animal. The objective was to evaluate yield, plant height, growth rate, number of tillers, spikelets, basal diameter in ryegrass, elongation rate, internode length, and decrease points in clover over one year. Nutritional value was represented by crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM) and metabolisable energy (ME) at three cutting frequencies. Better yield (5588 kg DM ha) and plant height (47.1 cm) showed the 60-day cutting frequency; however, there was no difference (p&gt;0.05) among the three cutting frequencies in annual yield. There was no difference between number of tillers and basal diameter. Clover height, elongation rate and internode length were higher at 60 days. The highest CP concentration and lowest NDF value (p&lt;0.05) were achieved by clover at 30 and 45 days. The producers should consider the findings obtained to decide the time of use of this association in dairy cattle feeding.

Banks have enormous potential in supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in accordance with their function as financial intermediaries through sustainable lending. However, the average national financing growth for the sustainable business activity category over the past four years is still 12%. The aim of this research is to identify the conditions of sustainable lending at state-owned conventional banks and analyze the influence of the value chain, economic performance and ESG performance on sustainable lending. The research was conducted at state-owned commercial banks in Indonesia. The research utilized a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The SEM results of this study describe value chain, ESG performance (environmental, social and governance) and economic performance have direct and positive influences on sustainable lending, of which ESG performance has the biggest influence. As per individual aspect, social orientation gives the biggest contribution toward sustainable lending.

This study analyzes the relationship between economic policy uncertainty (hereinafter EPU) and corporate value, and verifies the differential effects of EPU on corporate value according to corporate social responsibility (hereinafter CSR) activities. The study period was from 2010 to 2020, and the EPU indexes measured by Baker et al. (2016)'s method and Hexun's CSR scores for companies listed on the Chinese stock market were used. Hexun is one of the three major evaluation agencies in China, and the CSR scores evaluated by this agency have been widely used in previous studies as a representative indicator of Chinese companies' CSR performance. The results of this study are as follows. First, EPU and corporate value were found to have a negative (-) relationship. Second, active CSR activities relieved the negative (-) relationship between EPU and corporate value. Finally, companies were divided into groups according to CSR activity scores to analyze the relationship and according to the result, the negative (-) relationship between EPU and corporate value was greater in the groups with low CSR activity scores than in the groups with high CSR activity scores. A lag model was applied to control endogeneity, and the results were consistent with the main results above. Previous studies have mainly focused on microscopic factors to investigate factors affecting corporate value. This study focused on macroeconomic policies and paid attention to the effects of changes in the macroenvironment caused by economic policy uncertainty on corporate value. In addition, this study is meaningful in that it expanded previous studies related to CSR activities by confirming that active CSR activities can be an advantageous tool for overcoming EPU.

This study investigates the effect of dividend policy on firm performance and value in the Korean market, taking into account the unique context of Chaebol ownership structures. Analyzing 5,478 observations from the Korean Composite Stock Price Index, the research employs multiple regression models to explore the effects of various dividend policy measures under alignment and entrenchment theories. The key findings reveal significant impacts of cash dividend payment on firm value, while dividend yield and dividend policy exhibit varying associations. In the Chaebol and non-Chaebol context, mixed results suggest complex interactions between dividend policy and business outcomes. Policy recommendations emphasize transparent communication about dividend policy to mitigate information asymmetry and enhance corporate governance in the Korean market.

Abstract: The search for alternative protein sources to soy-bean meal (SBM) in animal feeding is a strategic objective to reduce production costs and contribute to a sustainable animal produc-tion. Spirulina, due to the high protein content, has emerged as a potential cost-effective, sus-tainable, viable and high nutritional value food resource for many animal species. Insect larvae (Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens) are also considered potential alternatives to SBM, given their high edible percentage of almost 100%, as well as a protein value higher than that of vegetable proteins. Rapeseed meal and grain legumes, such as faba beans, peas, lupins and chickpea can also be used as locally producible protein ingredients. This study reviews the nutritional value of these potential alternatives to SBM in pig diets, effects on animal perfor-mance, digestion, immune system, physicochemical and sensorial characteristics of meat, in-cluding processed meat products of pork. Limits on their use in pig feeding are also reviewed to indicate gaps to be filled in future research on the supplementation level of these potential al-ternative protein sources into pig diets.

Lignocellulosic biomass has demonstrated great potential as feedstock for pellet production, notwithstanding the fact that the industrial production of pellets is faced with some economic challenges. This study presents a technoeconomic analysis of six case scenarios to develop a process model for pellet production from sawdust and oat straw that employs torrefaction and steam explosion pretreatment prior to pelletization. SuperPro Designer was used to carry out this evaluation. The pellet plants were designed to have a capacity of 9.09 t/h of sawdust and oat straw each. The pellet yield ranged from 59 kt– 72 kt/year. Scenarios analyzed included variations of steam explosion and torrefaction. In some scenarios materials were lost in the form of liquid and gas due to the pretreatment process. The breakdown of equipment purchase cost showed that the torrefaction reactor is the most expensive unit with about 51% of the purchase cost. Facility-dependent and feedstock costs were the major significant contributors to the pellet production cost. The profitability of pellet production as determined by the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and payback period and was found to be sensitive to variations in feedstock cost.

In contemporary society, organizations increasingly prioritize ESG (Environment, So-cial, Governance) management to generate social value alongside profit-seeking. This commit-ment to social responsibility plays a positive role for organizational members, contributing to overall organizational growth This study explores the impact of perceptions of ESG management within public sports organizations on organizational civic behavior and proposes strategies for improving management and attachment, with the goal of fostering a more sustainable and so-cially responsible organizational culture. A survey involving 343 employees from govern-ment-affiliated public sports organizations in South Korea was conducted. Structural equation modeling, coupled with dual mediation analysis, unveiled that the perceived performance of ESG management significantly relies on both social value orientation and organizational identifica-tion to drive organizational civic behavior, confirming complete mediation effects. These findings underscore ESG management's ability to foster social value orientation and organizational iden-tification, thereby bolstering organizational civic behavior and significantly shaping the culture and conduct of public sports organizations. This research offers valuable insights for upholding organizational social responsibility and ensuring sustainable development within such organi-zations.

Background: Acute viral gastroenteritis remains a leading cause of health care cost globally, prompting the need for basic diagnostic strategies. Objectives: This study aims to assess the impact of viral gastroenteritis on hemogram and C-reactive protein. Methods: By conducting a retrospective study, three groups of children diagnosed with gastroenteritis (rotavirus positive, adenovirus positive and rota/adenovirus negative group) were compared in terms of hemogram parameters and C- reactive protein. Results: Among 756 children with gastroenteritis, 7.9% of patients were rotavirus positive and 6.5% of them were adenovirus positive. Our findings disclosed a statistically significant association between low lymphocyte (2.2 ± 1.45) and MPV value (7.38 ± 0.4 fL) with rotavirus gastroenteritis. Also, the analysis revealed a high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (2.8± 2.1) in rotavirus group. However, our study did not reveal any prominent laboratory marker that serves as a distinctive feature of adenovirus unlike rotavirus. Conclusions: In conclusion our research highlights the potential of decreased mean platelet volume and lymphopenia as diagnostic markers for rotavirus gastroenteritis.

In this study, we investigate the existence of positive solutions within a system of Riemann-Liouville fractional differential equations that incorporate the (r1,r2,r3)-Laplacian operator while being subject to three-point boundary conditions. These equations incorporate various fractional derivatives and are influenced by parameters represented as (ψ1,ψ2,ψ3). Our approach involves employing techniques such as cone expansion and compression of the functional type, in conjunction with the Leggett-Williams fixed point theorem, to establish the existence of positive solutions. To emphasize the practical significance of our findings in the realm of fractional differential equations, we provide two illustrative examples.

This study addresses the challenge of objectively quantifying the value of specific views, known to provide psychological and physical benefits, from city center apartments. Unlike subjective evaluations, objective measurement is hindered by limited research and methodology. The research focuses on quantifying visibility by projecting rays from measurement points and determining whether they intersect with unobstructed views, such as the sky and natural elements. Two metrics are proposed to evaluate visibility: the number of view rays and the ratio of view rays to windows. The study analyzed 17 types of residential units in 12 complexes in northern Seoul, South Korea, with the aim of isolating the effect of views on housing prices from other factors. Correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between view and housing prices. The results indicated that valuations based on average visibility are more favorable than those based on maximum visibility. The amount of visibility showed a stronger correlation with apartment prices than the number of floors, suggesting the need to measure views across the entire space. The study's methodology can be applied to analyze views in different buildings and urban areas.

The thermal properties of a building envelope are key indicators of the energy performance of the building. Therefore, methods are needed to determine quantities like U-values or heat capacitance in a fast, reliable way and with as little impact on the use of the building as possible. In this paper a technique is proposed that relies on a simplified electrical analogical model of building envelope components which can cover their dynamic thermal behavior. The parameters of this model are optimized to produce the best fit between simulated and measured outside surface temperatures. As the temperatures can be measured remotely with an infrared camera this approach requires significantly less installation effort and intrusion in the building than other methods. At the same time, a single measurement provides data for a large range of locations on a facade or a roof. The paper describes the method and a first experimental implementation of it. The experiment indicates that this method has the potential to produce results which have an accuracy that is comparable to standardized reference methods.

The application of evolutionary optimization algorithms in problem solving is currently gaining wide popularity. Use of Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm in obtaining analytically approximate solution of unstable second order initial value Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) is presented in this work. The methodology involves solving an associated problem of optimization with con-strains to get an analytically approximate solution for the ODE under consider-ation. Three test cases were used to demonstrate the efficiency of our method. In comparison with other methods discussed in the literature, our method gave significant improvement on the accuracy of the obtained results.

The estimation of ecological service system value of water resources in Tarim river basin is of great significance for resource allocation management and ecological protection. However, there is still no unified and complete evaluation method for ecological service system value of inland river in China. Based on the perspective of the whole value chain, the study classifies its ecological service functions, and divides 11 sub-categories into 4 categories (supply, regulation, culture and support) as evaluation indicators to carry out quantitative evaluation. The results showed that the total value of ecological service system in Tarim river basin in 2018 was 4156.5247×108 Yuan, and the value of regulating function, cultural function, supporting function and supply function were successively from high to low, which were as follows: 2565.6825×108 Yuan, 1009.5471×108 Yuan, 884.0770×108 Yuan, 20.3350×108 Yuan, among which the value of regulation function is dominant.

In Europe, the recent application of regulations oriented to zero-energy buildings and climate neutrality in 2050 has led to a reduction in energy consumption for heating and cooling in the construction sector. The thermal insulation of the building envelope plays a key role in this process and the requirements about the maximum allowable thermal transmittance are defined by country-specific guidelines. Typically, high insulation values provide low energy consumption for heating, however, they may paradoxically imply the risk of overheating in summer period and thus negatively affect the overall performance of the building. In addition, the embodied energy and related emissions caused by the manufacturing and transportation processes of thermal insulation cannot be further neglected in the evaluation of the best optimal solution. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the influence in terms of embodied and operational energy of various walls’ thermal insulation thicknesses on residential buildings in Europe. To this end, the EnergyPlus engine was used for the energy simulation within Ladybug &amp; Honeybee tools, by parametrically conducting multiple iterations; 53 variations of external wall U-value, considering high and low thermal mass scenarios, were simulated for 100 reference cities of the European context, using a representative multifamily building as a reference. The results demonstrate that massive walls generally perform better than lightweight structures and, of course, the best solution in terms of energy varies according to each climate. The optimal values are graphically reported on the map of Europe according to specific climatic features, providing a guidance for new constructions and building retrofit.

A paradigm shift away from null hypothesis significance testing seems in progress. Based on simulations, we illustrate some of the underlying motivations. First, P-values vary strongly from study to study, hence dichotomous inference using significance thresholds is usually unjustified. Second, statistically significant results have overestimated effect sizes, a bias declining with increasing statistical power. Third, statistically non-significant results have underestimated effect sizes, and this bias gets stronger with higher statistical power. Fourth, the tested statistical hypotheses usually lack biological justification and are often uninformative. Despite these problems, a screen of 48 papers from the 2020 volume of the Journal of Evolutionary Biology exemplifies that significance testing is still used almost universally in evolutionary biology. All screened studies tested default null hypotheses of zero effect with the default significance threshold of p = 0.05, none presented a pre-specified alternative hypothesis, pre-study power calculation, and the probability of ‘false negatives’(beta error). The results sections of the papers presented 49 significance tests on average (median 23, range 0–390). Of 41 studies that contained verbal descriptions of a ‘statistically non-significant’ result, 26 (63%) falsely claimed the absence of an effect. We conclude that studies in ecology and evolutionary biology are mostly exploratory and descriptive. We should thus shift from claiming to ‘test’ specific hypotheses statistically to describing and discussing many hypotheses (possible true effect sizes) that are most compatible with our data, given our statistical model. We already have the means for doing so, because we routinely present compatibility (‘confidence’) intervals covering these hypotheses.

Purpose: To assess the utility of measurement of the computed tomography (CT) attenuation value (CTav) in predicting tumor necrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who achieve a complete response (CR), defined using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), after lenvatinib treatment. Method: We compared CTav in arterial phase CT images with postoperative histopathology in four patients who underwent HCC resection after lenvatinib treatment, to determine CTav thresholds indicative of histological necrosis (N-CTav). Next, we confirmed the accuracy of the determined N-CTav in 15 cases with histopathologically proven necrosis in surgical specimens. Furthermore, the percentage of the tumor with N-CTav, i.e. the N-CTav occupancy rate, assessed using Image J software in 30 tumors in 12 patients with CR out of 571 HCC patients treated with lenvatinib, and its correlation with local recurrence following CR were examined. Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an optimal cut-off value of CTav of 30.2 HU, with 90.0% specificity and 65.0% sensitivity in discriminating between pathologically identified necrosis and degeneration, with a CTav of less than 30.2 HU indicating necrosis after lenvatinib treatment (N30-CTav). Furthermore, the optimal cut-off value of 30.6% for the N30-CTav occupancy rate by ROC analysis was a significant indicator of local recurrence following CR with 76.9% specificity and sensitivity (area under the ROC curve; 0.939), with the CR group with high N30-CTav occupancy (&gt;30.6%) after lenvatinib treatment showing significantly lower local recurrence (8.3% at 1 year) compared with the low (&lt;30.6%) N30-CTav group (P&lt;0.001, 61.5% at 1 year). Conclusion: The cut-off value of 30.2 HU for CTav (N30-CTav) might be appropriate for identifying post-lenvatinib necrosis in HCC, and an N30-CTav occupancy rate of &gt;30.6% might be a　predictor of maintenance of CR. Use of these indicators have the potential to impact systemic chemotherapy for HCC.

AAs the global energy market undergoes a wholesale transformation accelerated by the need to decarbonise, a rapid transition to renewable energy and the mass deployment of distributed energy resources, autonomous energy networks or microgrids are emerging as an attractive mechanism for the delivery of electricity to end users. Yet in Australia, at least, relatively little is known about key aspects of microgrids that are fundamental to their successful deployment, not least the more commercial and economic elements rather than the purely technical. Drawing on the extant global literature on microgrids, this paper explores the most important of these aspects including business models, ownership and investment. Identifying the ambiguity, inconsistency and uncertainty evident in many of the feasibility studies currently in train across Australia, this paper highlights specific areas for future research that need to be addressed if the full potential of microgrids is to be realised in the context of a global energy transition both domestically and internationally.

Two sets of initial conditions are used in the investigation of capital return rate and carbon storage in boreal forests. Firstly, a growth model is applied in young stands as early as the inventory-based model is applicable. Secondly, the growth model is applied to observed wooded stands. Four sets of thinning schedules are investigated in either case. First, the capital return rate is aspired without any restriction. Second, the number of thinnings is restricted to at most one. Third, thinnings are restricted to the removal of only trees thicker than 237 mm. Fourth, commercial thinnings are omitted. The two sets of initial conditions yield similar results. The capital return rate is a weak function of rotation age, which results in variability in the optimal number of thinnings. Reducing the number of thinnings to one increases timber stock but induces a capital return rate deficiency. The deficiency per excess volume unit is smaller if the severity of any thinning is restricted by the removal of large trees only. Omission of thinnings best applies to spruce-dominated stands with stem count less than 2000/ha. Restricted thinning intensity applies to deciduous stands and dense pine stands. The albedo effect increases the benefits of restricted thinnings and increased clearcuttings instead of contradicting the carbon storage.

Nested structure is a structural feature that is conducive to system stability formed by the co-evolution of species in mutualistic ecosystems, and reflects the ability of ecosystem stability to be restored to a stable state again after being destroyed. The co-opetition relationship and value flow between industrial sectors in the global value chain are similar to the mutualistic ecosystem, and the pattern of the global economic system is always changing in dynamic equilibrium. Nestedness theory is used in this article to define the generalist and specialist sectors in the global value chain to analyze the changes in the global supply pattern. Then we study the mechanism of the global economic system to reach a stable equilibrium and the role of different sectors in the steady of the economic system, so as to provide countermeasures for enhancing the stability of the global economic system. At the end of the article, the domestic trade network, export trade network and import trade network of each country are extracted, and an econometric model is designed to analyze how the microstructure of the production system affects a country’s macroeconomic performance, thereby deriving the conclusion that the stability of the international trade network is crucial to a country's economic development.

Unique analytical challenges arise when drivers, who face a route choice between a toll lane and a set of free lanes, have different values of time. The most complex situation is one in which multiple sub-populations of drivers exist, each with their own unique mean and coefficient of variation of value of time. This situation, when imbedded within a larger network cannot be tackled using existing planning models, and consequently is usually only approximated. This paper examines these different approximations, the resulting numerical solutions and the implications of these approximations on the estimate of the number of expected toll lane users. The paper also shows how this problem can be solved using a combined traffic assignment/simulation model. The first part of this paper develops an analytical formulation for solving the toll lane scenario using the “value of time” representations range from the simplest to the most complex. It is shown that one of the most critical issues is a determination of who the marginal users are of the toll lane, at each level of usage, as the perceived disutility of the last marginal toll lane user depends dynamically upon that driver’s value of time. Analytical formulations based on these different approximations are then solved numerically in the second part of the paper. These numerical solutions show that significant different lane use estimates result, depending upon the representation of value of time. Consequently, it is clear that solving this problem with the fewest approximations is both of theoretical and practical importance. The third part of the paper illustrates the solution to the toll lane problem, with each level of approximation, using a combined traffic assignment/simulation model. The simulated resulting estimates of the toll lane usage for each case matches both the relative and absolute trends found in analytical solutions. However, the solution using the assignment/simulation model is not only much faster and simpler to obtain, but is also scalable both in size and complexity. The additional complexities, that are associated with a less approximate representation of value of time, should therefore be incorporated in all future assessments of toll lane facilities, be they analyzed analytically or through simulation.

This article presents description of social structures such as, for example, states, in the context of their consideration as systems. Moreover, it seeks to develop K. Marx’s model in terms of systematic approach, as well as to justify the application of the Fibonacci sequence to systems in general and, in particular, to social systems. The description covers a wide range of issues, ranging from the assertion of the basic principle of living systems as patterns in resources flows to description of functions of various aspects of states and their economics in terms of objective needs of such structures. In addition, this article justifies synergetic effect based on proposed model, and the way this effect is applied to state systems. Moreover, it includes the description of main changes of socio-economic formations throughout the history as a natural development of social systems, including possible modern stages. The fundamental tool of this description is description of essence of the mechanism of property rights and its formation options. The differences of two extreme directions of such development are also described on the basis of the objective factor of resource provision. Special attention is given to the concept of surplus value as a feature of social production systems.

This paper presents and discusses the pedagogical implication of teaching Shared Value, presenting a case study about a contamination lab namely the case of the Shared Value Living Lab (SVLL) which took place at the University of Torino (UniTO) in Italy. The paper analyzes the pedagogical side of CSV (arguments, topics, learning methodologies, etc.) in the framework of recent theories and approaches of teaching sustainability in business school and in the cooperation between industry and academia, as well. Our research methodology relies on the analysis and comparison of one case study under an intrinsic as it enables researchers to find “interactivity” and connectedness between the individuals participating. The SVLL case is an interesting example of co-creation of social value between academia and its stakeholders. First, it represents an inclusive project linking society and business; second, SVLL acted as a hub putting in contact different interlocutors; third, SVLL training stimulated the acquisition of soft skill in students (interviews, managing relations, represents the project outside university, explaining the project to people, research curiosity) through contamination activities. With our study, we demonstrate the change in students participating in the SVLL may not only be cognitive but also affective, making students feel hopeful, empowered and liberated, and ready to contribute to a more profound change towards the vast array of pro-sustainability behaviors.

Land consolidation engineering inevitably interferes with terrestrial ecosystems, leading to natural capital loss. Therefore, conducting an ecological sensitivity evaluation of a project area before consolidation engineering is very important for reducing unnecessary human interference. Conservation of terrestrial ecosystems and the biodiversity therein to the greatest possible extent is urgently needed. This research analyzes the interference by human activities caused by land consolidation engineering in terrestrial ecosystems. GIS technology, ecological values, landscape pattern indexes, and an ecological risk evaluation were used to construct an ecological sensitivity evaluation index. The coefficient of variation method and a comprehensive sensitivity rating evaluation were used to calculate the weights and results. The project area was divided into sensitivity zones according to the results, and the results and suggestions are as follows: In the highly eco-sensitive zone, where bare rocks, gravel, and grass-covered areas compose the main landscape type, vegetation should be restored, and forests should be planted. In the medium eco-sensitivity zone, where irrigated paddy fields and arid land compose the main landscape type, land parcels should be merged, and agricultural infrastructure should be constructed or improved. In the low eco-sensitivity zone, where forests compose the main landscape type, roads should be closed, natural habitat should be restored, and buffer zones should be created. This study provides suggestions for future land management decisions.

Abstract: Rice is one of the most important food crops in sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change, variability, and economic globalization threaten to disrupt rice value chains across the subcontinent, undermining their important role in economic development, food security, and poverty reduction. This paper maps existing research on the vulnerability of rice value chains, synthesizes the evidence and the risks posed by climate change and economic globalization, and discusses agriculture and rural development policies and their relevance for the vulnerability of rice value chains in sub-Saharan Africa. Important avenues for future research are identified. These include the impacts of multiple, simultaneous pressures on rice value chains, the effects of climate change and variability on parts of the value chain other than production, and the forms and extent to which different development policies hinder or enhance the resilience of rice value chains in the face of climatic and other pressures.

In this paper, we proposed the fusion of two projection based face recognition algorithms: local binary Patterns in DCT domain and singular value decomposition (SVD) characterized by its simplicity and efficiently. Standard databases ORL are used to test the experimental results which prove that proposed system achieves more accurate face recognition as compared to individual method.

Microglia-related retinal inflammation is associated with a variety of retinal diseases. Lycium barbarum Glycopeptide (LBGP) is the main active component of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) isolated from Lycium barbarum, which possesses antioxidation, neuroprotection, and immunoregulation. However, whether LBGP has beneficial effects on LPS/IFN-γ (L/I) induced retinal microglial activation and its underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we observed the anti-inflammatory properties of LBGP in microglia activated by LPS and IFN-γ (L/I), examining both primary retinal microglia and BV2 microglial cells. Cells were pretreated with LBGP for 2h before stimulated with LPS/IFN-γ (L/I) for 24h. The dosages of LBGP for cells were evaluated by using the CCK-8 assay. The morphological changes were observed using an optical microscope. The changes in expression of cytokines and inflammatory mediators were measured with Griess assay, ELISA, qPCR, and immunofluorescence. Western blotting was used to assess MAPK, NF-κB signal transducer. LBGP pre-treatment significantly reversed L/I-induced microglia morphological alterations in area, perimeter, Feret's diameter, and roundness. LBGP significantly alleviated the L/I-induced microglial activation in primary and BV2 microglial cells. LBGP switched the M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype to the M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype by downregulating the expression of M1 markers (iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, COX2, CD16, and CD86) and upregulating the expression of M2 markers (arginase 1 and CD206). Furthermore, LBGP attenuated the activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways in L/I-activated BV2 cells. In summary, it is suggested that LBGP pretreatment significantly alleviated L/I-induced retinal inflammation by regulating microglial(M1/M2) polarization via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

(1) Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in people with HBV and human immunodeficiency virus (HBV/HIV) in Botswana. (2) Methods: We sequenced HBV from participants with HBV/HIV from the Botswana Combination Prevention Project study (2013-2018) using the Oxford Nanopore GridION platform. Consensus sequences were analyzed for genotypic and mutational profiles. (3) Results: Overall, 98 HBV sequences had evaluable reverse transcriptase region coverage. The median participant age was 43 years (IQR: 37, 49) and 66/98 (67.4%) were female. Most participants, 85/97 (87.6%) had suppressed HIV viral load (VL). HBV RAMs were identified in 61/98 (62.2%) participants. Most RAMs were in positions 204 (60.3%), 180 (50.5%) and 173 (33.3%), mostly associated with lamivudine resistance. The triple mutations, rtM204V/L180M/V173L and was the most predominant (17/61 [27.9%]). Most participants (96.7%) with RAMs were on antiretroviral therapy for a median duration of 7.5 years (IQR: 4.8, 10.5). Approximately 27.9% (17/61) of participants with RAMs had undetectable HBV VL, 50.8% (31/61) had VL &lt;2000IU/mL and 13/61 (21.3%) had VL ≥2000 IU/mL. (4) Conclusions: The high prevalence of lamivudine RAMs discourages the use of ART regimens with 3TC as the only HBV-active drug in people with HIV/HBV.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) requires a complete staging at diagnosis that may have prognostic and therapeutic implications. The role of bone marrow (BM) biopsy (BMB) is contro-versial in the era of nuclear-imaging techniques. We performed a comparative review of 25 studies focused on BM evaluation at DLBCL diagnosis, including at least two of the following techniques: BMB, flow cytometry, and positron emission tomography (PET-FDG). The report about BM involvement (BMi), diagnostic accuracy and prognostic significance was collected and compared among techniques. A concordance analysis between BMB, FCM and PET was also per-formed, and we deeply evaluated the implications of the different types of BMi: concordant by LBCL or discordant by low-grade B-cell lymphoma for both BMB and FCM, and focal or diffuse uptake pattern for PET. As main conclusion, BMB, FCM and PET are complementary tools which provide different and clinically relevant information in the assessment of BMi in newly DLBCL.

Primary bone lymphoma of the scapula is a rare tumor that usually causes local pain. Presented patient suffered for two years from paresthesia, tingling, numbness, and edema of the little and ring finger. The 45-year-old man underwent several radiological and neurological assessments of the palm, elbow and neck prior to radiographs revealing the tumor of the left shoulder. Once diffuse large B cell lymphoma was confirmed, immunochemotherapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and methylprednisolone (R-CHOP) started. The treatment was accompanied by antiviral treatment with lamivudine due to positive hepatitis B virus serology and with bisphosphonate treatment for the prevention of bone resorption. Once immunochemotherapy was finished, the treatment was supplemented by radiotherapy of the shoulder. After more than three years of accomplishing remission, the patient had an ischemic stroke manifesting with right-sided hemiparesis. Following the physical therapy, the patient is currently in the process of evaluation for thrombophilia, as well as further cardiac assessment due to the positive transcranial Doppler bubble test setting high suspicion for the presence of patent foramen ovale.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that is increasingly affecting patients with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). This connection is particularly pronounced in specific populations, including individuals with diabetes or those who have recently undergone corticosteroid therapy. Additionally, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a frequent complication among COVID-19 patients who have previously received corticosteroid or other immune-modulatory treatments. In this case report, we present the clinical details of a 56-year-old male who developed post-COVID pneumonia complicated by both cutaneous mucormycosis and CMV infection.

Influenza is an acute respiratory illness caused by influenza virus infection, which is managed using vaccines and antiviral drugs. Recently, the antiviral effects of plants and foods have gained attention. This review summarizes the therapeutic properties of Euglena against influenza from a functional food viewpoint. While it has been reported that Euglena contributes to suppressing blood sugar levels and ameliorates symptoms caused by stress by acting on the autonomic nervous system, the immunostimulatory and antiviral activities of Euglena have also been reported. In this review, I focused on the immunostimulation of antiviral activity via the intestinal environment and the suppression of viral replication in infected cells. The functions of specific components of Euglena, which also serve as a source of a wide range of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and β-1,3-glucan (paramylon), are also reviewed. Euglena has animal and plant properties and natural compounds with a wide range of functions, providing crucial information for improved antiviral strategies.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) poses public health challenges, and this has led to a continuous search for effective novel antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to isolate marine actinomycetes from South Africa, evaluate their in vitro antimicrobial activity against Listeria and STEC, and characterize their mechanisms of action. Marine actinoymcetes were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the chemical constituents of bioactive actinomycetes secondary metabolites. Antibacterial activity of the secondary metabolites was assessed by the broth microdilution method and their mode of actions were predicted using computational docking. While five strains showed antibacterial activity during primary screening, only Nocardiopsis dassonvillei strain SOD(B)ST2SA2 exhibited activity during secondary screening for antibacterial activity. GC-MS identified five major bioactive compounds: 1-octadecene, diethyl phthalate, pentadecanoic acid, 6-octadecenoic acid, and tri-fluoroacetoxy hexadecane. SOD(B)ST2SA2`s extract demonstrated the minimum inhibitory con-centration and minimum bactericidal concentration ranging from 0.78–25 mg/ml and 3.13 to > 25 mg/ml, respectively. Diethyl phthalate displayed the lowest bacterial protein binding energies (kcal/mol): −7.2, dihydrofolate reductase; −6.0, DNA gyrase B, and −5.8, D-alanine:D-alanine lig-ase. Thus, marine N. dassonvillei SOD(B)ST2SA2 is a potentially good source of antibacterial compounds that can be used to control STEC and Listeria monocytogenes.

Respiratory infections constitute a major reason for infants and children seeking medical advice and visiting health facilities, thus remaining a significant public threat with high morbidity and mortality. The predominant viruses causing viral respiratory infections are influenza A and B viruses (Flu-A, Flu-B), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Adenovirus and Coronaviruses. We aimed to record the incidence of RSV, SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B and Adenovirus cases with rapid antigen tests and validate the results with RT-PCR assay of upper respiratory specimens with a wide range of viral loads and (co)-infection patterns in children. Clinical samples were collected from early symptomatic children (presenting with fever and/or cough and/or headache within 5–7 days). The surveillance program was conducted in five private pediatrician dispensaries and one Pediatric care unit, from 10 January 2023 to 30 March 2023 in central Greece. The total sample of specimens collected was 784 young children and infants, of which 383 (48.8%) ware female and 401 were male (51.2%). The mean age of participants was 7.3 + 5.5 years. The sensitivity of FLU A &amp; B test was 91.15% (95% CI: 84.33% -95.67%), and the specificity was 98.96% (95% CI: 97.86% - 99.58%). The sensitivity and specificity of the adenovirus and RSV test was {92.45% (95% CI: 81.79% - 97.91%), 99.32% (95% CI: 98.41% -99.78%)} and {92.59% (95% CI: 75.71% -99.09%), 99.47% (95% CI: 98.65% - 99.86%)} respectively. Lastly, the sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 test was 100.00% (95% CI: 79.41%-100.00%) and the specificity was 99.74% (95% CI: 99.06% - 99.97%). We recorded proportion of incidence for the Influenza-A and B, (14.3%), - (3.44%) correspondingly, followed by the adenovirus with a proportion (6.9%) and the RSV with (3.7%) incidence proportion and finally, the SARS-CoV-2 (2.3%). The combination of a new multiple rapid test with multiple antigens, will be probably a useful tool with financial impact for health systems targeting the early detection and right treatment of respiratory infections in the emergency departments in primary health care facilities.

The chitin synthase B gene is a key enzyme in the chitin synthesis of insect peritrophic matrix (PM), affecting insects' feeding behavior. The chitin synthase B gene has been cloned from the transcription library of Heortia vitessoides Moore. RT-qPCR showed that HvChsb was highly expressed in the larval stage of H. vitessoides, especially on the first day of the prepupal stage, and in the midgut of larvae and the abdomen of adults. After starvation treatment, HvChsb was found to be significantly inhibited with time. After 48 h of starvation, the feeding experiment showed that HvChsb increased with the prolongation of the refeeding time. The experimental data showed that feeding affected the expression of HvChsb. HvChsb was effectively silenced by RNA interference, so its function was lost, significantly decreasing the survival rate of H. vitessoides. The survival rate from larval-to-pupal stages was only 43.33%, accompanied by abnormal phenotypes. It can be seen that HvChsb plays a key role in the average growth and development of H. vitessoides.

Treating relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is still challenging for clinicians, but the available CAR-T and bispecific antibodies revolutionized therapy. Autologous stem cell transplantation was the most effective treatment modality previously. The authors report data from a single center over ten years. The retrospective study included 116 patients. There were 53 relapsed, 39 primary refractory cases, 19 had CNS involvement, and 5 received primary consolidation transplants. The median duration of follow-up was 46 months. The median event-free survival was 75 months, and the median overall survival was 105 months for all cases. Five-year overall survival was 59%, and event-free survival was 54%. Pretreatment prognostic factors at diagnosis had no effect on the outcome of transplantation. The authors found no difference between survival in relapsed or refractory cases, and the number of salvage lines or the germinal center / activated B-cell type also did not influence the results. Complete metabolic response before transplant confirmed by 18FDG PET/CT strongly affected survival. The pretransplant creatinine and CRP levels significantly influenced the long-term outcome. The number of stem cells infused did not affect survival, but engraftment within nine days did result in better survival. These data support the finding that the response to salvage therapy did select a better prognostic group who may still benefit from autologous transplantation.

Hypoxia represents one of the key factors that stimulate the growth of leukemic cells in their niche. Leukemic cells in hypoxia are forced to reprogram their original transcriptome, miRNome, and metabolome. How the coupling of miRNAs/mRNAs helps to maintain or progress the leukemic status is still not fully described. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate practically all biological processes within cells and play a crucial role in leukemia development/progression. Here we worked with the human cell line MEC-1 (human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)) where we deleted mature miR-155 by CRISPR/Cas9. MEC-1 cells in hypoxia showed a higher proliferation rate with a relatively low level of apoptosis. Interestingly, miR-155 deficiency decreased the proliferation rate in both, normoxia and hypoxia. Besides common hypoxia-related genes (HIF1α, EGLN1, VHL, HK1, and HK2), we also measured, genes for glucose transporters SLC2A1 (GLUT1) and SLC2A3 (GLUT3). Surprisingly, only SLC2A3 (GLUT3) showed significant overexpression in hypoxia conditions in miR-155 deficient MEC-1cells which points to the possible novel target of miR-155 in CLL. Increased glucose uptake and decreased lactate support our hypothesis that miR-155 deficiency and hypoxia transform cell metabolism. To conclude, miR-155 deficiency and hypoxia-impaired glucose metabolism stimulate GLUT3 in CLL cells.

Duke University was founded in 1930 primarily due to funds generated from James B. Duke’s tobacco business. Duke achieved great financial wealth primarily due to the early application of machine rolled cigarettes, as opposed to hand rolled. This early adoption of technology allowed Duke Tobacco to out-produce other companies still selling hand rolled cigarettes. By making smoking more inexpensive and easier than pipe smoking, the cigarette formed the foundation for nicotine addiction in the 1900s, generating huge profits for the tobacco industry. At the time Duke University was founded, little was known about the connection between nicotine, cigarettes, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema and lung cancer. Through James Duke’s philanthropy, the devastating harm from cigarettes has been mitigated in part through the founding of one of the world’s most prominent medical centers and research universities.

Viruses can induce the fusion of infected and neighboring cells, leading to the formation of syncytia. Cell-cell fusion is mediated by viral fusion proteins on the plasma membrane of infected cells that interact with cellular receptors on neighboring cells. Viruses use this mechanism to spread rapidly to adjacent cells or escape host immunity. For some viruses, syncytium formation is a hallmark of infection and a known pathogenicity factor. For others, the role of syncytium formation in viral dissemination and pathogenicity remains poorly understood. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients and the leading cause of congenital infections. Clinical HCMV isolates have broad cell tropism but differ in their ability to induce cell-cell fusions, and little is known about the molecular determinants. We developed a system to analyze HCMV glycoprotein B (gB) variants in a defined genetic background. HCMV strains TB40/E and TR were used as vectors to compare the fusogenicity of six gB variants from congenitally infected fetuses with those from three laboratory strains. Five of them conferred the ability to induce fusion of MRC-5 human embryonic lung fibroblasts to one or both backbone strains, as determined by a split GFP-luciferase reporter system. The same gB variants were not sufficient to induce syncytia in infected ARPE-19 epithelial cells, suggesting that additional factors are involved. The system described here allows a systematic comparison of the fusogenicity of viral envelope glycoproteins and may help to clarify whether fusion-promoting variants are associated with increased pathogenicity.

Several biomedical products, like scaffolds, implants, prostheses, and orthoses, require materials having superior physicochemical and biological properties. Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) is being increasingly used for various biomedical applications. There are a few studies on PETG-based composites, however, natural fibers like silk short fibers reinfored PETG composites have not been attempted. Being a cost-effective widely available material, PETG-Silk combination can be potential biocomposite for several biomedical applications. Here, we report a novel short silk fiber reinforced PETG composite prepared by a wet-mixing route, ensuring homogenous dispersion of the filler. Different ratios (2-10%) of short silk fibers were used to prepare composites with varied compositions. The mechanical, physicochemical, and biological properties of the prepared composites were analyzed. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that such composites are thermally stable up to 390 °C and can be used for thermal extrusion-based manufacturing. The tensile modulus of the samples increased with fiber content; however, the failure strain reduced with fiber content. Furthermore, upon annealing, the tensile modulus increased but, the failure strain of the composites decreased, XRD study revealed that heat treatment has altered the crystalline nature of the composites. Finally, we evaluated the cytocompatibility of the prepared composites to assess their suitability for various biomedical applications.

Oral immunization with the choleric toxin (CT) elicits a high level of protection against its enterotoxin activities and can control cholera in endemic settings. However, the complete B-cell epitope map of the CT responsible for protection remains to be clarified. Here, we have mapped the B-cell linear epitopes of the three chains of the CT protein (CTP) prepared by Spot synthesis. The immunoreactivity of sera from mice immunized with an oral, inactivated vaccine (Schankol†™) was measured against membrane-bound peptides for mapping. Results: Eighteen IgG epitopes were identified; eight in the CTA, three in the CTB, and seven in the protein P. Three epitopes, TQTGFVRHDDGYVST (aa 66-77, Vc/TxA-3), KNGAIFQVE VPGSQN (aa 64-78, Vc/TxB-11), and LNDEHK (aa 90-95, Vc/TxP-16), were chosen to synthesize a multiple antigen peptide that was used to coat ELISA plates to screen immunized mouse sera as a test for an in vitro diagnostics for cholera. Conclusion: Vaccination with inactive CT-generated antibodies against multiple linear epitopes and the selected epitopes can be used to construct immunological reagents for rapid serological diagnosis of cholera with high sensitivity and specificity.

B chromosomes (Bs) or supernumerary chromosomes are extra chromosomes in the species karyotype that can vary in their copy number. Bs are widespread. Usually, the Bs of specimens collected from natural populations are involved in studies. We applied another approach analyzing the Bs in animals of laboratory cultures. In this study, three species of the Macrostomum genus that underwent a recent whole-genome duplication (WGD) were involved. In laboratory lines of M. lignano and M. janickei, the frequency of Bs was less than 1%, while in the laboratory culture of M. mirumnovem, it was nearer 30%. Their number in specimens of the culture varied from 1 to 14. Mosaicism on Bs was discovered in parts of these animals. We analyzed the distribution of Bs among the worms of the laboratory cultures during long-term cultivation, the transmission rates of Bs in the progeny obtained from crosses of worms with different numbers of Bs, and from self-fertilized isolated worms. The DNA content of the Bs in M. mirumnovem was analyzed with the chromosomal in situ suppression (CISS) hybridization of microdissected DNA probes derived from A chromosomes (As). Bs mainly consisted of repetitive DNA. The cytogenetic analysis also revealed the divergence and high variation in large metacentric chromosomes (LMs) containing numerous regions enriched for repeats. The possible mechanisms of the appearance and evolution of Bs and LMs in species of the Macrostomum genus were also discussed.

Immune checkpoints are a set of molecules dysregulated in several human and canine cancers and aberrations of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis are often correlated with a worse prognosis. To gain insight into the role of immune checkpoints in canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (cDLBCL), we investigated PD-L1, PD-1 and CD8A expression by RNAscope. Results were correlated with several clinico-pathological features, including treatment, Ki67 index and outcome. A total of 33 dogs treated with CHOP (n=12) or CHOP plus APAVAC (n= 21) were included. PD-L1 signal was diffusely distributed among neoplastic cells, whereas PD-1 and CD8A were localized in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. However, PD-1 mRNA was also retrieved in tumor cells. An association between PD-L1 and PD-1 scores was identified and a higher risk of relapse and lymphoma-related death was found in dogs treated with chemotherapy alone and dogs with higher PD-L1 and PD-1 scores. The correlation between PD-L1 and PD-1 is in line with the mechanism of immune checkpoints in cancers, where neoplastic cells overexpress PD-L1 that, in turn, binds PD-1 receptors in activated TIL. We also found that Ki67 index was significantly increased in dogs with the highest PD-L1 and PD-1 scores, indirectly suggesting a role in promoting tumor proliferation. Finally, even if the biological consequence of PD-1+ tumor cells is unknown, our findings suggest that PD-1 intrinsic expression in cDLBCL might contribute to tumor growth escaping adaptive immunity.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has demonstrated high rates of response in recurrent B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in children and young adults. Despite this success, a fraction of patients experience relapse after treatment. Relapse is often preceded by recovery of healthy B cells, which suggests loss or dysfunction of CAR T cells in bone marrow. This site is harder to access, and thus is not monitored as frequently as peripheral blood. Understanding the interplay between B cells, leukemic cells and CAR T cells in bone marrow is paramount in ascertaining the causes of lack of response. In this paper, we put forward a mathematical model representing the interaction between constantly renewing B cells, CAR T cells and leukemic cells in the bone marrow. Our model accounts for the maturation dynamics of B cells and incorporates effector and memory CAR T cells. The model provides a plausible description of the dynamics of the various cellular compartments in bone marrow after CAR T infusion. After exploration of the parameter space, we found that the dynamics of CAR T product and disease were independent of the dose injected, initial B-cell load and tumor burden. We also show theoretically the importance of CAR T product attributes in determining therapy outcome, and have studied a variety of possible response scenarios, including second dosage schemes. We conclude by setting out ideas for the refinement of the model.

Growing evidence has revealed the implication of germline variation in cancer predisposition and prognostication. Here, we describe an analysis of putatively disruptive rare variants across the genomes of 726 patients with B-cell lymphoid neoplasms. We discovered a significant enrichment of 26 genes in germline protein truncating variants (PTVs), affecting cell signaling (MET, JAK2, ANGPT2), energy metabolism (ACO1) and nucleic acid metabolism and repair pathways (NT5E, DCK). Interestingly, some of these variants were restricted to either chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (i.e., ANGPT2 and AKR1C3) or B-cell lymphoma cases (PNMT, TPT1 and IGHMBP2). Additionally, we detected 1,675 likely disrupting variants in genes associated with cancer, of which 44.75% were novel events and 7.88% were PTVs. Among these, the most frequently affected genes were ATM, BIRC6, CLTCL1A and TSC2. Homozygous or compound heterozygous variants were detected in 28 cases; and coexisting somatic events were observed in 17 patients, some of which affected key lymphoma drivers such as ATM, KMT2D and MYC. Finally, we observed that variants in the helicase gene WRN were independently associated with shorter survival in CLL. Our study results support an important role for rare germline variation in the pathogenesis, clinical presentation and disease outcome of B-cell lymphoid neoplasms.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a member of the IL-1 cytokine family has been recently associated with the development of autoimmune diseases, including SLE. IL-33 is an alarmin and a pleiotropic cytokine that affects various types of immune cells via binding to its receptor, ST2. In this study, we determine the impact of intraperitoneal IL-33 treatments in young lupus, NZB/W F1 mice. Mice were treated from the age of 6 to 11 weeks. We then assessed the proteinuria level, renal damage, survival rate, and anti-dsDNA antibodies. The induction of regulatory B (Breg) cells and changes in gene expression were also examined. In comparison to the control group, young NZB/W F1 mice administered with IL-33 had a better survival rate as well as reduced proteinuria level and lupus nephritis. IL-33 treatments significantly induced IgM anti-dsDNA antibody, IL-10 expressing Breg cells, and alternatively induced M2 macrophage gene signatures. These results imply that IL-33 exhibit regulatory roles during lupus onset via the expansion of protective IgM anti-dsDNA as well as regulatory cells such as Bregs and M2 macrophages.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global public problem despite the availability of effective vaccine. In the past decades, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has surpassed HBV as the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The prevalence of concomitant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and NAFLD, thus, reaches endemic in geographic regions where both conditions are common. Patients with CHB and NAFLD are at increased risk of liver disease progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Due to complexity of the pathogenesis, accurate diagnosis of NAFLD in CHB patients can be challenging. Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing and determining the disease severity, but it is an invasive procedure with potential complications. There is a growing body of literatures on the application of novel noninvasive serum biomarkers and advanced radiological modalities to diagnose and evaluate NAFLD, but most have not been adequately validated especially for patients with CHB. Currently, there is no approved therapy for NAFLD though many new agents are in different phases of development. This review provides a summary of the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of the NAFLD and highlights the unmet needs in the areas of CHB and NAFLD coexistence.

Among many other themes, Leonardo da Vinci’s Manuscript B contains several drawings of centrally planned churches, some of which are represented using a plan view paired with a bird’s-eye view. The use of a bird’s-eye instead of an elevation represents an innovative depiction technique, which allows to combine the immediacy of the perspective view with the measurability of the façades, and therefore to describe the three-dimensionality of the buildings. To understand the reasons behind the use of this original technique, the edifices’ shape and classify them we decided to use 3D digital reconstruction techniques, for their ability to avoid misunderstandings in the reconstruction process and in the results. This article describes the method to create the digital models of sixteen churches. A Visual programming language (VPL) script was used as 3D base for modelling the churches achieved from a classification code expressing the aggregative rules of the churches. Then, the geometric process for the construction of the plan and its relationship with the elevation measures was studied for each church. Finally, this information was used for the completion of the 3D models, distinguishing more output variants each time there was an inconsistency between plan and perspective view, a variability of one architectural element or an uncertainty.

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the main DNA repair mechanism for the repair of double strand breaks (DSBs) throughout the course of the cell cycle. DSBs are generated in developing B and T lymphocytes during V(D)J recombination to increase the repertoire of B and T cell receptors. DSBs are also generated during the class switch recombination (CSR) process in mature B lymphocytes, providing distinct effector functions of antibody heavy chain constant regions. Thus, NHEJ is important for both V(D)J recombination and CSR. NHEJ comprises core Ku70 and Ku80 subunits that form the Ku heterodimer, which binds DSBs and promotes the recruitment of accessory factors (e.g., DNA-PKcs, Artemis, PAXX, Mri) and downstream core factors (XLF, Lig4 and XRCC4). In recent decades, new NHEJ proteins have been reported, increasing complexity of this molecular pathway. Numerous in vivo mouse models have been generated and characterized to identify the interplay of NHEJ factors and their role in development of adaptive immune system. This review summarizes the currently available mouse models lacking one or several NHEJ factors, with a particular focus on early B cell development. We also underline genetic interactions and redundancy in the NHEJ pathway in mice.

Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a public health problem in many parts of the world, due to its frequency, complications and socio-economic consequences. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in rural areas and in urban areas. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of HBV infection from 2015-2018 at CHR-Sokodé and USP of Ogaro. Biological data of 3000 participants (500 per year in each zone) enrolled and results of HBsAg were assessed during the study period. Female are represented 60% with average age comprised between [20, 29] years old. The high rate of participants enrolled (45.10%) are come for the monitoring of pregnancy. The prevalence of VHB during the study are 20.33% (610/3000), high prevalence (6.27%) and the means of VHB prevalence are shown in the age range between [30; 39] with 12.17% (365/3000) of female and 8.17% (235/3000) of male are positive after diagnostic detection of HBsAg (antigen of Hepatitis B virus). The prevalence of HBV in rural zone (Ogaro) are 5.23% and 15.07% in urban zone (Sokodé) and the high prevalence (17.50%) are shown in urban zone. The high prevalence of young suggests that some effort will be due to sensibilized young for HBV sexual transmission and the way of prevention. In addition, some research would be done in research of alternative therapy against this infection.

Based on the key molecule of humoral adaptive immunity, the antibody, evolution of the system comprises molecular genetic, cell biologic and immunologic mechanisms, and as a network the system is likely governed and can be characterized by physical rules as well. While deep sequencing can provide vast amounts of data related primarily to clonal relationships, functional interpretation of such data is hampered by the inherent limitations of converting sequence to structure to function. In this paper a novel model of structural interaction space, termed radial adjustment of system resolution, or RADARS, is proposed. The model is based on the radial growth of resolution of structural recognition, corresponding to increasing affinity of immune reactivity, and the virtual infinity of directions of growth, corresponding to the ability to respond to almost any molecular structure. Levels of interaction strength appear as shells of the sphere representing the system. B-cell development and immune responses can be readily interpreted in the model and quantitative properties of the antibody network can be inferred from the physical properties of a quasi-spherical system growing multi-radially. The system is described by double-Pareto distribution, sampling the lognormally distributed equilibrium constants at a rate of phi square. Finally, general strategies for merging antibody sequence space into structural space are outlined.

A highly crystallized monoclinic-scheelite type BiVO4 powders were successfully synthesized by solvothermal method. The as-synthesized BiVO4 powders were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis DRS spectroscopy and TA-PL. From the XRD data and Raman spectra, the monoclinic-scheelite phase BiVO4 sample can be obtained at higher solvothermal synthesis temperature more than 140 oC. The preparation conditions such as, the Bi/V molar ratio and synthesis temperature, have significantly effects on the morphologies of the BiVO4 samples. BVO2 sample shows the highest PL peak, which has the highest formation rate of OH radicals and the highest photocatalytic activity. This result suggests that the formation rate of OH radicals shows a good correlation with the photocatalytic activity.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the dominant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV X protein (HBx) plays crucial roles in HCC carcinogenesis. HBx interferes with several signaling pathways including Notch1 pathway in HCC. In our study, we found that Notch1 was highly expressed in HCC especially in large HCC. Notch1 and HBx co-localized in HCC and their levels were positively correlated with each other. Notch1 expression was more elevated in HepG2.2.15 than that in HepG2. HBx activated Notch1 pathway in HepG2.2.15. Repression of HBx and Notch1 pathway attenuated the growth of HepG2.2.15. Notch1, ERK and AKT pathways were inhibited after a γ-secretase inhibitor treatment. Dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were up-regulated after the γ-secretase inhibitor treatment and Hes1 inhibition. Luciferase reporter assays showed that Hes1 repressed the promoters of DUSP1 and PTEN and this was reverted by γ-secretase inhibitor treatment. Western blotting demonstrated that DUSP1 dephosphorylated pERK and PTEN dephosphorylated pAKT. Collectively, we reported a link among HBx, Notch1 pathway, DUSP1/PTEN, and ERK/AKT pathways, which influenced HCC cell survival and could be a therapeutic target for HCC.

Cryptocurrencies have obtained a crucial position in the international financial landscape. The cryptocurrency market has been perceived as a highly volatile market since the inception of Bitcoin. This study investigates the relevant performance of extreme value models (EVM) in estimating the Value-at-Risk (VaR) of Bitcoin and Ethereum returns. The extreme value mixture models, GPD-Normal-GPD (GNG) and GPD-KDE-GPD models are fitted to the returns of Bitcoin and Ethereum and the Kupiec likelihood backtesting procedure is performed on the VaR estimates to assess the fits. Both models’ results showed that the fits were a much more decent representation of the observed data when compared to the Normal distribution. The backtesting results showed that the GPD-KDE-GPD model’s fit was superior to that of the GPD-Normal-GPD for both sets of returns at all VaR risk levels except at the 99% level. The results of this study may assist with understanding the dynamics and risks associated with cryptocurrencies and can serve as a beneficial tool for decision-making and risk management to investors, traders, financial institutions and many other participants in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

This study aims to broaden the current understanding of the antecedents and consequences of green purchase intention within the realm of perceived green value (PGV) A mixed-method approach is deployed, integrating PLS-SEM and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to examine the role of influence and interaction as key precursors to perceived responsibility and perceived self-efficacy, and explores how perceived responsibility and perceived self-efficacy impacts green purchasing intention, mainly through the mediation of perceived responsibility (PER) and perceived self-efficacy (PSE) using survey data gathered from consumers participating. The results indicate that PGV positively influences green purchase intention (GPI). Moreover, PER and PSE exhibit significant chain mediation effects, with the mediation effect of perceived environmental responsibility being particularly strong. It is recommended that the government intensify green disseminate and education, promote the establishment of certification and evaluation systems for electric vehicle products, and that electric vehicle factories emphasize the environmental attributes and economic interest of their products to encourage green purchasing behavior.

This research focuses on the Hopf bifurcation occurring at a singular point with high-order degeneracy in a class of three-dimensional systems. Based on center manifold theorem, by expanding the technique for determining singular point values of degenerate singularities in two-dimensional systems, the formal series method to determine the singular point values at the high-order degenerate critical point is discussed. Furthermore, a class of specific three-dimensional differential systems with high-order degenerate singularities is explored. By computing the singular point values and determining center conditions, we proved that a minimum of 5 small-amplitude limit cycles in the vicinity of the origin. This research provides new perspectives on the center problem and limit cycle bifurcation in high-dimensional systems with high-order degenerate singular points.

The study was conducted to evaluate the agronomic performance, forage yield, and nutritive values of Desho grass varieties under supplementary irrigation at Dambi Dollo University experimental site, Western Ethiopia. Three Desho grass varieties (Areka /DZF#590, Kindu kosha-1/DZF #591, and Kulumsa /DZF #592) were arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The CROPWAT 8.0 model, local climate data, forage data, and soil data were used to determine Desho grass water requirements and irrigation schedules. The agronomic parameters, yield, chemical composition, and in vitro digestibility of the feed samples at standardization cut were determined following the standard procedures. The results showed significant differences (p

Many corporations have now revised their value statements to showcase their commitment to sustainable development and green business due to the pressing issues of climate and environmental damage. Despite the importance of value statements that can direct companies to achieve sustainable goals, what kind of values can be perceived as organizational orientations to sustainability remains unknown. This study explores how the general public views the inclusion of sustainable components in value statements from the listed companies in Hong Kong by using Q-sort methodology (n = 30). Analyzing the final sample of 40 value statements extracted from 27 listed companies, we identified three factors related to sustainability, namely, Empowering business process management, Empowering customer-centric excellence, and Empowering sustainable progress. This study provides an additional component to the traditional triple bottom line by suggesting that internal operation of a company is an emerging idea to understand corporate sustainability.

The overwhelming evidence supports the assertion that the climate is undergoing change. Understanding the perception of locals of the magnitude of climate change and its influence on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) challenge at a global scale. Although studies on climate change, value addition, and the multiple uses of NTFPs and their impact on local livelihoods have been conducted, locals' perceptions of these factors have not been fully explored. This study aims to assess various social factors, including education, gender, and religion, and their influence on locals' perceptions of the abovementioned factors. The research focused on five regions where NTFPs are prevalent in Ghana (Western North, Bono, Ahafo, Ashanti, and Eastern regions). To investigate the impact of social factors on local perceptions of climate change, value addition, and the multiple values of NTFPs within rural communities, a total of 732 interviews with a team of interviewers across these five regions in Ghana were carried out. We applied a logistic regression model to assess the social factors and their influencing locals’ perceptions of the mentioned variables. It was revealed that age, gender, education, and occupation did not significantly influence locals' perceptions of climate change. However, religion was found to influence locals' perceptions of climate change. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that gender (P<0.000328) and education (P<0.00426) strongly influenced locals' perceptions of value addition to NTFPs. In contrast, religion and constraints (related to time, finance, and skills) did not significantly influence locals' perceptions. Additionally, it was observed that gender (0.00132), education (0.00692), and religion (8.12e-05) significantly influenced how locals perceive and use NTFPs. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay among local perceptions, climate change, value addition, multiple uses of NTFPs, and the capacity of NTFPs to enhance the well-being of forest fringe communities. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive, tailor-made interventions that consider local perspectives and adhere to sustainable approaches, with the aim of optimising the positive impacts of NTFPs in poverty alleviation and overall community development.

Addressing the contemporary challenges of mitigating and adapting to climate change, conserving biodiversity, and ensuring human well-being constitutes a central focus for humanity. These challenges, though often treated in isolation, are intricately interconnected, sharing common drivers. Current and future research emphasizes the pursuit of an integrated approach that minimizes trade-offs and fosters synergies among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The nexus between ecosystem service value (ESV) and the social cost of carbon (SCC) is pivotal in informing national and governmental decisions regarding human well-being and climate change mitigation and adaptation, respectively. This study employs the Zhoushan Archipelago as a case study, exploring ESV and SCC dynamics from 2010 to 2020. An in-depth analysis of spatial development characteristics and the temporal and spatial correlation between ESV and SCC is conducted. The findings reveal an increase in Zhoushan Archipelago's land area from 2010 to 2015, stabilizing thereafter, with construction land exhibiting the most notable proportional growth. Carbon emissions were observed during the study period, with forests identified as the primary carbon sink, followed by mudflat and waterbody, while construction land contributed significantly to carbon emissions. Notably, the SCC in Zhoushan Archipelago increased by 2452%, contrasting with a modest 1.5% decrease in ESV during the study period. Global spatial correlation analysis demonstrated a significant positive correlation between ESV and SCC in Zhoushan Archipelago throughout the study period, validated by passing the P-value test. However, local spatial correlation analysis revealed a specific nature of the global spatial correlation between ESV and SCC in the island area. This nuanced understanding enhances our comprehension of the intricacies surrounding ESV and SCC dynamics, contributing valuable insights to the broader discourse on sustainable regional development, economic decarbonization, and human well-being improvement.

Defining measures of network efficiency and vulnerability for networks is a pivotal aspect in modern networking paradigms. We approach this problem from a game-theoretical perspective. We will consider networks in which actors have social or economic interests modeled by means of a cooperative game. This allows to define, for each network, a family of efficiency measures and another of vulnerability measures, parameterized by the game. The proposed measures use the within groups and the between groups Myerson values. These two values respectively measure which part of the classical allocation of Myerson corresponds to the productivity of players and which part to the intermediation costs. Also, which part of total centrality in social networks is due to communication or to beteewnness. In our proposal, the efficiency of a network is the proportion of the total productivity (or centrality) that players can retain using the network topology. The intermediation costs (and the betweenness centrality) can be viewed as a weakness with a negative impact. Then, we propose to calculate vulnerability as the proportion expent by players in intermediation payments. We explore the properties of these measures and we particularize them to several structures and particular games, also analyzing their asymptotic behaviour.

This study explores the correlation between payment statistics and sector-wise Gross Value Added (GVA) in the Indian economy from 2011 to 2022, assessing the importance of payment and settlement systems. Through regression analysis, the impact of payment statistics on GVA across diverse sectors is assessed. The results indicate that, during the specified period, payment statistics exhibit a significant influence on sector-wise GVA. These findings underscore the pivotal role of payment and settlement systems in the Indian financial landscape.

Using a wide range of organic substrates in the methane fermentation process enables efficient biogas production. Nonetheless, in many cases, the efficiency of electricity generation in biogas plant cogeneration systems is much lower than expected, close to the calorific value of the applied feedstock. This paper analyses energy conversion efficiency in a 1 MWel agricultural biogas plant fed with corn silage or vegetable waste and pig slurry as a feedstock dilution agent, depending on the season and availability. Biomass conversion studies were carried out for 12 months, during which substrate samples were taken once a month. The total primary energy in substrates was estimated in laboratory conditions by measuring the heat of combustion in a ballistic bomb calorimeter (17,760 MWh·year-1), and in the case of pig slurry, biochemical methane potential (BMP, (201.88±3.21 m3·Mg VS-1). Further, the substrates were analysed in terms of their chemical composition — from protein, sugar and fat content to mineral matter determination, among other things. The results obtained during the study were averaged. Based on such things as the amount of biogas produced at the plant, the amount of chemical (secondary) energy contained in methane as a product of biomass conversion (10,633 MWh·year-1) was calculated. Considering the results obtained from the analyses, as well as the calculated values of the relevant parameters, biomass conversion efficiency was determined as a ratio of chemical energy in methane to (primary) energy in substrates, which was 59.87%, as well as electricity production efficiency, as a ratio of electricity produced (4,913 MWh·year-1) to primary energy, with a 35% cogeneration system efficiency. Full energy conversion efficiency, related to electricity production, reached a low value of 27.66%. This article provides an insightful, unique analysis of energy conversion in an active biogas plant as an open thermodynamic system.

This article explores the important role of traditional shipyards in the global maritime industry, covering aspects of construction, repair, and maintenance. With the advent of faster manufacturing techniques, traditional shipyards face important challenges such as planning errors, coordination problems, delivery delays, and underutilization of technology, which results in high costs, reduced productivity, and prolonged projects. The application of Manufacturing Cycle Efficiency (MCE) emerged as an important solution to significantly increase production efficiency. MCE empowers shipyards to deal effectively with waste, bottlenecks, and disruptions, thereby increasing performance, competitiveness, and profitability. Using a comprehensive approach that uses both qualitative and quantitative methods, including field surveys, and in-depth interviews in the traditional shipyards industry, this research identifies Non-Value-Added (NVA) processes, conducts process mapping, and calculates MCE. The findings reported in this article underscore the significant wastage in the production process, indicating an urgent need for improvement, given the current average MCE value of 67.08%, indicating considerable room for improvement. This article provides innovative perspectives on optimizing the traditional shipyards industry through production cycle efficiencies while offering actionable recommendations. Key focus areas include integrating management systems, adopting advanced technologies, and implementing sustainable strategies to improve MCE, especially by reducing non-value-added time wastage, such as inspection and storage. By implementing strategies that optimize production, minimize waste, and overcome the challenges of global competition, this research contributes to improving MCE. In conclusion, this study is an invaluable guide for industry stakeholders, enabling them to enhance their competitiveness and adapt effectively to a dynamic business environment.

Shallow landslides pose serious threats to human existence and economic development, especially in the Himalayan areas. Landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) is a proven way for minimizing the hazard and risk of landslides. Modeling as an essential step, various algorithms have been applied to LSM. In this study, information value (IV) and logistic regression (LR) were selected as representatives of the conventional algorithms, categorical boosting (CatBoost) and conventional neural networks (CNN) as the advanced algorithms, for LSM in Yadong county, and their performance was compared. To begin with, 496 historical landslide events were compiled into a landslide inventory map, followed by a list of 11 conditioning factors, forming a data set. Secondly, the data set was randomly divided into two parts, 80% of which was used for modeling and 20% for validation. Finally, the area under the curve (AUC) and statistical metrics were applied to validate and compare the performance of the models. The results showed that the CNN model performed the best (AUC 0.974 and accuracy=93.3%), while the LR model performed the worst (AUC 0.974 and accuracy=93.3%) and CatBoost model performed better (AUC 0.974 and accuracy=93.3%). Besides, the LSM constructed by the CNN model did a more reasonable prediction of the distribution of susceptible areas. As for feature selection, did a more detailed analysis of conditioning factors but the results were uncertain. The result analyzed by GI may be more reliable but fluctuates with the amount of data. The conclusion reveals that the accuracy of LSM can be further improved with the advancement of algorithms, by determining more representative features, which serve as a more effective guide for land use planning in the study area or other highlands where landslides are frequent.

In this paper, by using the variational method, a sufficient condition for the unique existence of the stationary solution of the reaction-diffusion ecosystem is obtained, which directly leads to the global asymptotic stability of the unique equilibrium point. Moreover, delayed feedback ecosystem with reaction-diffusion item is considered, and utilizing impulse control results in the globally exponential stability criterion of the delayed ecosystem. It is worth mentioning that the Neumann zero-boundary value that the infected and the susceptible people or animals should be controlled in the epidemic prevention area and not allowed to cross the border, which is a good simulation of the actual situation of epidemic prevention. And numerical examples illuminate the effectiveness of impulse control, which has a certain enlightening effect on the actual epidemic prevention work . That is, in the face of the epidemic situation, taking a certain frequency of positive and effective epidemic prevention measures is conducive to the stability and control of the epidemic situation. Particularly, the newly-obtained theorems quantifies this feasible step. Besides, utilizing Laplacian semigroup derives the $p$th moment stability criterion for the impulsive ecosystem.

This paper investigates the dynamic tail dependence risk between BRICS economies and world energy market in the context of the COVID-19 financial crisis of 2020, to determine optimal investment decisions based on risk metrics. For this purpose, the study employs a combination of novel statistical techniques ranging from Markov Switching, GARCH and Vine copula. Using a dataset consisting of daily stock and world crude oil prices; we find high probability of transition between lower and higher volatility regimes. Furthermore, our results based on the C-Vine copula confirm the existence of two types of tail dependence: - symmetric tail dependence between South Africa and China; South Africa and Russia; and lower tail dependence between South Africa and India; South Africa and Brazil; South Africa and Oil. For the purpose of diversification in these markets, we formulate an asset allocation problem using C-vine copula-based returns and optimize it using Particle Swarm algorithm with a rebalancing strategy. The results show an inverse relationship between the risk contribution and asset allocation of South Africa and oil market supporting the existence of lower tail dependence between them. This suggests that when South African stocks are in distress, investors tend to shift their holdings in oil market. Similar results are found between China and oil. In the upper tail, South African asset allocation is found to have an inverse relationship with that of Brazil, Russia and India suggesting that these three markets might be good investment destinations when things are not good in South Africa and vice-versa.

Objective: Taiwan Government’s organizations have endeavored to promote the applications of big data and open data. The “My Health Bank” is one of the measures promoted by the National Health Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare. This study proposes the perspective of the “value co-creation” with the attempt to extend the concept of service ecosystem and apply it on the platform of My Health Bank to examine whether people (patients, families, and caregivers) can promote their health literacy? Method: This cross-sectional study, with people that have registered at “My Health Bank” as subjects. Complying with the inclusion criteria, 401 questionnaires were delivered, with 391 valid ones, excluding those incompletely and inaccurately filled. Result: That the affecting factors of the co-creation of values: age, education level, annual income, and platform operation show to be significant ( p＜0.05); and gender, occupation, and resource exchange do not reach the significant level (p＞0.1). Conclusion: We found My Health Bank changed the inertia of “value creation” in the traditional medical value, it allows the traditional medical and healthcare industry to expose to the impacts of the mega trend of the internet, the transformation of the platform in a necessary trend.

In this article, we establish the existence of and then compare smallest eigenvalues for nabla fractional boundary value problems involving a fractional difference boundary condition, using the theory of u0-positive operators with respect to a cone in a Banach space.

We derive a concentration inequality for the uncertainty in the mean computed by stratified random sampling, and provide an online sampling method based on this inequality. Our concentration inequality is versatile and considers a range of factors including: the data ranges, weights, sizes of the strata, the number of samples taken, the estimated sample variances, and whether strata are sampled with or without replacement. Sequentially choosing samples to minimize this inequality leads to a online method for choosing samples from a stratified population. We evaluate and compare the effectiveness of our method against others for synthetic data sets, and also in approximating the Shapley value of cooperative games. Results show that our method is competitive with the performance of Neyman sampling with perfect variance information, even without having prior information on strata variances. We also provide a multidimensional extension of our inequality and discuss future applications.

Durum wheat is an important food crop in the world and an endemic species of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In the highlands of Ethiopia and the oases of the South Sahara this crop has been cultivated for thousands of years. Today, smallholder farmers still cultivate it on marginal lands to assure production for their self-consumption. However, durum wheat is no longer just a staple crop for food security but it has become a major cash crop. In fact, the pasta and couscous industry currently purchase durum grain at prices 10 to 20% higher than bread wheat. Africa as a whole imports over € 4 billion per year of durum grain to provide the raw material for its food industry. Hence, African farmers could obtain a substantial share of this large market by turning their production to this crop. Here, the achievements of the durum breeding program of Ethiopia are revised to reveal a steep acceleration in variety release and adoption in the last decade. Furthermore, the variety release for Mauritania and Senegal is described to show how modern breeding methods could be used to deliver grain yields above 3 t ha^-1 in seasons of just 92 days of length and daytime temperatures always above 32°C. This review describes the ability of releasing durum wheat varieties adapted to all growing conditions of SSA, from the oases of the Sahara to the highlands of Ethiopia. This potential area of expansion for durum wheat production in SSA is not linked to any breeding technology, but rather it remains dependent on the market ability to purchase these grains at a higher price to stimulate farmer adoption. The critical importance of connecting all actors along the semolina value chain is presented in the example of Oromia, Ethiopia, and that success story is then used to prompt a wider discussion on the potential of durum wheat as a crop for poverty reduction in Africa.

In this paper, we study the entire or meromorphic solutions for differential-difference equations in f(z) , its shifts, its derivatives and derivatives of its shifts. and study some Hayman's results for differential-difference polynomials.

Risk-averse areas such as the medical, aerospace and energy sectors have been somewhat slow towards accepting and applying Additive Manufacturing (AM) in many of their value chains. This is partly because there are still signi cant uncertainties concerning the quality of AM builds. This paper introduces a machine learning algorithm for the automatic detection of faults in AM products. The approach is semi-supervised in that, during training, it is able to use data from both builds where the resulting components were certi ed and builds where the quality of the resulting components is unknown. This makes the approach cost ecient, particularly in scenarios where part certi cation is costly and time consuming. The study speci cally analyses Selective Laser Melting (SLM) builds. Key features are extracted from large sets of photodiode data, obtained during the building of 49 tensile test bars. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) tests were then used to categorise each bar as `faulty' or `acceptable'. A fully supervised approach identi ed faulty specimens with a 77% success rate while the semi-supervised approach was able to consistently achieve similar results, despite being trained on a fraction of the available certi cation data. The results show that semi-supervised learning is a promising approach for the automatic certi cation of AM builds that can be implemented at a fraction of the cost currently required.

Declining water supply is the main cause of rising water fee for agricultural use. Moreover, in non-technical irrigation, poor irrigation infrastructure exacerbates water scarcity. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify farmer willingness to pay for non-technical irrigation and its determinants. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 100 farmers. Contingent valuation method was employed to elicit farmer WTP and multiple linear regression was used to find its determinants. The result shows that farmer average WTP is Rp 3,055,168 /ha/year. It accounts for 20 percent of total farmer revenue and almost 20 times fee for technical irrigation. Economic and technical variables are the significant determinants of WTP while social variables seem insignificant to WTP. This result indicates high economic value of water, and to improve irrigation management we recommend establishing irrigation infrastructure gradually by mobilizing farmer resources (capital and management) and strengthening WUA.

Plants are an important feature of urban ecosystems which provide numerous environmental and ecosystem benefits such as defenses against noise and air pollution and conservation of biodiversity. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure and composition of urban vegetation in different urban habitats like roadsides, parks, gardens and playgrounds in Dhaka South City area. Stratified random sampling method was used in this study. A total of 221 plant species belonging to 63 families were identified and recorded. Among all plant species Swietenia macrophylla, Polyalthia longifolia, Cocos nucifera, Samanea saman, and Artocarpus heterophyllus are recorded as the most dominant. Most of the tree and shrub population were found between 6-9 m and 1-3m height classes whereas most of tree and shrub population were found in between 10-15cm dbh classes. Highest IVI was found for Swietenia macrophylla (193.22%) followed by Polyalthia longifolia (184.59%), Samanea saman (138.37%), Cocos nucifera (79.9%) and Delonix regia (68.27%) respectively. Average frequency, density, dbh and basal area were found 46.82%, 138.28 tree ha^-1, 458.59 cm ha^-1 and 12.33 m² ha^-1 respectively. Findings of this study reveals that structural attributes of plant represent quite young and still developing vegetation. This research will help to plan for future green infrastructure which will maintain ecosystem function, therefore, providing longer term benefits for the city dwellers.

This study aims to test a model linking destination image, perceived value, tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty. Based on a sample of 300 tourists travelling by car from the World Natural Heritage Site of Tianchi, China, a new model of destination image was explored and data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that perceived value and satisfaction are direct antecedents of destination loyalty. Above all, perceived value and tourist satisfaction mediate the relationship between destination image and loyalty. Finally, this study discusses the theoretical and management implications of the findings in order to boost the tourism industry in the context of car trips.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become an increasingly important therapeutic modality in recent years, with applications in oncology, hematology, and immunology. This review discusses the production of therapeutic mAbs, including the various types of mAbs (murine, chimeric, humanized, and fully human), their key applications, and the techniques used for their production, including hybridoma technology, single B cell antibody technology, and phage display technology. The review then proposes advanced techniques to overcome them. These include microfluidic sorting, alternative expression systems (including plants, bacteria, and yeast, and cell-free production systems), and the development of complex antibody formats like bi-specific monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, antibody-drug conjugates, and nanobody development. These advanced techniques promise to enhance the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of mAb production, paving the way for more effective therapeutic applications. This review highlights the theoretical significance of integrating innovative technologies to overcome existing challenges in mAb production, ultimately advancing the field of precision medicine.

Background: Targeting Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in human is crucial due to its adverse. Herbal medicine has long been significant in this regard, with flavonoids demonstrating promising results. Hence, establishing a way of identifying flavonoids with anti-HBV activities is the aim of the present study. Methods: Flavonoid structures with anti-HBV activities were retrieved. A flavonol-based pharmacophore model was established using LigandScout v4.4. Screening was performed using the PharmIt server. A QSAR equation was developed and validated with independent sets of compounds. Applicability domain (AD) was defined using Euclidean distance calculations for model validation. Results: The best model, consisting of 57 features was generated. HTS using the flavonol-based model resulted in 509 unique hits. The model's sensitivity and specificity were 71% and 100%, respectively. The QSAR model with two predictors, x4a and qed, exhibited strong predictive performance with an adjusted-R² value of 0.85 and 0.90 of Q2. Conclusion: The QSAR model has been validated with two separate chemical sets, guaranteeing the model's reproducibility and usefulness for other flavonols by utilizing the predictive characteristics of X4A and qed. These results provide new possibilities for discovering future anti-HBV drugs by integrating modeling and experimental research.

Cystatin F (CstF) is a protease inhibitor of cysteine cathepsins, including those involved in acti-vating the perforin/granzyme cytotoxic pathways. It is targeted to the endolysosomal pathway but can also be secreted to the extracellular milieu or endocytosed by bystander cells. CtsF was shown to be significantly increased in tuberculous pleurisy, and during HIV coinfection, pleural fluids display high viral loads. In human macrophages, we revealed a strong upregulation of CstF during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). CstF manipulation using RNA si-lencing led to increased proteolytic activity of lysosomal cathepsins, improving Mtb intracellular killing. Here, we investigate the impact of CstF depletion during coinfection of Mtb-infected mac-rophages with lymphocytes infected with HIV. Our results indicate that decreasing CstF released by phagocytes impacts the major pro-granzyme convertase cathepsin C of cytotoxic immune cells. Consequently, an observed increase of the granzyme B apoptotic effects leads to a significant re-duction in viral replication in HIV-infected lymphocytes. Overall, our results indicate a mecha-nism of Mtb/HIV evasion of the cytotoxic mediated pathogen killing driven by the ax-is CstF/ catC/granzymes contributing to this syndemic interaction. Ultimately, this knowledge can be crucial for developing new therapeutic approaches to control both pathogens based on manipulating CstF.

Heart failure (HF) affects about 60 million people worldwide, making it one of the chronic conditions with the greatest health and economic impact. The primary objective was to assess the efficacy of lung ultrasound (LUS) in the management of HF in order to intervene early and reduce the rate of hospital readmissions. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus, including clinical trials, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and original articles from 2019/1/1-2023/12/31, about LUS for the assessment of HF, on an outpatient basis, for HF diagnosis or/and decompensation. There may be risk of bias because the effects are dependent on the persons delivering the intervention. The results were synthetized by PRISMA method. A total of 873 articles were identified of which 33 articles were selected: [n=19] focused on prognostic assessment of HF, [n=11] centred on multimodal diagnostic assessments, and [n=2] addressing therapeutic guidance for HF diagnosis. LUS exhibits advantages in the detection of sub-clinical congestion linked to prognostic significance in re-admission and mortality during out-patient follow-up, after hospital discharge, and in complex scenarios as the patients' homes or institutional long-term care facilities. However, there are considerable uncertainties in their interpretation and monitoring changes due to its lack of standardization. The need for an updated international consensus on the use of LUS seems obvious.

B-1 cells, a subtype of B lymphocytes, are found in lymphoid tissues and peritoneal and pleural cavities. They play diverse roles, releasing cytokines, generating antibodies, regulating the immune response, engaging in phagocytosis, and moving to inflammatory sites. However, their physiology remains partially understood, especially in stressful conditions like sleep restriction. This study aimed to investigate murine B-1 cell activation and differentiation under sleep restriction. Male C57BL/6J mice underwent an 18-hour sleep restriction for 21 days, followed by Candida albicans or Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection. Purified peritoneal B-1 cells were evaluated for activation markers, microbicidal molecules, cytokine gene expression, Toll-like receptors, and commitment factors. Results showed that sleep restriction minimally influenced activation marker expression in B-1 cells across infection models. However, under sleep restriction, microbicidal molecule production increased in P. brasiliensis (NO) and C. albicans (ROS) infections. Gene expression revealed elevated TLR-2 and cytokines (IL-12, IL-6, TNF-α) in sleep-restricted animals. Lineage commitment analysis indicated myeloid polarization in sleep-restricted B-1 cells for all infection models. These findings underscore the impact of sleep restriction on B-1 cell activation and differentiation, with outcomes varying based on infection type. This study highlights the importance of investigating immunological changes resulting from sleep restriction.

Chromosomal instability (CIN), defined by variations in the number or structure of chromosomes from cell to cell, is recognized as a distinctive characteristic of cancer, associated with the ability of tumors to adapt to challenging environments. CIN has been recognized as a source of genetic variation that leads to clonal heterogeneity (CH). Recent findings suggest a potential association between CIN and CH with the prognosis of BC patients, particularly in tumors expressing the epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+). In fact, information on the role of CIN in other BC subtypes, including luminal B BC, is limited. Additionally, it remains unknown whether CIN in luminal B BC tumors, above a specific threshold, could have a detrimental effect on the growth of human tumors, or if low or intermediate CIN levels could be linked to a more favorable BC patient prognosis when contrasted with elevated levels. Clarifying these relationships could have a substantial impact on risk stratification and the development of future therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting CIN in BC. This study aimed to assess CIN and CH in tumor tissue samples from ten patients with luminal B BC, and compared them with established clinicopathological parameters. The results of our study show that luminal B BC patients exhibit intermediate CIN and stable aneuploidy, both of which correlated with lymphovascular invasion. These findings suggest that evaluating CIN, CH and aneuploidy could improve risk stratification, the prediction of clinical outcomes and future therapeutic approaches in luminal B BC patients.

The three-component reaction of enaminones, benzaldehyde and hydrazine-HCl or four-component reaction of enaminones, benzaldehyde, hydrazine–HCl and ethyl cyanoacetate in water in the presence of catalytic amount of ammonium acetate has been devised as a straightforward , sustainable approach for the synthesis of 1-H-pyrazole, N-aminopyridine and pyrazol[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives . The key benefits of this approach is simple experimental procedure associated with cost effective and environmentally friendly techniques.