A form of dementia distinct from healthy cognitive aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex multi-stage disease that currently afflicts over 50 million people worldwide. Unfortunately, previous therapeutic strategies developed from murine models emulating different aspects of AD pathogenesis have failed. Consequently, researchers are now developing models that express several aspects of pathogenesis that better reflect the clinical situation in humans. As such, this review seeks to provide insight regarding current applications of mammalian models in AD research by addressing recent developments and characterizations of prominent transgenic models and their contributions to pathogenesis as well as discuss the advantages, limitations, and application of emerging models (hAβ-KI) that better capture genetic heterogeneity and mixed pathologies observed in the clinical situation.

The need for multi-gene analysis in evolutionary and taxonomic studies is generally accepted. However, sequencing of multiple genes is not always possible. For various reasons, short mito-chondrial DNA barcodes are the only source of molecular information for some species in many genera, although multilocus data are available for other species of the same genera. In particular, such a situation exists in the species-rich butterfly subgenus Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus). Here, we analysed partitioning of this subgenus into species groups by using three data sets. The first data set was represented by short mitochondrial DNA barcodes for all analysed samples. The second and third data sets were represented by combination of short mitochondrial DNA barcodes for a part of the taxa with longer mitochondrial sequences COI+tRNA-Leu+COII (data set 2) and with longer mitochondrial COI+tRNA-Leu+COII and nuclear 5.8S rDNA+ITS2+28S rDNA sequences (data set 3) for the remaining species. We show that DNA barcoding approach (data set 1) failed to reveal the taxonomic structure resulting in numerous polytomies in the phylogenetic tree ob-tained. Combined analysis of the mitochondrial and nuclear sequences (data sets 2 and 3) re-vealed the species groups and position within these species groups even for the taxa for which only short DNA barcodes were available.

In this study, the microbiological quality of traditionally made yoghurt from Northern Uganda and Western Kenya were analysed. Six samples of typical traditionally fermented milk were randomly collected from traditional cattle keepers from Karamojong (UG 1) and Acholi (UG 2) in Northern Uganda), and Kalenjin in Western Kenya (KE). Analysis was carried out for microbial quality of the collected samples and was assessed using the conventional methods for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliform, lactic acid bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, yeasts, and mould counts. The results showed that the pH of the samples was low (2.9- 3.6). The mean aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts were 5.14 x 109 cfu/ml. The mean counts for mesophilic lactobacilli ranged from x 106 to x 108, cfu/ml. The mean thermophilic lactobacilli count ranged from x 107, to x 109, cfu/ml. However, the thermophilic lactococci counts ranged from x 106, to x 109, cfu/ml. On the other hand, the Streptococci counts were between x 106 to x 108 cfu/ml. The mean counts for the non-Sorbitol E. coli was 3.87 x 103 cfu/ml. The results suggest that although the pH of the yoghurt made in the Acholi and Karamojong (Northern Uganda) and in Kalenjin (Kenya) areas was low, the level of bacteria, yeast, and mould counts indicated poor microbiological quality control. This poses public health concerns. Therefore, attention of the appropriate government agencies is needed to ensure that environment of yogurt produced in a traditional setting in most appropriate condition to reduce contamination.

The substrate N1, N3, N5 -tris(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (Sensor A) was prepared in the reaction of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (trimesic acid) and o-aminophenol in ethanol. The prepared organic sensor fulfills the chemiluminescent requirements including luminophore, spacer, and suitable binding receptor that distress the probe's luminescent features, providing selective and sensitive detection of mercury and iron ions in aqueous solutions. The sensor selectively detects mercury and iron ions in a water matrix containing various metal ions including sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and nickel. Strong and immediate binding was observed between mercury ions and the substrate at pH 7.0 with a binding affinity toward Hg (II) enhanced by nine folds higher than that observed for iron sensor binding affinity, which makes the substrate a distinctive luminescence sensor for mercury detection at ambient conditions. The sensor shows a linear response toward Hg (II) in the concentration range from 4.2 x 10-5 to 2.0 x 10-8 M with a limit of detection of 1.0 x 10-8 M. Further, Sensor A provides linear detection for iron ions in the range from 1.5 x 10-3 to 1.5 x 10-8 M. The measured adsorption capacity of Sensor A toward mercury ions ranged from 1.25 to 1.97 mg/g and the removal efficiency from water samples reached 98.8% at pH 7.0. The data demonstrate that Sensor A is an excellent probe for detecting and removing mercury ions from water bodies.

This present work explores the performance of a thermal-magnetic engine of Otto type, considering as a working substance an effective interacting spin model corresponding to the q− state clock model. We obtain all the thermodynamic quantities for the q = 2, 4, 6, 8 cases in a small lattice size (3×3 with free boundary conditions) by using the exact partition function calculated from the energies of all the accessible microstates of the system. The extension to bigger lattices was performed using the mean-field approximation. Our results indicate that the total work extraction of the cycle is highest for the q=4 case, while the performance for the Ising model (q=2) is the lowest of all cases studied. These results are strongly linked with the phase diagram of the working substance and the location of the cycle in the different magnetic phases present, where we find that the transition from a ferromagnetic to a paramagnetic phase extracts more work than one of the Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless to paramagnetic type. Additionally, as the size of the lattice increases, the extraction work is lower than smaller lattices for all values of q presented in this study.

Temperature-index modeling is used to determine the magnitude of temperature depression on the Blanca Massif, Colorado, required to maintain steady-state mass balances of nine reconstructed glaciers at their extent during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The mean temperature depression thus determined is ~8.6 +0.7/–0.9 °C where the uncertainties account for those inherent in the glacier reconstructions, in model parameters (e.g. melt factors), and possible modest changes in LGM precipitation. Associated equilibrium-line altitudes (ELAs) exhibit a statistically significant directional dependency being lower toward the north and east. Under the assumption that regional temperature change was uniform, required changes in precipitation vary systematically – also exhibiting a directional dependency coinciding with that in ELAs – and indicate increases (over modern) occurred on the eastern side of the massif while decreases occurred on the western side. This disparity represents a strengthening of a precipitation asymmetry, particularly winter precipitation, that exists today. The modern precipitation asymmetry may be a consequence of snow being blown over to the eastern side of the massif (advective transport) by southwesterly flow. Intensification of this flow during the LGM would have enhanced advection, and augmented snow accumulation on glaciers, thus explaining the lower ELAs and increased precipitation on that side of the massif.

The present study assessed the effect of abscisic acid (ABA; 25 µM) and/or nitrogen (N; 10 mM) in minimization of salinity (NaCl; 100mM)-impact on growth, photosynthetic efficiency, Rubisco activity, nitrogen and sulfur assimilation, oxidative stress (H2O2), lipid peroxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, (TBARS), osmolyte (Proline) content, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD glutathione reductase, GR; ascorbate peroxidase, APX) in cultivar RH0-749 of Brassica juncea L. NaCl stress caused significant elevations in H2O2 and TBARS, and differentially modulated proline content, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and impaired growth and photosynthetic functions. Exogenously applied 25 µM ABA negatively affected plant growth and photosynthesis in B. juncea without NaCl. In contrast, exogenously applied 25 µM ABA and 10 mM N, alone or in combination minimized oxidative stress, and maintained a fine-tuning between proline content and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and thereby improved plant growth and photosynthetic functions in NaCl exposed B. juncea.

The generalized dual-kinetic-balance approach for axially symmetric systems is employed to solve the two-center Dirac problem. The spectra of one-electron homonuclear quasimolecules are calculated and compared with the previous calculations. The analysis of the monopole approximation with two different choices of the origin is performed. Special attention is paid to the lead and xenon dimers, Pb82+–Pb82+–e− and Xe54+–Xe54+–e−, where the energies of the ground and several excited σ-states are presented in the wide range of internuclear distances. The developed method provides the quasicomplete finite basis set and allows for construction of the perturbation theory, including within the bound-state QED.

Zirconium based bulk metallic glasses are industrially valuable materials which commercial market grows rapidly. Surface modification of these metallic glasses by high-intensity lasers is relatively new and costly treatment promising great advantages over classical surface processing methods. In this work we perform the case study of surface modification of Zr$_{46}$Cu$_{36.8}$Ag$_{9.2}$Al$_8$ metallic glass by high-intensity millisecond laser beam. Our results suggest chemical deposition of atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen in the laser-melted surface area and its surroundings. Zirconium nitride layer was detected in the middle of laser-irradiated area. Nanocrystals embedded in the amorphous matrix were also formed on the surface. Overall, our findings suggest possibilities for improvement of mechanical characteristics of the studied metallic glass.

The main objective of the present study was to investigate arsenate [As (V)] resistance genes in rice cultivars grown in arsenic contaminated Egyptian soil in order to genetically induce resistance against arsenic in the local rice varieties as well as defining contaminated rice grains and/or soil. Three local rice cultivars; Sakha 102-104 were cultivated on modified Murashige and Skoog Basal Medium (MS medium) containing elevated concentrations of arsenate (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/l). The three varieties showed different resistant attitudes against arsenate with Sakha 104 being the most resistant. Extracted messenger RNA (mRNA) from treated and untreated Sakha 104 plantlets was scanned using differential display to demonstrate the arsenate resistant genes using three different arbitrary primers. About 100 different RNAs with (1500 bp - 50 bp) were obtained from which seven were up-regulated genes, subjected to DNA cloning using TOPO TA system and the selected clones were sequenced. The sequence analysis described four genes out of the seven namely disease resistance protein RPM1, Epstein-Barr virus EBNA-1-like, CwfJ family protein and outer membrane lipoprotein OmlA while the other three genes were hypothetical proteins. It is concluded the four induced genes in the resistant rice cultivar considered as a direct response to arsenic soil pollution. Genes detected in the present study can be used as geno-sensors for rice grains and soil contamination with As (V). Moreover, local rice cultivars may be genetically modified with such genes to induce high resistance and to overcome arsenic soil pollution.

Fourteen (14) rack-mounted polycrystalline modules installed on the concrete roof of the solar energy applications laboratory at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, a hot humid environment were assessed after 19 years of continuous outdoor expodure. The physical state of the modules was documented using a visual inspection checklist. They were further assessed by current-voltage (I-V) characterization and thermal imaging. The modules were found to be in good physical state, except some bubbles on front side and minor discolouration/corrosion at edge of the cells. Compared with reference values, the performance decline of the modules observed over the exposure period was: nominal power (P_nom), 21% to 35%; short circuit current (I_sc), 5.8% to 11.7%; open circuit voltage (V_oc) 3.6% to 5.6% and 11.9% to 25.7% for fill factor (FF). It is hoped that this study will provide some helpful information to project developers, manufacturers and the research community on the long-term performance of PV modules in Ghana.

Undoubtedly, there is a potential impact of large language models like ChatGPT in revolutionizing information retrieval and knowledge discovery, particularly in the context of the vast amount of electronic material available. On another strong note, the current work offers a first time ever mathematical approach to accurately fine tune perplexity AI, which sets a giant step ahead towards accurate next generations AI. Having started this world leading discovery, the upper and lower bounds of perplexity AI, namely , , respectively, are obtained for the first-time ever. Concluding remarks combined with emerging open problems and next research phase are provided.

This paper provides an overview of modelling and simulation methods for complex systems, including queuing and life support systems. To realize and capture every aspect of a system or situation, a model is used in place of the actual one. Using a model and simulation, we may create scenarios and make decisions. Computer experiments with the model can save costs, time, and effort once its validity has been shown. A model of the thing under study is created by computer simulation, which then runs the model on a digital computer and examines the results. It's interesting to note that a knowledge base of data includes information about predicted behaviour of the model as well as coordinated determination of external variables and parameters. Selecting the precise model creation technique is the first and most difficult task in simulation. A review of techniques used in simulation model execution (serial and parallel discrete-event simulation), simulation model analysis (calibration, validation, verification, goal-seeking), and conceptual, declarative, functional, constraint, and multimodal design are presented in this paper.

The current letter complements my info-geometric discoveries, especially those provided from two papers of mine. Fundamentally, the statistical relativization of the Generalized Brownian Motion Manifold. Following this innovative and unprecedented track of research will open a plethora of numerous info-geometric investigations to many unexplored related phenomena in the hope to uncover more new interpretations for the Generalized Brownian Motion Manifold from an info-geometric perspective.

The current work reports the upper bound of the state variable of the of the Pointwise Steady Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) model of non-stationary M/Ek/1 queueing system.

The paper explores the Kullback-Leibler divergence formalism (KLDF) applied to the stable MG1 queue manifold. It explores the analytic forms of state probabilities and their maximization based on entropy functionals, subject to normalization and mean value constraints. The credibility of KLDF is justified through consistency axioms, and the application of Rényi's and Tsallis's formalisms on a stable M/G/1 queue is examined, resulting in novel state probabilities and insights into information theory of Queue Learning.

The theory of Ismail's non-extensive maximum entropy solution (NME) is described in detail. It is used as an inductive inference technique for heavy-tailed queues with a non-robust mean queue length and a non-extensive "long-range" interaction. In our novel method, we substitute the non-robust mean queue length for the conventional Pollaczeck-Khinchin mean queue length. In other words, the new non-extensivity parameter q will be included in the resulting state probability function. Numerical portraits are provided to capture the influential effect of the derived formalism, , on the stable M//1 queue with heavy tails. More potentially, some applications of Hurst Exponent to social computing and connected health are provided. Conclusion with some challenging open problems and possible future research pathways are given.

This paper discusses how mathematical models are used to predict environmental conditions. While these models are successful for larger scale phenomena, it becomes more complex for local weather or wave processes. Several approaches have been proposed to address this problem, including neural networks and statistical and mathematical models. The novelty in this approach is the use of statistical manifolds, which provide a more accurate way to estimate distances and cost functions. This work focuses on advancements in differential and information geometry for creating different types of models that can be used for environmental simulation and forecasting. These fields are vital for many institutes and centres worldwide, as they help solve challenges in areas such as meteorology, renewable energy, and aviation safety. Some potential IG applications to advance energy were given. Closing remarks with new open problems combined with the next research phase are provided.

In the current work, the stable queueuing system's Generalised Z-Entropy (GZE) of Rényian formalism is examined in its fractal dimension. Notably, fractal dimension’s resulting behaviour that corresponds to the GZE parameters is examined through numerical tests. This research makes a substantial generalization in the literature by fusing fractal geometry and information theory to shed light on how entropy and complexity interact. More fundamentally, the significant role of fractal dimension to advance Big Data Analytics(BDAs) is highlighted. Closing remarks combined with open problems and the next phase of research are provided.

The current paper provides a cutting-edge information data length- theoretic approach to the transient M/M/Infinity queueing system. This is a first time ever investigation that unifies information data length and queueing theories. The significant impact of both time and the number of states for the transient M/M/ Infinity queue on both the upper and lower bounds of the obtained information data length is observed and noted. The paper concludes with some challenging open problems, combined with concluding remarks and future research pathways.

From a differential geometric perspective, information geometry (IG) aims to characterise the structure of statistical geodesic models. The research done for this paper offers a novel method for modelling the information geometry of a queuing system. From the perspective of IG, the manifold of the transient M/M/infinity queue is described in this context. The Fisher Information matrix (FIM) as well as the inverse of (FIM), (IFIM) of transient M/M/infinity QM are devised. In addition to that, new results that uncovered the significant impact of stability of QM on the existence of (IFIM) are obtained. Moreover, the Geodesic equations of motion of the coordinates of the underlying transient are obtained. Also, it is revealed that stable QM is developable (i.e., has a zero Gaussian curvature) and has a non-zero Ricci Curvature Tensor (RCT). Novel stability dynamics of transient M/M/iInfinity queue manifold is revealed by discovering the mutual dual impact between the behaviour of (RCT) and the stability(instability) phases of M/M/Infinity QM. Furthermore, a new discovery that presents the significant impact of stability of queue manifold and the continuity of the unique representation between M/G/1 queue manifold and Ricci Curvature Tensor (RCT). The information matrix exponential (IME) is devised. Also, it is shown that stability of the devised (IME) enforces the instability of M/M/ Infinity QM. More interestingly, novel relativistic info-geometric queueing theoretic links are revealed .

My innovative entropy measure, Ismail entropy, namely, (IE) is an ultimate generalization to numerous generalized entropies within the literature. The fractal dimension of IE is identified in this paper. On another applicative note, this paper offers some potential applications of fractal dimension to smart cities. The paper ends with closing remarks combined with some challenging open problems and the next phase of research.

The Rényi entropy functional was optimised for the novel findings of this investigation under various conditions. Their research's findings suggest that the complete spectrum of Lévy stable distributions is covered by generalised t-distributions. Additionally, an exposition was undertaken to prove that the Lévy distribution generalizes Tsallisian distribution, rather than the reverse. The current study is a strong generalization of an existing research work in the literature.

An exposition is undertaken to reveal the significant impact of the time-dependent root parameter, on the stability of Pointwise Stationary Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) model of the non-stationary queueing system. This opens new grounds to stability analysis of non-stationary queueing systems. Potential PSFFA applications of IoT are highlighted.

Information geometry (IG) is a fascinating combination of differential geometry and statistics where a Riemannian manifold's structure is applied to a statistical model. It may find numerous fascinating uses in the domains of theoretical neurology, machine learning, complexity, and (quantum) information theory, among others. (IG) aims to provide a differential-geometric perspective on statistical geodesic models' structure. In this case, IG, KD, and J-divergence (JD) are used to define the manifold of the Generalised Brownian Motion (GBM). Consequently, the geodesic equations (GEs) are devised, and GB information matrix exponential (IME) is presented. Moreover, for first time ever, the necessary and sufficient mathematical requirement that characterizes the developability of Generalized Brownian Motion(GBM) manifold is devised. Also, a novel sufficient and necessary conditions which characterizes the regions where the surface describing GBM is minimal is determined. Also, it is shown that GBM has a non-zero 0-Gaussian and Ricci curvatures. Consequently, this advances the establishment of a unified GBM- Relativistic Info-Geometric based analysis.

Information geometry is a mathematical framework that analyses the structure of statistical models using concepts from differential geometry. It treats families of probability distributions as manifolds, where the parameters of each model determine the coordinate charts. By applying info-geometric tools, we can gain insights into the characteristics of these models. The approach involves characterizing the queueing system's manifold using information geometry and presenting the exponential of the information matrix. This integration of information geometry with queueing theory provides a novel perspective for analyzing the dynamics of queueing systems, incorporating relativistic and Riemannian concepts. Some applications to E-health are highlighted. Finally, closing remarks and the next phase of research.

Today, air pollution is the greatest threat to organismal healthspan. The environment of our planet earth, the habitat of over eight billion humans and estimated twenty billion billions other animals, is contaminated with a wide variety of pollutants. Unfortunately, humans, out of billions and billions of living organisms on earth, are solely responsible for polluting the environment through emitting pollutants like particulate matter from industry, fuel engine vehicles, biomass combustion, toxic fumes from blasting, and wildfire. In the modern world, human-caused air pollutants induce massive oxidative stress and inflammation, the major contributors in initiation and progression of many diseases including pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, reproductive, neurological, mental, and accelerated biological aging. The provocative question is the following: how can we solve this human-created problem? As it is not realistic to clean the environment at once from human-caused pollution, initiatives have been undertaken to develop novel therapeutic approaches to control air-pollutant-induced oxidative stress and inflammation to protect humans from pollution-induced devastating diseases. In this article, I discuss the key findings of numerous recent preclinical studies documenting first, the role of air pollutant PM2.5 in augmentation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and associated diseases; and second, the efficacies of different natural and synthetic compounds in amelioration of PM2.5-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, pyroptosis, and associated pathologies.

The optimized design of catalyst layer (CL) plays a vital role to improve the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The need to improve transport and catalyst activity is especially important at low Pt loading, where local oxygen and ionic transport resistances decrease the performance due to an inevitable reduction of active catalyst sites. In this work, local oxygen and ionic transport are analyzed using direct numerical simulation on virtually reconstructed microstructures. Four morphologies are examined: (i) heterogeneous, (ii) uniform, (iii) uniform vertically-aligned, and (iv) meso-porous ionomer distributions. The results show that the local oxygen transport resistance can be significantly reduced, while maintaining good ionic conductivity, through the design of high porosity CLs (ε≃0.6−0.7) with low agglomerated ionomer morphologies. Ionomer coalescence into thick films can be effectively mitigated by increasing the uniformity of thin films and reducing the tortuosity of ionomer distribution (e.g., good ionomer interconnection in supports with a vertical arrangement). The local oxygen resistance can be further decreased by the use of blended ionomers with enhanced oxygen permeability and meso-porous ionomers with oxygen transport routes in both water and ionomer. In summary, achieving high performance at low Pt loading in next-generation CLs must be accomplished through a combination of high porosity, uniform and low tortuosity ionomer distribution, and oxygen transport through activated water.

Three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) printing emerged as the next generation of manufacturing techniques, spanning several research areas such as engineering, chemistry, biology, computing, and materials science. Three-dimensional printing allows the manufacture of complex shapes with high precision, by adding layer by layer of different materials. The use of smart materials that change shape or color, produce an electrical current, become bioactive, or perform an intended function in response to an external stimulus. Shape memory materials (SMMs) in 3D printing technology have attracted a lot of attention due to their ability to respond to external stimuli, leading this technology towards an emerging area of research, "4D printing technology." The core part of this review summarizes the effect of the main external stimuli on 4D textile materials followed by the main applications 4D printed textiles can change their shape over time due to external stimuli such as temperature.

The physicochemical treatment/recovery techniques, including precipitation, membrane technology, solvent extraction, foam fractionation, adsorption, and aqueous two-phase systems, will be reviewed. The bio-treatment processes, based on microorganisms and/or enzymes consuming nutrients available in food-processing wastewater as low-cost substrates to produce valuable products, will be discussed in detail, including the production of microalga biomass in wastewater treatment systems. Finally, future research direction will be proposed to integrate the circular economy and develop integrated food processing wastewater management systems.

Given the accelerating scientific, clinical and consumer interest in highly-prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders, appropriate therapeutic strategies are needed to address the many aspects of digestive dysfunction. Accumulating evidence for the crucifer-derived bioactive molecule, sulforaphane in upstream cellular defence mechanisms highlights its potential as a therapeutic candidate in targeting functional gastrointestinal conditions together with systemic disorders. This article catalogues the evolution of and rationale for a hypothesis that utilises multifunctional sulforaphane as the initial step in restoring the ecology of the gut ecosystem; it does this primarily by targeting the functions of intestinal epithelial cells. A growing body of work has identified the colonocyte as the driver of dysbiosis, so that targeting gut epithelial function could provide an alternative to targeting the microbes themselves for remediation of microbial dysbiosis. The hypothesis discussed herein has evolved over several years and is supported by case studies showing the application of sulforaphane in gastrointestinal disorders, related food intolerance and several systemic conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first time the effects of sulforaphane have been reported in a clinical environment where several of its key properties within the gut ecosystem appear to be related to its nutrigenomic effects on gene expression.

In the context of the emergence and development of varieties of English around the globe, this paper focuses on Kuwait, where the use of English has greatly increased since the mid-20th century. Drawing on the principles of nativisation and indigenisation, I investigate substrate- and superstrate-derived discourse-pragmatic markers (DPMs) in Kuwaiti English: the Arabic loanwords alhamdulillah and ya'ni and their English equivalents (e.g. I mean and thankfully). Data are drawn from the Kuwaiti English National Corpus, a spoken corpus of almost 800,000 words containing interviews, samples of situated language use, and mediated data (podcasts, TV, radio and YouTube). Keyness and concordance analyses were performed to identify the frequency and functions of the DPMs in Kuwaiti English compared to reference corpora of British and American English. The analysis also takes into account contextual and sociolinguistic information such as the speakers’ social identity. Results show that the Arabic-derived DPMs are abundant in both formal and informal settings, indicating that they have become an integral part of this variety of English. Their English equivalents perform similar roles, but are vastly less common (with the exception of I mean for ya'ni). Both the Arabic- and English-based markers show somewhat narrowed discourse-pragmatic functions and are more likely to be placed in clause-initial position than in ‘native’ contexts. Their use appears to be linked to the social identity of the speakers.

Silicified ostracods from the Lower Carboniferous (Lower Tin Mountain Limestone; Kinderhookian-early Osagean; 350-358.9 Ma) of Lost Burro Gap, Death Valley region, Inyo County, California, USA augment the diversity of Paleozoic ostracods of western North America. Acid maceration of pelmatozoan, micritic and silicate clay-rich micritic marine limestones yielded the following palaeocopid and podocopid ostracods: Acratia spp., Bairdia quasilecta Bushmina, 1975, Bairdia sp. cf. B. orientalis, Ceratobairdia sp., Kirkbya panamintensis sp. nov., Rectobairdia sp. cf. R. legumen, and Silenites sp. This is the first report of Ceratobairdia and Silenites from the Tin Mountain Limestone. These ostracods occupied a Panthalassan carbonate ramp environment, and represent part of a fauna that was widespread in shallow marine waters of Panthalassa.

Despite the scientific and technological development, libraries of Jordanian universities suffer from an obvious lack of digital information resources, because for many reasons, the most important of these is the non-application of intellectual property legislation (IPL) related to these resources. This study investigated the reality of the application of intellectual property legislation related to digital information resources at the libraries of public universities in Jordan. The population study consisted of all employees of departments of digital information resources. The study sample was (74) employees. Texts of regulations for the intended libraries and the Jordanian copyright law No. (22) for the year (1992) were reviewed and analyzed. In addition, a questionnaire was developed regarding the actual application of intellectual property legislation relating to digital resources at the university libraries in Jordan. Results revealed that the application of IP legislation relating to digital resources at the libraries of public universities in Jordan was moderate and that the supervising to the libraries of universities from the National Library regarding the protection of intellectual property rights of digital resources was moderate. The study recommended the application of intellectual property legislation related to digital resources in the intended libraries, this could be achieved through including intellectual property legislation in the regulations of public services in the intended libraries, to provide for the terms of protecting IP rights for digital resources, improving the legislation, developing of the Jordanian copyright law to be compatible with digital information resources, providing the necessary support for these libraries, and emphasizing the role of the National Library.

The notion of hierarchy is a key characteristic of any complex system. This paper explores which notions of hierarchy are being used in the field of management and organization studies. Four distinct types of hierarchy are identified: a ladder of formal decision-making authority, a ladder of achieved status, a self-organized ladder of responsibility, and an ideology-based ladder. A social mechanism-based perspective serves to define and distinguish these four types. Subsequently, the typology is further developed by comparing the four hierarchy types in terms of their tacit/explicitness, (in)transitivity, and behavior- versus cognition-centeredness. This review article contributes to the literature by dissecting the general metaphor of hierarchy into four different constructs and their social mechanisms, which serves to create a typology of the various ways in which complex systems can be characterized as being hierarchical. This typology can inform future research drawing on any type of hierarchy.

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies aim to predict the risks of complex diseases using proprietary algorithms. Companies keep algorithms as trade secrets for competitive advantage, but a market that thrives on the premise that customers can make their own decisions about genetic testing should respect customer autonomy and informed decision making and maximize opportunities for transparency. The algorithm itself is only one piece of the information that is deemed essential for understanding how prediction algorithms are developed and evaluated. Companies should be encouraged to disclose everything else, including the expected risk distribution of the algorithm when applied in the population, using a benchmark DNA dataset. A standardized presentation of information and risk distributions allows customers to compare test offers and scientists to verify whether the undisclosed algorithms could be valid. A new model of oversight in which stakeholders collaboratively keep a check on the commercial market is needed.

The fact that individuals are spatially close to each other in the urban environment increases the potential number of encounters between them. Thus, theoretically speaking, the probability of interaction and social intercourse among people increases as they get closer to each other spatially. This reduction in spatial distance and propensity for larger networks can offer advantages in lower communication and transaction costs. However, there is also the possibility of entropy in a single (organizational) urban subsystem, characterized by reduced spatial distances between individuals that can lead to more toxic outcomes and the possibility of generalized deconstruction in an urban system as a whole. The current paper considers, through a theoretical model and secondary data analysis, how reductions in spatial distance between individuals in urban business organizations can lead to withdrawals of energy through toxic forms of entropic citizenship behavior, and lead to the development of toxic organizations. Such toxic organizations can ‘infect’ the urban system and lead to systematic entropic urban deconstruction. Practical, implications for management of the theoretical explanatory heuristic of toxic forms of organizational entropy and toxic organizations are briefly discussed in the paper.

Big Data classification has recently received a great deal of attention due to the main properties of Big Data, which are volume, variety, and velocity. The furthest-pair-based binary search tree (FPBST) shows a great potential for Big Data classification. This work attempts to improve the performance the FPBST in terms of computation time, space consumed and accuracy. The major enhancement of the FPBST includes converting the resultant BST to a decision tree, in order to remove the need for the slow K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and to obtain a smaller tree, which is useful for memory usage, speeding both training and testing phases and increasing the classification accuracy. The proposed decision trees are based on calculating the probabilities of each class at each node using various methods; these probabilities are then used by the testing phase to classify an unseen example. The experimental results on some (small, intermediate and big) machine learning datasets show the efficiency of the proposed methods, in terms of space, speed and accuracy compared to the FPBST, which shows great potential for further enhancements of the proposed methods to be used in practice.

We have shown in previous work that the equivalence of the Heisenberg and Schrödinger pictures of quantum mechanics requires the use of the Born and Jordan quantization rules. In the present work we give further evidence that the Born--Jordan rule is the correct quantization scheme for quantum mechanics. For this purpose we use correct short-time approximations to the action functional, initially due to Makri and Miller, and show that these lead to the desired quantization of the classical Hamiltonian.

Most of the existing studies conducted on FRP-confined concrete considered circular and square concrete columns, while limited studies were on columns with rectangular sections. The studies have confirmed that the circular cross-sections exhibited higher confinement effectiveness, whereas in the case of non-circular cross-sections the efficiency of FRP confinement decreases with an increase of the sectional aspect ratio and there is no significant increase, particularly for columns with the aspect ratio of 2.0. As recently suggested by the researchers, to significantly increase the effectiveness of FRP-confinement for these columns is by modifying a rectangular section to an elliptical or oval section. According to the literature, most of the existing confinement models for FRP-confined concrete under axial compression have been proposed for columns with circular and rectangular cross-sections. However, modeling the axial strength and strain of concrete confined with FRP in elliptical cross-sections under compression is most limited. Therefore, this paper provides new expressions based on limited experimental data available in the literature. For a sufficient amount of FRP-confinement, the threshold value was proposed to be 0.02. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed model was verified by comparing its predictions with the same test database, together with those from the existing models.

The inhibition impacts of 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-diamine (PTDA) on mild steel in 1 M HCl solution were investigated through weight loss method. The inhibition efficiencies of PTDA increase with increase in PTDA concentration at the temperature 303. Weight loss method indicate that PTDA is an excellent inhibitor the inhibition efficiency of 81.5% at the maximum PTDA concentration of 0.5 g/L at the temperature 303K.

Abstract Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder characterized by insulin resistance (IR), central obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia and higher glucose levels. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), imposing an economic burden on the healthcare system. However, the historical origins of MetS as well as the development and evolution of its definitions have not been conclusively documented in the literature. Aim: This study seeks to enhance the understanding of the developmental trends of MetS during the preceding two decades, placing particular emphasis on the definition, diagnosis and prevalence. Methods: An extensive search was performed from 1920 to 2023 across prominent scientific research engines, including Scopus, PubMed, MDPI, and others. Results: Despite advancements, many aspects of MetS remain inadequately understood. As the understanding of the nature and pathophysiology of MetS progresses, the development and refinement of its diagnostic criteria, and assessment and treatment guidelines will continue. Additionally, there exists significant variation in the global prevalence of metabolic syndrome, ranging from 14 to 39%. This prevalence is projected to increase due to the adoption of less healthy dietary patterns and sedentary lifestyles. The observed disparities in metabolic syndrome prevalence can be attributed to multiple factors, including demographic characteristics. Furthermore, the lack of a standardized definition across studies also contributes to the variation in reported prevalence rates. Conclusion: Further studies focusing on the standardization of the MetS definition across different research are crucial. The establishment of consistent criteria would enhance the reliability and validity of research findings, enabling more meaningful comparisons and interpretations.

In this study, the extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) from chloride solutions containing mixtures of these metals with solutions of the mixtures of P507 and Cyanex 272 (1:1) of various concentrations was experimentally studied. It was shown that the distribution coefficients of all REEs decrease with increasing concentration of these metals in the initial solution, which is associated with the loading of the organic phase. The most significant improvement in the extraction is observed for heavy group of rare earth elements. The extractability of REEs enhances with increasing atomic number of the element, as is typical for the extraction of these metals with acidic organophosphorus extractants. The data obtained show that separation factors of adjacent rare earth elements mainly decrease with increasing concentration of metals in the initial aqueous solution. Increasing the concentration of the extractant mixture does not have a significant effect on the values of the adjacent REE separation factors. Analysis of the experimental results shows that two commercial products can be obtained from a concentrate of the medium-heavy group. In the first cascade, yttrium can be separated, in the second, a concentrate of dysprosium and terbium can be obtained.

Pure silver as well as silver compounds have been used as antiseptics for centuries. Nowadays, the most frequently applied form of silver is a nanoparticle form. Several studies demonstrate the ability of silver nanoparticles and silver salts to accumulate in the brain of laboratory ani-mals as well as the ability of silver nanoparticles to influence behavioral and cognitive functions of laboratory mammals. For the first time, the influence of a silver salt, in particular, silver citrate on the change dynamics of behavioral and cognitive functions of laboratory mice at the daily oral exposure during 30, 60, 120 and 180 days is investigated in the present research. We observed the anxiety increase after 30 days of the exposure as well as the ability of mice to adapt to the prolonged oral exposure of silver citrate manifested in the anxiety decrease, increase of locomotor activity and the tendency of long-term contextual memory improvement. Increase of locomotor activity and memory improvement might be associated with the sensitivity increase and regarded as compensatory mechanism to anxiety increase. The observed phenomenon is classified as a hormetic effect. A comparison with the analogous study implemented polyvi-nylpyrrolidone coated silver nanoparticles is carried out. It was concluded that the nanoform is more neurotoxic.

The mortar’s composition, porosity, mechanical properties, entryways’ orientation, and condi-tioning status of the tunnels made by the Najdian Termite, Microtermes najdensis located at Hada Al-Sham village, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia were studied. The most prevalent infected tim-ber trees by this pest were Tamarix aphylla, Pithecellobium duce, Zizyphus spina christi, Leucaena leu-cocephala, Ficus infectoria, and Phoenix dactylifera. Climate, soil, healthy wood (Wh), and termite nest skeleton (TNS) were the four components of the termite system that were investigated physi-cally, chemically, spectroscopically, and by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM. It was noticed that the entryways of the termite nests are located at the southwest direction for all the infected trees studied at Hada Al-Sham village that promotes better ventilation. Concerning to the air-conditioning status within the their nest, the internal temperature (IT) was found to be milder than that for its analogous value for the outer temperature (OT) in which the IT was wormer than OT during cold durations, while it was colder than the hottest OT in hot days and vice versa. The IT’s trend had more constantancy with minor fluctuations compared to that for the OT. Moreo-ver, the IT was found to be tended to the upper OT’s limit otherwise its colder one. This finding means that these termite species prefer the hotter atmospheres comparing the colder circumstanc-es. Lignin is the prominent tracer of the organic matter used as a binder for the TNS due to its gluing ability, resistance to enzymatic degradation by the termites and their accompanied fungal community habituating the nests. The presence of both microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was discovered for the first time in the nest mortar reinforcing Klason lignin as the main binder. Their presence was proved by FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM anal-yses and we satisfied that they were naturally-synthesized by the action of enzymatic hydrolysis excreted by the termites and their accompanied fungal community habituating the nests. The gross heat of combustion (GHCs) of the Wh and TNS were studied to try to find an important uti-lization of the infected woods as renewable energy resources instead of disposal them without economic benefits. These findings may be used for interpreting the durability of the termite nests to the different environmental stresses. Biomimicry of the termites’ nest from the perspective of its magic mortar with a suitable permeability, the entryways’ orientation, and the air-conditioning status can lead to modify the current construction’s designs to be more green and ecofriendly.

The relaxation processes induced by an exposure of the Ar matrices doped with CH4 (0.1 – 10%) to an electron beam were studied with a focus on the dynamics of radiolysis products – H atoms, H2 molecules, CH radicals, and energy transfer processes. Three channels of energy transfer to dopant and radiolysis products were discussed: by free charge carriers, free excitons and photons from the “intrinsic source” provided by emission of the self-trapped excitons. Radiolysis products along with the total yield of desorbing particles were monitored in a correlated manner. Analysis of methane transformation reactions induced by free excitons showed that the CH radical can be considered as a marker of the CH3 species. The competition between exciton self-trapping and energy transfer to the dopant and radiolysis products has been demonstrated. A nonlinear concentration behavior of the H atoms in doped Ar matrices has been established. Real-time correlated monitoring of optical emissions (H atom and CH3 radicals), particle ejection, and temperature revealed a nonmonotonic behavior of optical yields with a strong luminescence flash after almost an hour of exposure, which correlated with explosive pulse of particle ejection and temperature. The connection of this phenomenon with the processes of energy transfer and radical-radical recombination is discussed.

Abstract: The morphological characteristics of the tongue of the Rahmani sheep (Ovis aries) were described using gross inspection, morphometry analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Nine mature male sheep heads were slaughtered, and samples were taken right away. The tongue was dissected, and various samples were obtained for SEM. The tongue had two different types of lingual papillae: mechanical (filiform, conical, and lenticular papillae) and gustatory (fungiform and vallate papillae). The main papillae and several secondary and tertiary papillae combine to produce each filiform papilla. On the dorsal surface of the tongue, there were five different types of conical papillae dispersed throughout, as well as three huge conical papillae and various-sized flattening papillae in front of the frenulum linguae. Furthermore, on the torus linguae, two different types of lenticular papillae were found. The majority of fungiform papillae possessed prominent taste buds' pores and were button-shaped with a central depression region, particularly in the rostral section of the tongue. On either side of the torus linguae, there are two rows of round, elliptical, pyramidal, and oval circumvallate papillae. Each papilla is surrounded by flat, broad, undulating annular rods and papillary grooves. The lingual surface also included numerous lin-gual gland openings in a variety of forms, which increased in number at the root. Finally, variations in the form, size, and number of lingual papillae, as well as the distribution of lingual gland openings along the lingual surface, may provide efficiency to the Rahmani sheep's tongue when feeding hard forages and high fiber foods.

Olive tree vegetal materials are considered a powerful source for isolation of bioactive compounds, mainly, phenols and triterpenic acids. However, the high humidity content of them reduces their preservation and extractability to a liquid solvent. Accordingly, a drying step is crucial to homogenize the material and to obtain an efficiency extraction. We studied the influence of the drying process on the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds from olive vegetal material. For this purpose, we evaluated the effects of four drying processes on the solid–liquid extraction of bioactive compounds from two by-products, olive leaves and pomace, and olive fruits harvested from two cultivars, Alfafara and Koroneiki. Infrared-assisted drying (IAD) was the most suited approach to obtain extracts enriched in oleuropein from leaves. In the case of pomace, lyophilization and microwaves-assisted drying led to extracts concentrated in oleacein and oleuropein aglycone, whereas IAD and oven-drying led to extracts with enhanced content in hydroxytyrosol glucoside and hydroxytyrosol, respectively. The drying process affected considerably to the chemical composition of extracts obtained from fruits. Changes in the composition of extracts were explained essentially by the drying process conditions using auxiliary energies, temperature and time, which promoted chemical alterations and increased the extractability of compounds.

Alunogen, Al2(SO4)3·17H2O, occurs as an efflorescent in acid mine drainage, low-temperature fumarolic or pseudofumarolic (at coal fires) terrestrial environments. It is considered as one of the main Al-sulfates of Martian soils demanding comprehensive crystal chemical data of natural terrestrial samples. However, structural studies of natural alunogen were carried out in 1970s without localization of H atoms and have not previously been performed for samples from geothermal fields, despite the fact that these environments are considered as proxies of the Martian conditions. The studied alunogen sample comes from Verkhne-Koshelevsky geothermal field (Koshelev volcano, Kamchatka, Russia). Its chemical formula is somewhat dehydrated, Al2(SO4)3×15.8 H2O. The crystal structure was solved and refined to R1 = 0.068 based on 5112 unique observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). Alunogen crystalizes in P-1 space group, a = 7.4194(3), b = 26.9763(9), c = 6.0549(2) Å, α = 90.043(3), β = 97.703(3), γ = 91.673(3) °, V = 1200.41(7) Å3, Z = 2. The crystal structure consists of isolated SO4 tetrahedra, Al(H2O)6 octahedra and H2O molecules connected by hydrogen bonds. The structure refinement includes Al, S and O positions that are similar to previous structure determinations and thirty-four H positions localized for the natural sample first. The study also shows the absence of isomorphic substitutions in the composition of alunogen despite the iron-enriched environment of mineral crystallization. The variability of the alunogen crystal structure is reflected in the number of “zeolite” H2O molecules and their splitting. The structure complexity of alunogen and its modifications ranges from 333-346 bits/cell for models with non-localized H atoms to 783-828 bits/cell for models with localized H atoms. The higher values correspond to higher hydration state of alunogen.

The worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes is rapidly increasing, particularly in children, adolescents, and young adults. Oxidative stress (OxS) has emerged as a likely initiating factor in T2D. The role of natural antioxidant products in combating T2D is best evaluated in the context of the complex physiological processes that modulate T2D-OxS such as glycemic control and exercise. The role of natural antioxidant compounds such as vitamin E in T2D must likewise be considered beyond their roles as inhibitors of OxS. In addition to antioxidant properties, vitamin E vitamers (tocopherols and tocotrienols) also exhibit distinct abilities to regulate cellular signal transduction pathways important to T2D progression. Most research on the role of vitamin E in T2D or prediabetes has been limited to tocopherols (Ts) but emerging trials with tocotrienols (T3s) show promise. Minimizing factors that induce chronic damaging OxS and maximizing natural antioxidant protective factors may provide a means of preventing or slowing T2D progression. This “optimal redox” (OptRedox) approach also provides a framework in which to discuss the potential benefits of natural antioxidant factors such as antioxidant products. Since early, effective intervention is critical, the OptRedox strategy would be optimally effective if implemented in the pediatric population.

The body of scientific literature continues to grow annually. Over 1.5 million abstracts of biomedical publications were added to the PubMed database in 2021. Therefore, developing cognitive systems that provide a specialized search for information in scientific publications based on subject area ontology and modern artificial intelligence methods is urgently needed. We previously developed a web-based information retrieval system, ANDDigest, designed to search and analyze information in the PubMed database using a customized domain ontology. This paper presents an improved ANDDigest version that uses fine-tuned PubMedBERT classifiers to enhance the quality of short name recognition for molecular-genetics entities in PubMed abstracts on eight biological object types: cell components, diseases, side effects, genes, proteins, pathways, drugs, and metabolites. This approach increased average short name recognition accuracy by 13%. The new ANDDigest version (01.2022) has a web interface and is freely available to users at https://anddigest.sysbio.ru/.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and necrotizing periodontitis (NP) are two diseases whose aetiology and pathophysiology do not seem to have a common link; however, the treatment of MS with monoclonal antibodies and the decrease in humoral immunity that this entails can be a trigger or an aggravation in patients who present NP. We present a clinical case of NP in which its clinical manifestations, treatment and evolution during therapy with ocrelizumab are reflected. During the evolution of the case, a rapid progression of NP was evidenced. During her evolution, the patient suffered bilateral pneumonia due to COVID requiring treatment with corticosteroids and antibiotics, which led to clinical relief of her NP. Given this important clinical finding, we consider of great interest the regulated dental monitoring of those patients with MS before, during and after the administration of monoclonal antibodies to prevent periodontal deterioration.

Uterine fibroid (UF) is a tumour in some parts of the uterus, which introduces health challenges or death due to failed surgery among women globally. This study was designed to ascertain the involvement of micro-nutrients, inflammation, and antioxidant enzymes in the UF development to gain further insights and provide a strategy for managing the disease. One hundred ninety reproductive-aged women were recruited and classified equally into case and control subjects. The supernatant obtained from excised tissues from the fibroid and the normal samples from the adjacent myometrium were assessed for the selected biochemical parameters with standard methods. The levels of vitamin A and sodium between 26-35 years; vitamins D, E, zinc, and selenium between 46-55 years; and vitamin E at 56 years and above significantly decreased (p<0.05). Interleukin-2 (IL-2) level significantly increased (P < 0.05) among the case between 36-45 years. An increase in the activity of glutathione-s-transferase and the reduction in glutathione peroxidase activity and vitamin A level in the uterus between 26-45 years were the most pronounced significant findings (p<0.05) recorded. Prolonged vitamin A deficiency coupled with excess sodium salts facilitating inflammation induced by IL-2 are critical factors for UF development.

If we accept that human body is a dissipative structure, then the recovery of the body should be considered as a redirection of the enegy flows. The recovery of vertebral cartilage through redirecting of inner dissipative flow requires the understanding of how is this case the fact of reversibility can be proven. We proposed the approach, that according to the collected data, satisfies all the scientific requirements.

Industrial agriculture (IA) is the predominant model of food production since the Green Revolution in the 1950s. IA has been recognized among the main drivers of biodiversity loss, climate change and native pollinator decline. This is controversial, given that native agricultural pollinators are an important resource biota already contributing to crop yield, especially in areas defined as "world biodiversity hotspots” (WBH). These areas often overlap with agricultural zones hosting a significant proportion of cultivated land, mainly through intensive agricultural practices. Pollinator biodiversity and pollination services in these places are currently under threat due to the negative consequences of IA. The dual role of insects as key players allowing the maintenance of the natural ecosystem, as well as main crop pollinators, is particularly exacerbated and urgently requires conservation actions in WBH and food-producing zones. Here we summarize the known negative effects of IA on pollinator biodiversity and illustrate these problems by considering the case of Chile. Food exports represent a considerable part of the economy in this OECD “developing country” in the “Global South”, and a large part of its surface has been highlighted as a unique WBH. This area is currently being replaced by IA businesses at a fast pace, threatening local biodiversity. We present agroecological strategies for sustainable food production and pollinator conservation in food-producing WBHs like Chile. These alternatives recognize native pollinators as internal inputs that cannot be replaced by IA technological packages or external inputs and support the development of agroecological and biodiversity restoration practices to protect their existing biodiversity. We suggest a strategy that integrates four fundamental pillars for producing food in a sustainable way, recognizing biodiversity and local cultural heritage: 1) Share the land, restore and protect; 2) Ecological intensification; 3) Localized knowledge, research and technological development; and 4) Territorial planning and implementation of socio-agroecological policies. We suggest that this approach does not need greater modification of native pollination services that sustain the world with food and basic subsistence goods, but a paradigm change where the interdependency of nature and human wellbeing are recognized for ensuring the present and future of the world’s food security and sovereignty as well as considering the reduction of consumerism and food waste.

Wheat is one of the global strategic crops and ranks third in terms of cereals production. Wheat crop is exposed to many fungal infections during the cultivation stages, some of which have the ability to secrete numbers of toxic secondary metabolites that threaten the quality of grains, consumer health, producer economics and global trade exchange. Fifty-four random samples were collected from wheat which originated from different countries. The samples included 14 of soft wheat to study the extent of their contamination with Deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin by auto-ELISA technology and r-biopharm Microtiter plate. All samples were contaminated with DON toxin except one sample, and the contamination average ranged between 40.7 and 1018.8 µg kg-1. The highest contamination rates were in Lithuanian and the lowest in Indian wheat. Meanwhile the highest average level of T-2 toxin contamination was in Lithuanian wheat grains with a rate of 377.4µg kg-1 and the lowest in Polish wheat with an average of 115.3µg kg-1. GC-MS/MS and multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM), was used to detect 15 triazole derivatives in collected samples, which may be used to combat fungal diseases on wheat during the growing season. Only 9 derivatives were found; Simeconazole, Penconazole, Hexaconazole, Cyproconazole, Diniconazole, Tebuconazole, Metconazole, Fenbuconazole and Difenoconazole. These derivatives varied according to the origin of wheat samples as well as their its concentration whereas, another 6 derivatives were not detected in all samples. A direct inverse relationship was found between the DON concentration in the samples and the residues of Simeconazole, Penconazole, Diniconazole, Tebuconazole, Metconazole, Fenbuconazole and Difenoconazole and the T-2 toxin showed the same relationship except for Tebuconazole. The safe and rational use of some triazole derivatives may be a new approach and a promising strategy not only to reduce plant diseases and their problems, but also to get rid of some mycotoxins as contaminates.

In rye, there is a considerable variety of grain color which is determined by the diversity of compounds localized in different parts of the grain (caryopsis) - pericarp, testa, and aleurone. The localization of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins was analyzed in 26 rye samples with identified anthocyanin genes, along with the analysis of CIE color coordinates. The Grain Scan program [1] was used to analyze images of individual grains. The localization of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins was studied on longitudinal and cross sections of grains using light microscopy and MALDI-imaging. The violet-grained samples contain anthocyanins in the pericarp, and the green-grained samples contain anthocyanins in the aleurone layer. The green, violet and yellow-grained rye, with the exception of two anthocyaninless mutants vi3 and vi6, shows the presence of proanthocyanidins in the brown-colored testa. Four main color groups of the rye grains (yellow, green, brown, violet) could be differentiated using the color coordinate h° (hue angle). Interspecies and intraspecies variability for the localization of colored flavonoids in cereal grains is discussed.

In this paper, we study the sensing performance of metasurfaces comprised by spiral-disk-shaped metallic elements patterned on polypropylene substrates, which exhibit localized surface plasmon resonances in the low-frequency region of the THz spectrum (0.2-0.5 THz). Optimal designs of spiral disks with C-shaped resonators placed near the disks were determined and fabricated. The experimentally measured transmittance spectra of samples coated with very thin photoresistive layers (d ~ 10^-4-10^-3 λ) showed good agreement with simulations. The resonance frequency shift Δf increases with increasing d, while saturating near d = 50 µm. The narrow-band magnetic dark modes excited on symmetrical spiral disks with a 90⁰-C-resonator demonstrated very high FOM values reaching 1670 [RIU·mm]^-1 at 0.3μm-thick analyte. The hybrid high order resonances excited on asymmetrical densely packed spiral disks showed about two times larger FOM values (up to 2950 [RIU·mm]^-1) as compared to symmetrical distantly spaced spirals that resembles the best FOM results found in literature for metasurfaces fabricated with a similar technique. The demonstrated high sensing performance of spiral disks is evaluated to be promising for bio-sensing applications in the THz range.

Temperature-index modeling is used to determine the magnitude of temperature depression in the northern Sawatch Range required to maintain steady-state mass balances of six reconstructed glaciers at their extent during the local Last Glacial Maximum (LLGM), dated at ~21 ka. Assuming no significant differences in precipitation compared to modern values, mean annual temperatures in the region were on average 8.8 +0.5/–0.8 °C cooler than they are today. Allowing for modest increases or decreases in precipitation, required temperature depressions only differ by ± 0.2 °C. Temperature depression in the northern Sawatch Range are consistent, although slightly greater, with those determined in other ranges in Colorado using similar approaches. The estimates presented here are, however, substantially less than those suggested by several downscaled simulations of global LGM climate, that might be due to the need for improved calibration of such downscalings, or the models from which they are derived. Our estimates of LGM temperature depression are considerably greater than that previously determined in the study area and those in two other ranges in Colorado derived using different methodologies, the latter being most likely responsible for the discrepancies.

An important moment in the establishment of forestry seed orchards is the formation of their optimal composition, avoiding inbreeding depression in the outgoing seed material which occurs due to crossbreeding between closely related plus trees, the clones of which comprise the orchards. It is possible to minimize the negative effect of inbreeding by considering the hereditary aspect of the heterogeneous seed orchard material. The purpose of our work is to provide a comparative assessment of the formation and lignification of xylem in annual shoots of the plus trees of Scots pine. We investigated the formation and lignification of xylem in the annual shoots of the plus trees of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), found in natural forests in the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation. Their vegetative progeny were cultivated in the clone archive stationed in the same region. Analyzing the one-type of the 1-year shoots, the time that the shoots were cut from the branches corresponded to the presence of plants in the characteristic phenological phases of seasonal development. A histochemical study of xylem was conducted, using the qualitative reactions of phloroglucinol to lignin. The power of xylem development was estimated by counting, in the radial direction, the cell rows from the core to the cambium in the microscope’s field of view. A significant differentiation of plus trees was revealed in a complex of signs characterizing the level of xylem development and the degree of xylem cell lignification in the tissues of annual shoots. Phenotypic differences in the physiological state of plus trees appeared given a leveled ecological background, indicating their genotypic determinism. This was confirmed by an analysis of variance. The share of the influence of differences between the proper plus trees was between 25.16% ± 8.91% and 53.98% ± 5.48% of the total phenotypic variance of the signs of the seasonal state of xylem. Factor analysis was used to reduce the number of considered indicators of xylem physiological state. The results allowed a cluster analysis to be carried out on the basis of the normalized values of the initial xylem features as well as the principal components derived from them. The association of plus trees was done on the basis of the similarity of the multidimensional estimates of xylem seasonal condition. The objects that were the most remote from the others were identified. This information provides a reasonable approach to the formation of an assortment of Scots pine seed orchards.

Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), one of the prevalent branches of operations research, aims to design mathematical and computational tools for selecting the best alternative among several choices with respect to specific criteria. In the cloud, MCDA based online brokers uses customer specified criteria to rank different service providers. However, subjected to limited domain knowledge, the customer may exclude relevant or include irrelevant criterion, which could result in suboptimal ranking of service providers. To deal with such misspecification, this research proposes a model, which uses notion of factor analysis from the domain of unsupervised machine learning. The model is evaluated using two quality-of-service (QoS) based datasets. The first dataset i.e., feedback from customers, was compiled using leading review websites such as Cloud Hosting Reviews, Best Cloud Computing Providers, and Cloud Storage Reviews and Ratings. The second dataset i.e., feedback from servers, was generated from cloud brokerage architecture that was emulated using high performance computing (HPC) cluster at University of Luxembourg (HPC @ Uni.lu). The simulation runs in a stable cloud environment i.e. when uncertainty is low, shows that online broker (equipped with the proposed model) produces optimized ranking of service providers as compared to other brokers. This is due the fact that proposed model assigns priorities to criteria objectively (using machine learning) rather than using priorities based on subjective judgments of the customer. This research will benefit potential cloud customers that view insufficient domain knowledge as a limiting factor for acquisition of web services in the cloud.

Viruses with spindle or lemon-shaped virions are rare in the world of viruses, but are common in viruses of archaeal extremophiles, possibly due to the extreme conditions in which they thrive. However, the structural and genetic basis for the unique spindle shape is unknown. The best-studied spindle-shaped virus, SSV1, is composed mostly of the major capsid protein VP1. Similar to many other viruses, proteolytic cleavage of VP1 is thought to be critical for virion formation. Unlike half of the genes in SSV1, including the minor capsid protein gene vp3, the vp1 gene does not tolerate deletion or transposon insertion. In order determine the role of the vp1 gene and its proteolysis for virus function, we developed techniques for site-directed mutagenesis of the SSV1 genome and complemented deletion mutants with vp1 genes from other SSVs. By analyzing these mutants we demonstrate that the N-terminus of the VP1 protein is required, but the N-terminus, or entire SSV1 VP1 protein, can be exchanged with VP1s from other SSVs. However, the conserved glutamate at the cleavage site is not essential for infectivity. Interestingly, viruses containing point mutations at this position generate mostly abnormal virions.

While referral-level medicine is important in the veterinary curriculum, students also need a solid base knowledge of clinically relevant routine surgery and diagnostic skills. Veterinary hospitals must maintain a steady caseload that provides wellness cases and commonly encountered conditions. Shelter Medicine programs can create the opportunities to meet these challenges. Students can gain quantifiable surgical experience in spay/neuter with measured growth in surgical efficiency and competency while providing needed community service for animal shelters. Students can directly interact with shelter animals by performing examinations, diagnostic testing, and development of treatment protocols and recommendations for commonly encountered problems. Furthermore, students can obtain a working knowledge of biosecurity on a population level to minimize risk of infectious diseases spreading to healthy populations.

To elucidate mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC)-tumor intricate and ambiguous interactions, the reliable cell labeling and tracking techniques are imperative. Traditional methods of cell labelling have limitations mostly relevant to need for genetic modification what demands the exploration for alternative strategies. Here, we propose using fluorescent photoconvertible microcapsules containing Rhodamine B (RhB) to study mMSC migration in brain tumors. These 3 μm sized microcapsules are readily internalised by cells and undergo photoconversion under 561 nm laser exposure with fluorescence blue shift on demand. Optimal photoconversion was achieved with a laser irradiation duration of 0.4 ms, which provide a maximal brightness of photoconverted label without an excessive laser exposure on cells. Capsules modified with polyallylamine hydrochloride demonstrated the best potential for intracellular uptake without significantly affecting cell viability, motility, or proliferation. The optimal ratio of 20 capsules per mMSC was determined for labeling. Moreover, migration of individual mMSCs within 2D and 3D glioblastoma cell (EPNT-5) colonies over 2 days and in vivo tumor settings over 7 days was tracked. Our study unveils a robust platform for investigating MSC-tumor dynamics, offering insights into therapeutic strategies. Photoconvertible microcapsules could also become an indispensable tool for studying complex fundamental processes of cell-cell interactions for a wide range of problems in biology and medicine.

In the present article, we study the possibilities of machine learning for estimation of seeing at the Maidanak Astronomical Observatory (38∘40′24′′N, 66∘53′47′′E) using only Era-5 re-analysis data. Seeing is usually associated with the integral of the turbulence strength Cn2(z) over the height z. Based on the seeing measurements accumulated over 13 years we created ensemble models of multi-layer neural networks under the machine learning framework, including training and validation. For the first time in the world, we have simulated optical turbulence (seeing variations) during night-time with deep neural networks trained on a 13-year database of astronomical seeing. A set of neural networks for simulations of night-time seeing variations have been obtained. For these neural networks the linear correlation coefficient ranges from 0.48 to 0.68. We show that modeled seeing with neural networks is well described through meteorological parameters, which include wind speed components, air temperature, humidity and turbulent surface stresses. One of the fundamental new results is that the structure of small-scale (optical) turbulence over the Maidanak Astronomical Observatory does not depend or depends negligibly on the vortex component of atmospheric flows.

Various iron oxides have been proven to be promising anode materials for metal-ion batteries due to their natural abundance, high theoretical capacity, ease of preparation, and environmental friendliness. However, the synthesis of iron oxide-based composites requires complex approaches, especially when it comes to composites with intrinsically conductive polymers. In this work we propose a one-step microplasma synthesis of a polyaniline-coated urchin-like FeOOH nanoparticles (FeOOH/PANI) for application as anode in lithium-ion batteries. The material shows excellent electrochemical characteristics, providing initial capacity of ca. 1600 mA∙h∙g−1 at 0.05 A∙g−1 and 900 mA∙g−1 at 1.2 A∙g−1. Further cycling lead to capacity decrease to 150 mA∙h∙g−1 by the 60th cycles, followed by a recovery that maintained the capacity at 767 mA∙h∙g−1 after 2000 cycles at 1.2 A∙g−1 and restored full initial capacity of 1600 mA∙h∙g−1 at low current density of 0.05 A∙g−1. Electrochemical milling of the material caused such interesting behavior of the material, and we confirmed this phenomenon by a combination of physico-chemical and electrochemical techniques. The anodes also exhibit high performance in a full cell with NMC532. NMC532//FeOOH/PANI full cell provided energy density of 224 Wh∙kg−1 which is comparable to the reference cell with graphite anode (264 Wh∙kg−1).

The evolutionary conserved STING-cGAS pathway represents one of the most important cytosolic DNA sensing systems that is activated in response to viral invasion and/or damaged integrity of the nuclear envelope. The key outcome of this pathway is the production of IFN, which subsequently stimulates hundreds of genes. In oncology, the situation is a complex one since this pathway may serve either anti- or pro-oncogenic roles in a context-dependent fashion. The prevailing understanding is that when the innate immune response is activated by sensing cytosolic DNA, such as from ruptured micronuclei, it results in the production of interferon which attracts cytotoxic cells to destroy tumors. However, in tumor cells that have adjusted to significant chromosomal instability, particularly in relapsed, treatment-resistant cancers, the cGAS–STING pathway often supports cancer progression. In these cells, the pathway initiates a non-canonical nuclear factor κB transcriptional response, fostering the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we review this intricate pathway in conjunction with cancer progression and development of new treatment modalities.

Porous ferroelectric lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) films are a promising material for various electronics applications. This study focuses on understanding how structure-directing agent (polyvinylpyrrolidone) can change structure and electrical properties of porous PZT films prepared by chemical solution deposition. The films with various porosity up to ~ 40 vol.% and pore connectivity changing from 3-0 to 3-3 were prepared and studied by capacitance-voltage, dielectric hysteresis, transient current, photocurrent, and local current techniques. We have found that the linear decrease in the material volume in a porous film is not the only factor governing film properties. The key role in changing electrical properties plays the creation of new internal grain boundaries. This research expands the understanding of physical phenomena in porous ferroelectric films and may enable the development of new materials and devices.

Osteoconductive granulated biopolymers (OGB) are used to restore the lost volume of the jaw bone. OGB is employed as a loose fraction and exhibits physical traits common to bulk mixtures. By removing air bubbles and industrial dust from the OGB fraction through special processing, more accessible spaces are left over for the adsorption of bone growth factors. The recipient site's biological environment alters the OGB fraction's physical characteristics. This is the cause of the OGB fraction's volume changing uncontrollably during the first three weeks following surgery. Predictive indicators for describing the physical processes of osteoconduction include the compaction coefficient and adsorption capacity. Taking into account the prognostic indicators of the dynamics of changes in the physical properties of the OGB fraction in the postoperative period, 3D planning of the bioengineered structure should be done. The OGB fraction's adsorption and drainage properties are optimized by raising the purity of OGB production and preparing the biopolymer for clinical studies.

Metabolomics is a powerful set of methods that uses analytical techniques to identify and quantify metabolites in biological samples, providing a snapshot of the metabolic state of a biological system. In medicine, metabolomics can help diagnose diseases, reveal molecular basis of a disease, and monitor treatment responses, while in agriculture, it can improve crop yields and plant breeding. However, animal metabolomics faces several challenges due to the complexity and diversity of animal metabolomes, the lack of standardized protocols, and the difficulty in interpreting metabolomic data. The current dataset includes quantitative metabolomic profiles of eye lens tissues from 26 bird species (111 specimens) that can aid researchers in developing new experiments, mathematical models, and integrations with other omics data. The dataset includes raw 1H NMR spectra, protocols for sample preparation, and data preprocessing with the final table containing information on 89 reliably identified and quantified metabolites. The dataset is quantitative, making it relevant for supplementing with new specimens or comparison groups, followed by data mining and expected new interpretations. It was obtained from bird specimens collected in compliance with ethical standards and reveals potential differences in metabolic pathways due to phylogenetic difference or environmental exposure.

In this article we investigate the generalized Kawahara-KdV system. A new topological approach is applied to prove the existence of at least one classical solution and at least two nonnegative classical solutions. The arguments are based upon recent theoretical results.

(1) Background: Recent studies provide some evidence for the contribution of antibody-mediated autoimmune mechanisms to the nature of fibromyalgia (FM) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Much attention was paid to the autoantibodies (AAb) targeting G protein-coupled receptors as natural components of the immune system. However, natural AAb network is much more extensive, and has not been previously investigated in these disorders; (2) Methods: The enzyme immunoassays ELI-Viscero-Test and ELI-Neuro-Test were used to determine changes in serum content of a 33 natural AAb to neural, organ-specific and non-tissue-specific autoantigens a) in 11 FM patients with comorbid ME/CFS; b) in 11 ME/CFS patients without FM; c) in 11 healthy controls. Individual autoantibody profiles and their correlation with some clinical symptoms were analyzed. (3) Results: both patients with ME/CFS and ME/CFS+FM were characterized by more frequent and pronounced deviations in the immunoreactivity to GABA-receptors than healthy controls. Although the level of other natural AAb did not differ between study groups, AAb correlation signatures were changing in patients compared to healthy controls. Both in patients and healthy controls the level of natural AAb to various neural and tissue-specific antigens correlated with the severity of fatigue, bodily pain, depression, anxiety, physical and mental-health related quality of life. Notably, that widely different correlation patterns were observed between study groups. (4) Conclusions: Findings from this pilot study provide some evidence that the homeostasis of autoimmune relationships, which are possibly a physiological part of our immune system, may break down in FM and ME/CFS. The correlation of disease-induced perturbations in individual AAb profiles with some clinical symptoms may arise from the immune system's ability to reflect qualitative and quantitative changes in antigenic composition of the body.

The development of photocurable compositions is in high demand for the manufacture of func-tional materials for electronics, optics, medicine, energy, etc. The properties of the final pho-to-cured material are primarily determined by the initial mixture, which needs to be tuned for each application. In this study we propose to use simple systems based on di(meth)acrylate, polyimide and photoinitiator for the preparation of new photo-curable compositions. It was es-tablished that a fluorinated cardo copolymide (FCPI) based on 2,2-bis-(3,4-dicarboxydiphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride, 9,9-bis-(4-aminophenyl)fluorene and 2,2-bis-(4-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane (1.00:0.75:0.25 mol) has excellent solubility in di(met)acrylates. This made it possible to prepare solutions of FCPI in such monomers, to study the effect of FCPI on the kinetics of their photopolymerization in situ and the properties of the resulting polymers. According to the obtained data, the solutions of FCPI (23 wt.%) in 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA) and FCPI (15 wt.%) in tetraethylene glycol diacrylate were tested for the formation of the primary protective coatings of the silica optical fibers. It was found that the new coating of poly(BDDA–FCPI23%) can withstand prolonged annealing at 200°C (72 h), which is comparable or superior to the known most thermally stable photo-curable coatings. The proposed approach can be applied to obtain other functional materials.

Positively charged polyelectrolytes hold significant potential as materials for creating antibacterial coatings. Water-soluble macromolecules can be easily deposited onto a treated surface through various techniques, forming a film that provides antimicrobial properties to the surface through electrostatic interactions with bacterial membranes. The structural and molecular weight characteristics of the polymers play a crucial role in the physical and mechanical properties of the coatings. In this study, we investigated the properties of branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) and linear polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) coatings with different molecular weights of polymer samples to determine their suitability as stable coatings with antibacterial properties against foodborne bacteria. Using thermogravimetric analysis, dynamometry, and dynamic light scattering, we examined the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the macromolecules in water solutions and in coatings. Microbiological study was conducted to analyze the biocidal activity of the polycations in solutions and on the surface of coatings. Our findings showed that the moisture saturation of the polycationic coatings did not significantly depend on the chemical nature of charged groups or the molecular weight or architecture of macromolecules. Moreover, biocidal activity was not found to depend on the molecular weights of PEI and PDADMAC. However, the lowering of the molecular weight of polymers resulted in the loss of cohesive forces in the coatings and to dramatically loss of the stability towards wash-off with water. The diffusion coefficient (D0) of macromolecules was identified as a key parameter for the wash-off mechanism. Films formed by molecules with D0 below 1×10-7 cm2/s demonstrated high resistance to wash-off procedures. We demonstrated that PEI and PDADMAC samples with high molecular weights showed high antimicrobial activity towards L. monocytogenes. Our results highlight the importance of macromolecule characteristics in the development of new biocidal coatings based on polycations.

Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of sandwiched composite nanomagnets, which consist of hard magnetic Cr-substituted hexaferrite cores and magnetite outer layers. The hexaferrite plate-like nanoparticles with average dimensions of 36.3 nm × 5.2 nm were prepared by glass crystallization method and were covered by spinel-type iron oxide via thermal decomposition of iron acetylacetonate in hexadecane solution. The hexaferrite nanoplates act as seeds for the epitaxial growth of the magnetite, which results in uniform continuous outer layers on both sides. The thickness of the layers can be adjusted by controlling the concentration of metal ions. In this way, layers with average thickness of 3.7 and 4.9 nm were obtained. Due to an atomically smooth interface the magnetic composites demonstrate the exchange coupling effect, acting as single phases during remagnetization. The developed approach can be applied to any spinel-type material with matching lattice parameters and opens the way to expand the performance of hexaferrite nanomagnets due to a combination of various functional properties.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pleiotropic myelopoietic growth factor and proinflammatory cytokine, clinically used for multiple indications and serving as a promising target for treatment of many disorders, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, COVID-19. We have previously shown that dimeric Ca2+-bound forms of S100A6 and S100P proteins, members of the multifunctional S100 protein family, are specific to GM-CSF. To probe selectivity of these interactions, the affinity of recombinant human GM-CSF to dimeric Ca2+-loaded forms of 18 recombinant human S100 proteins was studied by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. Of them, only S100A4 protein specifically binds to GM-CSF with equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd, values of 0.3-2 μM, as confirmed by intrinsic fluorescence and chemical crosslinking data. Calcium removal prevents S100A4 binding to GM-CSF, whereas monomerization of S100A4/A6/P proteins disrupts S100A4/A6 interaction with GM-CSF and induces a slight decrease in S100P affinity for GM-CSF. Structural modelling indicates the presence in the GM-CSF molecule of a conserved S100A4/A6/P-binding site, consisting of the residues from its termini, helices I and III, some of which are involved in the interaction with GM-CSF receptors. The predicted involvement of the ‘hinge’ region and F89 residue of S100P in GM-CSF recognition was confirmed by mutagenesis. Examination of S100A4/A6/P ability to affect GM-CSF signaling showed that S100A4/A6 inhibit GM-CSF/S100-induced suppression of viability of monocytic THP-1 cells. The ability of the S100 proteins to modulate GM-CSF activity is relevant to progression of various neoplasms and other diseases, according to bioinformatics analysis. The direct regulation of GM-CSF signaling by extracellular forms of the S100 proteins should be taken into account in the clinical use of GM-CSF and development of the therapeutic interventions targeting GM-CSF or its receptors.

Background: Glioblastoma remains a challenging brain tumor to treat due to its infiltrative nature. Accurately identifying tumor boundaries during surgery is crucial for successful tumor resection. This study introduces an innovative intraoperative visualization method utilizing a surgical fluorescence microscope to precisely locate tumor cells. The focus of the study is on IR-Glint, a novel preparation comprising Cy7.5-labeled aptamers Gli-233nt and Gli-55_3L specific to human glioblastoma. Methods: The aptamers were modified using molecular modeling and quantum chemical techniques. The effectiveness of the preparation was assessed using flow cytometry and microscopy on primary cultures of human glioblastoma. In vivo studies were conducted on mouse and rabbit models, employing orthotopic xenotransplantation of human brain glioblastoma with various imaging techniques, including PET/CT, in vivo fluorescence visualization, confocal laser scanning, and surgical microscopy. Results: The experiments validated the potential of IR-Glint for intraoperative visualization of glioblastoma using infrared imaging. Surface application of the aptamer-based formulation on the brain allowed clear visualization of the tumor, aiding surgeons in tumor resection. This approach also reduces the dosage required and mitigates potential toxic effects on the patient. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the promising potential of using in-frared dye-labeled aptamers for intraoperative visualization of glioblastoma. By improving surgical treatment outcomes in neurosurgery, this novel approach may pave the way for future advancements in the field.

: Cytokine storm is usually described as one of the main reasons behind COVID-associated mor-tality. Cytokines are essential protein molecules engaged in immune responses; they play a critical role in protection against infections. However, they also contribute to inflammatory reactions and tissue damage, becoming a double-edged sword in the context of COVID-19. Recent studies have suggested various cytokines and chemokines that play a crucial role in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. One such cytokine is Interleukin 27 (IL-27), which has been found to be elevated in the blood plasma of patients with COVID-19. Within this study, we will explore the role of IL-27 in immune responses and address our own findings concerning this cytokine in COVID-19. It affects a wide variety of immune cells; regardless of the pathological process it is involved in, IL-27 is critical for upholding the necessary balance between tissue damage and cytotoxicity against in-fectious agents and/or tumors. In COVID-19, it is involved in multiple processes, including antiviral cytotoxicity via CD8+ cells, IgG subclass switching, and even the activation of Tregs.

The ability of S. aureus to infect humans and cause a wide range of infections so efficiently is a consequence of the many variant virulence factors that it can produce. Superantigens (SAgs) make up a group of them and include staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE). The main objective of this study was to detect enterotoxin gene cluster (EGC) in S. aureus isolates that caused infections in Paraguayan children in the year 2017, through an observational and cross-sectional study. The detection of the EGC including the seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, and seu genes, was carried out by end-point PCR. 181 S. aureus isolates were collected, most of them caused skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI, n=140, 77%) and came from children under 6 years 50% (n=90). At least one SE gene was detected in 96% (174/181) of isolates and 24% (44/181) carried the entire EGC. An association between methicillin resistance and seg, sei, seo, and seu gene carriage (p ≤0.05) was observed. A high prevalence of EGC was detected in S. aureus isolates collected from infected children attending the main health care centers in Paraguay, its importance is due to the potential of these toxins to aggravate staphylococcal infections.

The maintenance of skeletal muscle mass plays a fundamental role in health and issues associated with quality of life. Mechanical signals are one of the most potent regulators of muscle mass, with a decrease in mechanical loading leading to a decrease in muscle mass. This concept has been supported by a plethora of of human- and animal-based studies during the last 100 years and has resulted in the commonly used term of “disuse atrophy”. These same studies have also provided a great deal of insight into the structural adaptations that mediate disuse-induced atrophy. For instance, disuse results in radial atrophy of fascicles, and this is driven, at least in part, by radial atrophy of the muscle fibers. However, the ultrastructural adaptations that mediate these changes remain far from defined. Indeed, even the most basic questions, such as whether the radial atrophy of muscle fibers is driven by the radial atrophy of myofibrils and/or myofibril hypoplasia, have yet to be answered. In this review, we thoroughly summarize what is known about the macroscopic, microscopic, and ultrastructural adaptations that mediated disuse-induced atrophy and highlight some of the major gaps in knowledge that need to be filled.

The genus Euonymus (L.) consists of shrubs or woody plants, distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. To date, from Euonymus spp. several hundreds of different secondary metabolites have been isolated and identified. In addition, fatty oil was found in the fruits of some species of these plants, which accumulates not only in the seeds, but also in the arils. This study presents the research of unique long-term (ten-year-old) suspension cell cultures of Euonymus maximoviczianus Prokh. which were obtained from arils of unripe capsules. Suspension cells retain the ability to form oil droplets containing neutral lipids, both in the dark and in the light, the cells are able to synthesize very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), and can synthesize delphinidin-3-O-hexoside, cyanidin-3-O-hexoside, and peonidin-3-O-hexoside. Here, we research of the fatty acid, VLCFA, and anthocyanin biosynthesis dynamics in the subcultivation, as well as the influence of methyl jasmonate (MeJa) on these processes in the dark- and under-light-grown cell cultures. In the darkness, the formation of VLCFAs is more intense, and the biosynthesis of anthocyanins is significantly activated in the light. MeJA substantially enhances the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in the light and, surprisingly, the formation of VLCFAs in the darknss. In connection with the commonality of the cytosolic pool of malonyl-CoA, which is necessary both for the biosynthesis of VLCFAs and dihydroflavonols (and, ultimately, anthocyanins), the competition of these biosynthetic pathways is discussed.

This study presents the solution of the second type of a two-dimensional nonlinear integral equation in Banach space. Also, the existence and uniqueness of this equation’s solution are discussed. We utilize a numerical approach involving hybrid and block-pulse functions to obtain the approximate solution of a two-dimensional nonlinear integral equation. Nonlinear integral equation in two dimensions is reduced numerically to a system of nonlinear algebraic equations that can be solved using numerical methods. This study focuses on showing the convergence analysis for the numerical approach and obtaining an error estimate. Some numerical examples have been provided to demonstrate the approach’s viability and efficacy

Since the 1980s, a growing interest in goat milk was noticed due to the nutritional values and health benefits of this milk, which resulted in increasing goat populations and milk production worldwide. This comprehensive review elaborates on goat milk composition compared to other types of milk. It is also an overview of goat milk production, properties, nourishment-value, applications in dairy products, and potential health benefits. Goat milk composition and its characteristics are slightly different from other types of milk and can be utilized to manufacture many dairy products. Fresh goat milk and goat milk products (e.g., yogurt and kefir were found to provide various potential health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, prevent cardiovascular disease, anti-diabetic and antihypertensive, strengthen bones, boost immunity, and improve metabolism.

A model to predict the relative levels of respiratory and fecal-oral transmission potentials of coronaviruses (CoVs) by measuring the percentage of protein intrinsic disorder (PID) of the M (Membrane) and N (nucleoprotein) proteins in their outer and inner shells, respectively, was built before the MERS-CoV outbreak. Application of this model to the 2003 SARS-CoV indicated that this virus with M_PID = 8.6% and N_PID = 50.2% falls into group B, which consists of CoVs with intermediate levels of both fecal-oral and respiratory transmission potentials. Further validation of the model came with MERS-CoV (M_PID = 9%, N_PID = 44%) and SARS-CoV-2 (M_PID = 5.5%, N_PID = 48%) falling into the groups C and B, respectively. Group C contains CoVs with higher fecal-oral but lower respiratory transmission potentials. Unlike SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 with M_PID = 5.5% has one of the hardest outer shells among CoVs. This shell hardness is believed to be responsible for high viral loads in the mucus and saliva making it more contagious than SARS-CoV. The hard shell is able to resist the anti-microbial enzymes in body fluids. Further searches have found that high rigidity of outer shell is characteristic for the CoVs of burrowing animals, such as rabbits (M_PID = 5.6%) and pangolins (M_PID = 5-6%), which are in contact with the buried feces. A closer inspection of pangolin-CoVs from 2017-19 reveals that these animals provided a unique window of opportunity for the entry of an attenuated SARS-CoV-2 precursor into the human population in 2017 or earlier, with the subsequent slow and silent spread as a mild cold that followed by its mutations into the current more virulent form. Evidence of this lies in the similarity of shell disorder and genetic proximity of the pangolin-CoVs to SARS-CoV-2 (~90%). A 2017 pangolin-CoV strain shows evidence of higher levels of attenuation and higher fecal-oral transmission associated with lower human infectivity via having lower N_PID (44.8%). Our shell disorder analysis also revealed that lower inner shell disorder is associated with the lesser virulence in a variety of viruses.

Background: The leaf of Telfairia occidentalis Hook f. (Cucurbitaceae) is consumed in different parts of Nigeria because of the numerous nutritional and medicinal attributes ascribed to it. The sub-chronic toxicity of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (TO) was investigated in this study. Methods: Rats in different groups were separately administered 80, 400 and 2000 mg/kg TO p.o. for 60 days. Animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected for haematological and biochemical analysis. Vital organs were harvested and evaluated for in vivo antioxidants and histopathological changes. Results: Results showed no significant changes in the weight of vital organs except in respect of the testes of the group treated with 2000 mg/kg extract which showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in weight compared to the control group. There was a significant (p<0.01) increase in sperm motility and count of the group administered 80 mg/kg extract and a significant (p<0.001) reduction was observed at 2000 mg/kg. There were significant increases in the level of Hb and PCV at 80 and 2000 mg/kg of the extract. In respect of liver function parameters, a significant decrease in AST and ALT levels at doses of 400 and 2000 mg/kg relative to control was observed. A significant reduction (p<0.05) in the level of total cholesterol (400 mg/kg) and increase (p<0.05) in level of HDL (80-2000 mg/kg) compared to control was observed. There was also significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of MDA and significant (p<0.05) decrease in SOD level in the testes at 2000 mg/kg. Histopathological assessment of the testes revealed abnormality at this dose. These effects were reversed after 30 days of cessation of administration of TO. Conclusions: The findings showed that the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis is relatively non-toxic on acute and sub-chronic exposure, with potential to elicit anti-anaemic effect, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, and enhance antioxidant status in the brain and liver. Although possibly beneficial at low dose, the extract could be harmful to the testes on prolonged oral exposure at high dose.

Recently, there has been considerable research on deepfake detection. However, most existing methods face challenges in adapting to the advancements in new generative models within unknown domains. In addition, the emergence of new generative models capable of producing and editing high-quality images, such as Diffusion, Consistency, and LCM, poses a challenge for traditional deepfake training models. These advancements highlight the need for adapting and evolving existing deepfake detection techniques to effectively counter the threats posed by sophisticated image manipulation technologies. In this paper, our objective is to detect deepfake videos in unknown domains using unlabeled data. Specifically, our proposed approach employs Meta Pseudo Labels (MPL) with Supervised Contrastive Learning, so-called SupCon-MPL, allowing the model to be trained on unlabeled images. MPL involves the simultaneous training of both a Teacher model and a Student model, where the Teacher model generates Pseudo Labels utilized to train the Student model. This method aims to enhance the adaptability and robustness of deepfake detection systems against emerging unknown domains. Supervised Contrastive Learning utilizes labels to compare samples within similar classes more intensively, while encouraging greater distinction from samples in dissimilar classes. This facilitates the learning of features in a diverse set of deepfake images by the model, consequently contributing to the performance of deepfake detection in unknown domains. When utilizing the ResNet50 model as the backbone, SupCon-MPL exhibited an improvement of 1.58% in accuracy compared to traditional MPL in known domain detection. Moreover, in the same generation of unknown domain detection, there was a 1.32% accuracy enhancement, while in the detection of post-generation unknown domains, there was an 8.74% increase in accuracy.

Soluble chaperones residing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) play vitally important roles in folding and quality control of newly synthesized proteins that transiently pass through the ER en route to their final destinations. These soluble residents of the ER are themselves endowed with an ER retrieval signal that enables the cell to bring the escaped residents back from the Golgi. Here, by using purified proteins, we showed that Nicotiana tabacum phytaspase, a plant aspartate-specific protease, introduces two breaks at the C-terminus of the N. tabacum ER resident calreticulin-3. These cleavages resulted in removal of either a dipeptide or a hexapeptide from the C-terminus of calreticulin-3 encompassing part or all of the ER retrieval signal. Consistently, expression of the calreticulin-3 derivative mimicking the phytaspase cleavage product in Nicotiana benthamiana cells demonstrated loss of the ER accumulation of the protein. Notably, upon its escape from the ER, calreticulin-3 was further processed by an unknown protease(s) to generate the free N-terminal (N) domain of calreticulin-3, which was ultimately secreted into the apoplast. Our study thus identified a specific proteolytic enzyme capable of precise detachment of the ER retrieval signal from a plant ER resident protein, with implications for the further fate of the escaped resident.

Antibiotics are the most magnificent discovery of 20th century that have saved millions of lives from infectious diseases. Microbes have developed acquired antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to many drugs due to high selection pressure from increasing use and misuse of antibiotics over the years. The transmission and acquisition of AMR occur primarily via human–human interface both within and outside of the healthcare facilities. A huge number of interdependent factors related to healthcare and agriculture govern the development of AMR through various drug resistance mechanisms. The emergence and spread of AMR from the unrestricted use of antimicrobials in livestock feed has been a major contributing factor. The prevalence of AMR bacteria has attained its incongruous level worldwide and threatening global public health as silent pandemic, necessitating urgent intervention. Therapeutic options of AMR bacterial infections are limited resulting in significant morbidity and mortality with high financial impact. The paucity in discovery and supply of new novel antimicrobials to treat life-threatening AMR infections stands in sharp contrast to demand. Immediate interventions to contain AMR include surveillance and monitoring, minimizing over the counter antibiotics and antibiotics in food animals, access to quality and affordable medicines, vaccines and diagnostics, and enforcement of legislation. An orchestral collaborative action within and between multiple national and international organizations are required urgently, otherwise, a post-antibiotic era can be a real possibility than an apocalyptic fantasy for the 21st century. This narrative review highlights on the basis, mechanisms and factors in microbial resistance and key strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance.

The results of an LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and Hf isotope study of zircon crystals separated from small eclogite xenoliths found in Devonian kimberlites within the Prypyat horst, Ukraine, are reported. The studied area is located in the Central Belarusian Suture Zone, which represents a Paleoproterozoic belt extending along the boundary between the Sarmatian and Fennoscandian segments of the East European Platform. Four laser ablation sites on two zircon grains yielded Paleoproterozoic U-Pb ages between 1954 ± 24 Ma and 1735 ± 54 Ma. In contrast, three of four Hf sites revealed negative εHf values and Paleoarchean to Mesoarchean model ages, excluding the possibility that the eclogite xenoliths represent segments of a Paleoproterozoic subducted slab or younger mafic melts crystallized in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. A single laser ablation Hf spot yielded a positive εHf value (+3) and a Paleoproterozoic model age. Two models for eclogite origin can be proposed. The first foresees the extension of the Archean lower-crustal or lithospheric roots beneath the Central Belarus Suture Zone for over 200 km from the nearest known outcrop of Archean rocks. The second model is that the Central Belarus Suture Zone represents a rifted-out fragment of the Kola-Karelian craton that was accreted to Sarmatia before the actual collision of these two segments of Baltica.

Choanoflagellates are single-celled eukaryotes with complex signaling pathways. They are considered the closest non-metazoan ancestors to mammals and other metazoans, and form multicellular-like states called rosettes. The choanoflagellate Monosiga brevicollis contains over 150 PDZ domains, an important peptide-binding domain in all three domains of life (Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya). Therefore, an understanding of PDZ domain signaling pathways in choanoflagellates may provide insight into the origins of multicellularity. PDZ domains recognize the C-terminus of target proteins and regulate signaling and trafficking pathways, as well as cellular adhesion. Here, we developed a computational program, Domain Analysis and Motif Matcher (DAMM), that predicts target specificity in choanoflagellate PDZ domains by analyzing peptide-binding cleft sequence identity as compared to human PDZ domains. We used this program, protein biochemistry, fluorescence polarization, and structural analyses to characterize the specificity of A9UPE9_MONBE, a M. brevicollis PDZ domain-containing protein with no homology to any metazoan protein, finding that its PDZ domain is most similar to those of the DLG family. We then identified two endogenous sequences that bind A9UPE9 PDZ with &lt;100 M affinity, a value commonly considered the threshold for cellular PDZ-peptide interactions. Taken together, this approach can be used to predict cellular targets of previously uncharacterized PDZ domains in choanoflagellates and other organisms. Our data contributes to investigations into choanoflagellate signaling and how it informs metazoan evolution.

Incidence of autoimmune diseases increases. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) testing is a critical tool for their diagnosis. However, ANA prevalence in health increased over last decades, especially among young people. ANA in health occur in low concentrations, with prevalence up to 50% in some populations, which demands a cutoff revision. The review deals with origin and probable physiological or compensatory function of ANA in health, according to the concept of immunological clearance, theory of autoimmune regulation of cell functions and the concept of functional autoantibodies. Considering ANA titers ≤1:320 as a serological marker of autoimmune diseases seems inappropriate. The role of anti-DFS70/LEDGFp75 autoantibodies is highlighted as possible anti-risk biomarker for autoimmune rheumatic disorders. ANA prevalence in health is different in various regions due to several underlying causes discussed in the review, all influencing in additive combinations according to the concept of the mosaic of autoimmunity. Not only titer, but the HEp-2 IFA staining patterns, like AC-2, is also important. Accepting autoantibodies as a kind of bioregulators, not only upper, but also lower borders of their normal range should be determined. Not only their excess, but also lack of them or “autoimmunodeficiency” could be a reason of disorders.

Today, LLMs are not good at personalization providing recommendation. They advise physicians and financial advisors to ask professionals in respective fields for help, even having user information available. Answering questions of software professionals, LLM needs to deliver in-depth answers with codes or algorithms, whereas for professionals in other fields would need definitions and main concepts. The intent of this chapter is to make LLM answer tailored to the needs of users, taking into account available information about them. To do that, we need to generalize available information about a person like her health record, maintaining the privacy of this person. We rely on meta-learning techniques to design a LLM prompt to produce a personalization prompt to obtain a suitable relevant information. Such “meta-prompt” is produced by generalization operation applied to available documents for the user. These documents need to be de-identified so that they are sufficient for personalization on one hand and will maintain user privacy on the other hand. The second neuro-symbolic technique to support personalization is abductive reasoning, acting in parallel to LLM fine-tuning. Traditional recommendation and personalization techniques as well as modern, deep learning – based are presented, and the comparison is drawn to the proposed approach. We also share the evaluation and comparative analyses of these approaches. We consider an example for how to build personalization LLM systems coming from Langchain platform. We will explore how to construct chains to form a personalization profile for a user and apply it to user search and recommendation requests.

The use of antibiotics as growth promotors or for the prevention of some poultry diseases has face global concern and serious criticism. Their addition to poultry feed show hazardous effects including development of antimicrobial resistance and the potential harmful effect on humans’ health. To eliminate these threats, there is increasing interest to search for natural alternatives. Plant derivatives such as garlic (Allium sativum L.) and its derivatives are nowadays extensively used in poultry production system. Dietary supplementation of broilers and layers with garlic induced improvement of production parameters, carcass quality, and intestinal integrity. Modulation of the immune response against important viral diseases and increasing the immune organs body weight ratio resulting from supplementation of poultry with garlic. Moreover, garlic showed modulation of gut health through the antibacterial and antiparasitic activities. Treatment with garlic also can mitigate the oxidative stress and reduce the free radicals production. Reduction of cholesterol level, but improvement of some liver and blood parameters were also reported following dietary inoculation of garlic. This review was designed to search on the impact of garlic as feed additives on performance, immunity, gut health, antioxidant status, and blood parameters of poultry.

Polarons, quasiparticles resulting from the interaction between an impurity and the collective excitations of a medium, play a fundamental role in physics, mainly because they represent an essential building block for understanding more complex many-body phenomena. In this manuscript, we study the spectral properties of a single impurity mixed with identical bosons in a one-dimensional lattice with power-law hopping. In particular, based on the so-called T-matrix approximation, we show the existence of well-defined quasiparticle branches for several tunneling ranges and for both, repulsive and attractive impurity-boson interactions. Furthermore, we demonstrate the persistence of the attractive polaron branch when the impurity-boson bound state is absorbed into the two-body continuum and that the attractive polaron becomes more robust as the range of the hopping increases. The results discussed here are of relevance for the understanding of the equilibrium properties of quantum systems with power-law interactions.

The work proposes a new approach for evolutionary global optimization which, in simple terms, may be described as a fusion of quantum and simulated annealing. This becomes possible by using basic concepts from Homotopy Theory, conjugated to the already existing Fuzzy Adaptive Simulated Annealing paradigm and other components. In this fashion, it occurs a temporal and nonlinear superposition of the two types of annealing, provoking interesting effects in runtime, including the so-called quantum tunneling, when there is a sudden transition between attraction basins of different minima without "climbing" potential barriers. In addition, the proposal includes a generalization of the "deformation" of Hamiltonians used in quantum annealing by suggesting the use of general homotopies between the surface corresponding to the cost function under processing and another specific landscape, being this possible because of the ability of Fuzzy ASA of handling time-varying objective functions. The proposed paradigm shows that it is possible and beneficial to superpose the two types of annealing, displaying amazing numerical results and suggesting a kind of interlacing or synergic behavior - perhaps we could call it an "annealing entanglement". Finally, given the fast advances in commercial quantum annealing processors, it seems sensible to expect that an implementation of the proposed approach using such devices may occur very soon. In order to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm, some significant and detailed examples are included in the text, so as to illustrate and clarify the presented ideas.

This paper discusses domestic problem of waiting hot water for the shower use till it reaches satisfactory temperature, which result a lot of wastage in fresh water. The outcome from research survey shows that there is no satisfactory solution till now as all solutions were either expensive or with no effective results. Local small inline electric heater equipped with fuzzy logic controller is proposed in this paper to be installed just before the showerhead to measure the water temperature and flow before the showerhead, as control input-variables, and decide the operating voltage of the heater, as control output-variable (MISO). MATLAB Simulink is used to model the proposed system. Different test cases are simulated to prove the performance and the safe operation of the system. Techno-economic study is carried out to determine the “Direct Benefits” and “Indirect Benefits” that can be achieved if such system is implemented in wide range. Azerbaijan data is taken as an example to calculate the economic benefits. The results show important benefits not only for economy but also for climate and the reduction of CO₂ gas emission. Different economic indices are provided to be an easy reference for decision makers and project managers.

This work presents significant results obtained by the application of global optimization techniques to the design of finite, normal form games with mixed strategies. To that end, the Fuzzy ASA global optimization method is applied to several design examples of strategic games, demonstrating its effectiveness in obtaining payoff functions whose corresponding games present a previously established Nash equilibrium. In other words, the game designer becomes able to choose a convenient Nash equilibrium for a generic finite state strategic game and the proposed method computes payoff functions that will realize the desired equilibrium, making it possible for the players to reach the favorable conditions represented by the chosen equilibrium. Considering that game theory is a very significant approach for modeling interactions between competing agents, and Nash equilibrium represents a powerful solution concept, portraying situations in which joint strategies are optimal in the sense that players cannot benefit from individually modifying their current strategies provided that other players do not change their strategies as well, it is natural to infer that the proposed method may be very useful for strategists in general. In summary, it is a genuine instance of artificial inference of payoff functions after a process of global machine learning, applied to their numerical components.

While microcredits are, by the development practitioners, repeatedly hailed as a useful measure of development policy, this empirical research in Bangladesh arrives at different results: the governing and disciplinary measures are necessary to trigger the best possible repayment success. Based on interviews with the microfinance beneficiaries, loan officers, and microfinance experts in Bangladesh, I chart some of the most frequently used governing and disciplinary techniques including fictitious proximity of loan officers, their fields of visibility and surveillance processes. The “success” of credit delivery is a neoliberal stance that ensures the ceaseless debt repayment process using the intentional and planned conduct, capitalizing social capital and credit honour reputation, surveillance over business enterprises, use of equivocal language and different forms of deception. The development strategy through microfinance in Bangladesh is a development “dispositif” with a changing shift in its declared social missions.

Hybrid materials derived adsorbents have showed a great applicable efficiency in various fields including industrial uses and environmental remediation. Herein, the zinc oxide nanoparticles anchored carbon (ZnO-C) is fabricated and utilized for wastewater treatment by adsorption of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II). The surface and structural characteristics are examined by TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR, EDS and BET surface area. The Kinetics and equilibrium investigations are applied to optimize the adsorptive removal of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) onto ZnO-C. Results indicated formation of ZnO-C in crystalline spherical granules with nano-size between 29.3 and 48.8 nm. In addition, the spherical granules are gathered to form clusters. The FTIR indicated that the ZnO-C surface is rich with OH groups and ZnO. The adsorption capacity is reported as 212, 209, 200 and 230 mg/L for Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) respectively. The optimum condition for maximum adsorption were pH between 5 and 6, contact time of 180 min and adsorbent dose of 0.1 g/L. The adsorptive removal data modeling for uptake of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) onto ZnO-C showed agreement with the assumption of pseudo 2nd order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm suggesting fast adsorption rate and multilayer mechanism. The achieved adsorption capacity using the prepared ZnO-C is more effective compared to ZnO, carbon, Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-C. Real wastewater samples are applied including valley water, industrial wastewater and rain wastewater and evaluated for applicable uptake of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) using ZnO-C and Fe3O4-C with high efficiency.

Brushless Synchronous Machines (BSM) are replacing conventional synchronous machines with static excitation in generation facilities due to the absence of sparking and lower maintenance. However, this excitation system makes challenging measuring electric parameters in the rotor. This fact highly difficult the detection of ground faults, which are the most common type of electrical fault in electric machines. In this paper, a ground fault detection method for BSM is proposed. It is based on an inductive AC/DC rotating current sensor installed in the shaft. In case of a ground fault in the rotating parts of the BSM, a fault current will flow through the rotor’s sensor, inducing voltage in its stator. Analyzing the frequency components of the induced voltage the detection of a ground fault in the rotating elements is possible. The ground faults detection method proposed covers the whole rotor and discern between DC and AC sides. To corroborate the detection method, experimental tests have been performed using a prototype of this sensor connected to laboratory synchronous machines achieving satisfactory results.