(1) Background: Thrombophilia is a tendency towards hypercoagulability, and it is increased by pregnancy, and peaking around delivery.; (2) Methods: 80 Eighty thrombophilia patients admitted for delivery between 1/10/2017 and 1/12/2021 were prospectively studied, together with 80 eighty age- and para-matched control patients. Patients were admitted for delivery at term by means of cesarean section. The inflammation indexes from the complete blood count values analysis, in during both the 24 hours before and the 24 hours after labor—, extracted from the hospital’s medical records—, were calculated, and then correlated with uterine involution.; (3) Results: In pregnant patients treated for thrombophilia patients, the patients who did not manage to have close their uterine cavity closed with in the first 24-48 hours had significantly higher SII and AISI inflammation indexes SII and AISI , than the onesthose who did manage to have their uterine cavity closed their uterine cavity. In pregnant patients treated for thrombophilia patients, MLR is higher in patients without the Rh factor than in those with the Rh factor. In non-thrombophilia patients, PLR was significantly higher as compared to treated thrombophilia patients. In non-thrombophilia patients, MCVL increased with age and, before labor, while SII and AISI increased with age, postpartum. ; (4) Conclusions: There may be an underlying inflammation state that persisted despite treatment in some pregnant thrombophilia pregnant patients.

The conducted investigation encompassed the comprehensive integration of mechanical, envi-ronmental, chemical, and microstructural evaluations of a composite amalgamating sandy soil and a synthetic polymer at two distinct concentrations (2.5% and %) across multiple curing in-tervals (0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 15, 30, and 45 days). The studied soil originates from an environmentally sig-nificant protected area in Brazil. The implementation of mechanisms for soil improvement in the region must adhere to technical criteria without causing environmental harm. Direct shear testing was conducted, permeability was assessed, and microstructure analysis and XRD and XRF/EDX studies of both the soil and composites were conducted. It was observed that longer curing times yielded improved results in shear stress, friction angle, and cohesive intercept, with SP_5% exhibiting the highest values compared to the soil and SP_2.5%. Adding the polymeric so-lution to the soil contributed to cementation and cohesion gains in the substrate. Through mi-crostructural characterization, the polymer's role as a cementing agent for the grains is evident, forming a film on the grains and binding them together. Based on the analyses and studies con-ducted in the research, it can be concluded that there is technical feasibility for applying the pol-ymeric solution at both dosages in geotechnical projects.

Authors evaluated the relevant literature related to the purging which is the interaction between selection and inbreeding where the population may get rid of its inbreeding load at least partially. The backroad of the relevant theory was given and the available methods were described both based on the conventional quantitative genetic approach (based on genealogy data) and based on the latest genomic methods. The different parameters necessary for signalling purging (highlighting those inbreeding coefficients which are not yet been widely known in animal and veterinary science) were presented together with the relevant results of the literature. The available statistical methods together with the softwares and R packages to calculate various inbreeding coefficients and to determine inbreeding depression and purging were provided. The main results of the different approaches obtained in laboratory ZOO and domesticated populations (lethal equivalents, ancestral inbreeding, Inbreeding-Purging Model, genomic approaches) were summarized and presented. Application possibilities and future prospective of purging was also discussed.

Age estimation is an important tool when dealing with human remains or undocumented minors. Although the skull, the skeleton or the hand-wrist are used on age estimation as maturity indicators, they often present lack of good conditions for a correct identification or estimation. Few systematic reviews (SRs) have been recently published; therefore, this umbrella review critically assesses their level of evidence and provides a general comprehensive view. An electronic database search was conducted in four databases (PubMed, Cochrane, WoS, LILACS) up to December 2022, focusing on SRs of age estimation through forensic dentistry procedures. The methodological quality was analyzed using the measurement tool to assess SRs criteria (AMSTAR2). Eighteen SRs were included, five of critically low quality, six of low quality, three of moderate quality and four of high quality. The SRs posited that Willems’ method is more accurate and less prone to overestimation; most methods seem to be geographically sensitive; and 3D-Imaging and artificial intelligence tools demonstrate high potential. The quality of evidence on age estimation using dental approaches was rated as low to moderate. Well-designed clinical trials and high standard systematic reviews are essential to corroborate the accuracy of the different procedures of age estimation in forensic dentistry.

Background and Objectives: Chemokines have various biological functions and potential roles in the development or progression of neuroinflammatory diseases. However, the specific pathogenic roles of chemokines in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in older individuals, remain elusive. Chemokines interact with their receptors expressed in the endothelium and on leukocytes. The sulfation of tyrosine residues in chemokine receptors increases the strength of ligand–receptor interaction and modulates signaling. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to construct a human recombinant sulfated CXCR3 peptide trap (hCXCR3-S2) and mouse recombinant sulfated CXCR3 peptide trap (mCXCR3-S2) to demonstrate in vivo effects in preventing choroidal neovascularization and chemotaxis. Materials and Methods: First, the effect of hCXCR3-S was validated in vitro. Interestingly, hCXCR3-S2 inhibited the migration and invasion of two human cancer cell lines. Subsequently, the in vivo efficacy of mCXCR3-S2 was investigated using a mouse model of neovascular AMD. Results: Intravitreal injection of mCXCR3-S2 attenuated choroidal neovascularization and macrophage recruitment in neovascular lesions. These in vitro and in vivo effects were significantly stronger with CXCR3-S2 than with wild-type CXCR3 peptides. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the sulfated form of the CXCR3 peptide trap is a valuable tool that could be supplemented with antivascular endothelial growth factors in AMD treatment.

Assessment of renal function is critical to diagnose and manage renal age-related decline, disease (KD), and failure, which are prevalent in the elderly population. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is widely used as an indicator of kidney function, but its direct measurement is challenging, as are its age and gender caveats. This makes difficult the differential diagnosis, between age-related physiological decline and KD and/or failure. Currently, the inflammation-based modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) is emerging as promising biomarker of several inflammatory acute/chronic diseases. In this study, the large variability of eGFR with age and gender was evaluated, as the association of eGFR values with mGPS levels. A population of 57449 adult participants (age ≥18 years) was enrolled. Appropriate circulating biomarkers were measured to detect eGFR and mGPS values. The data obtained demonstrated a significant decrease of eGFR in men vs. women across the four selected age classes (18-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100 years), eGFR classes were significantly associated with mGPS (p<0.001), as age-classes and gender with mGPS categories. Accordingly, the percentage of people having a mGPS score= 2 significantly increased across the eGFR classes: with a 11% in the G1/eGFR class to achieve the 44% in G5/eGFR. Thus, the combination of mGPS with eGFR could represent the best benchmark risk model for differentiating age-related renal decline from a very KD, and for a better identification of different degrees of KD severity.

Here in it is described a new genetic microvascular obstructive disease causing progressive hypo-perfusion of human brain, heart and kidney. Since the age of 30 years a male patient developed recurrent angina with normal coronary epicardial vessels but remarkable slow flow at angiography causing cardiac micro-aneurysms that at endomyocardial biopsy were associated to obstructive microvascular dysplasia. His history was followed in the seven decade by micro-hematuria characterized at kidney biopsy by renal microvascular dysplasia and frequent cerebral ischemic attacks with preserved structure of main brain arteries. Analysis of 5,600 genetic disease-causing genes revealed mutation of ABCC6, MMP2 and XYLT1 genes.

Objetives: Adequate donor-recipient matching is necessary to achieve the best renal function after transplantation. The nephron load received from the donor, which can be reflected in variables such as age, sex and body mass index, may influence the evolution of the graft. Our objetive was develop a combined score according to the donor-recipient pairing in age, sex and body mass index, and assess its influence on the evolution of the renal graft. Materials and methods: Transplant patients between 2013 and 2020 who had at least 1 year of post-transplant follow-up. A ranking of 0 to 2 points was awarded according to the match between donor and recipient for sex, age and body mass index individually, with higher rank to greater mismatch. Subsequently, a Score with value of 0 to 6 points was created with the combined ranking of the indivudual variables, analyzing its influence on the evolution of the graft by multivariate linear regression. Results: 280 patients followed for 4.3 years of median. Worse renal function was observed at the end of follow-up as the range of each variable increased separately, and the Score created, with a worsening of renal function as the combined Score increased in the multivariate analysis: Coefficient B= -2.4 ml/min, p=0.018. Conclusions: An adequate match between donor and recipient in age, sex and body mass index using this combined Score can help achieve better kidney function after transplantation.

Jealousy and mate retention have received attention in the research over the last decades. Despite this, most of the research examined male jealousy and male mate retention, emphasizing cost-inflicting behavior due to its role in relationship and domestic violence. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between jealousy and all mate retention strategies in romantic relationship among women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of 772 Croatian women aged 19 to 40 who were in a heterosexual relationship at the time. The study was conducted online, and the participants completed the Multidimensional jealousy scale and Mate Retention Inventory. The results showed that cognitive, emotional, and behavioral jealousy are positively correlated with all mate retention strategies which indicate that a stronger experience of jealousy can be expected to result in more frequent use of all partner retention strategies. We also found that all three dimensions of jealousy and relationship length positively predicted both cost-inflicting and benefit-provisioning mate retention behavior, whereas age was a negative predictor of benefit-provisioning behavior only. Findings of this study suggest that although jealousy can substantially explain interpersonally risky and damaging behavior in relationships, it can also explain affectionate and attentive behavior to some extent.

The A. japonicus industry has expanded significantly, but no research has focused on how to de-termine the age of A. japonicus during farming. Correctly estimating the age of A. japonicus can provide a decision-making basis for the breeding process, and data for the protection of A. japonicus aquatic germplasm resources. DNA methylation levels in the body wall of Apostichopus japonicus at 4 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years old were determined by MethylRAD-Seq, and differentially methylated genes related to age were screened. The results of the study found that 441 and 966 differentially methylated genes were detected at CCGG and CCWGG sites, respectively. As-partate aminotransferase, succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, the histone H2AX, heat shock protein Hsp90, aminopeptidase N, cell division cycle CDC6, Ras GTPase activating protein (RasGAP), slit guidance ligand slit 1, integrin linked kinase ILK, mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase Mtor, protein kinase A Pka, and autophagy-related 3 atg3 these genes may play key roles in the growth and aging process of A. japonicus. This study provided data for identifying the age of A. japonicus.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women worldwide between 14 and 49 years of age including Nigeria. Figures have greatly reduced in developed countries after the introduction and implementation of effective screening and vaccination programs which is greatly undeveloped and inefficient in Nigeria and other developing countries at large. OBJECTIVES: The study assessed the knowledge and attitude of reproductive age women towards cervical cancer prevention in selected tertiary institutions in Osun State. METHODOLOGY: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among reproductive age women in selected tertiary institutions in Osun State, Nigeria. A probability based multistage sampling technique was adopted as the sampling technique for the study. Data was collected using a semi-structured, self-administered and interviewer guided questionnaire. RESULTS: Age of respondents was 25.305±8.195. 313(79.0%) of the total respondents were Christians, and 83(21.0%) of the respondents were Muslims. For the overall knowledge score, only 52.0% of the respondents had good knowledge while 48.0% of the respondents had poor knowledge. 52.0% exhibited negative attitude towards cervical cancer prevention while 48% exhibited positive attitude towards cervical cancer prevention. Only 23% of the respondents had taken part in screening and vaccination towards cervical cancer prevention while 77% of the respondents had not. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of reproductive age women towards cervical cancer prevention was above average while their attitude towards cervical cancer prevention was low. This issue could be addressed by increasing the awareness of the effects of cervical cancer among reproductive age women in the country.

Background: We aimed to determine the splenic stiffness (SS) values in healthy individuals as measured by 3 Tesla magnetic resonance elastography (3T MRE) and to investigate the possible effects of parameters such as age, sex, spleen volume, diameter, and parenchyma thickness on SS.Methods: A total of 54 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants' age and sex information were recorded, in addition to spleen craniocaudal and anteroposterior diameter, cortical thickness, spleen volume, and SS, which were measured using 3T magnetic resonance imaging and MRE. Results: Twenty-nine male and 25 female subjects with a mean age of 54.78±15.40 years were included in the study. Mean cradiocaudal diameter was 10.46±1.16 cm, anteroposterior diameter was 9.88±1.29 cm, parenchyma thickness was 4.08±0.67 cm, SS was 3721.94±709.69 Pascal (Pa), and median spleen volume was 292.54 (239.40-311.00) cm³. A significant positive correlation was observed between age and SS (r=0.779, p<0.001). The SS values were not associated with sex, craniocaudal diameter, anteroposterior diameter, parenchymal thickness, or volume.Conclusion:Age should be considered when using SS in the diagnosis and staging of relevant diseases such as portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Our results should be confirmed by future studies using 3T MRE in larger populations.

Background: We aimed to determine the splenic stiffness (SS) values in healthy individuals as measured by 3 Tesla magnetic resonance elastography (3T MRE) and to investigate the possible effects of parameters such as age, sex, spleen volume, diameter, and parenchyma thickness on SS. Methods: A total of 54 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants' age and sex information were recorded, in addition to spleen craniocaudal and anteroposterior diameter, cortical thickness, spleen volume, and SS, which were measured using 3T magnetic resonance imaging and MRE. Results: Twenty-nine male and 25 female subjects with a mean age of 54.78±15.40 years were included in the study. Mean cradiocaudal diameter was 10.46±1.16 cm, anteroposterior diameter was 9.88±1.29 cm, parenchyma thickness was 4.08±0.67 cm, SS was 3721.94±709.69 Pascal (Pa), and median spleen volume was 292.54 (239.40-311.00) cm3. A significant positive correlation was observed between age and SS (r=0.779, p<0.001). The SS values were not associated with sex, craniocaudal diameter, anteroposterior diameter, parenchymal thickness, or volume Conclusion:Age should be considered when using SS in the diagnosis and staging of relevant diseases such as portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Our results should be confirmed by future studies using 3T MRE in larger populations.

Purpose The objective of this study was to eliminate any ambiguity by examining the correlation between gut microbiota and both AMD and glaucoma. Methods Mendelian randomization studies were conducted utilizing the data sourced from the GWAS database for the gut microbiome, AMD, and glaucoma. SNP estimates were summarized through five MR methods. We utilized Cochran's Q statistic to evaluate the heterogeneity of the instrumental variables. Additionally, we employed a "leave-one-out" approach to verify the stability of our findings. Results IVW suggests that Eubacterium (oxidoreducens group) and Parabacteroides had a protective effect on AMD. Both weighted median and IVW suggests that Lachnospiraceae (NK4A136 group) and Ruminococcaceae (UCG009) had a protective effect on AMD. However, both weighted median and IVW suggests that Dorea had a risk effect on AMD. Similarly, The IVW of Eubacterium (ventriosum group) showed a risk effect on AMD. The weighted median of Eubacterium (nodatum group), Lachnospiraceae (NC2004 group), and Roseburia had a risk effect on glaucoma. IVW suggested that Ruminococcaceae (UCG004) had a risk effect on glaucoma. Reverse MR analysis found a causal link between Eubacterium (nodatum group) and glaucoma. No causal relationships were found between AMD or glaucoma and the other mentioned bacterial groups. No significant heterogeneity or evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was detected. Conclusions This study found that certain gut bacteria had protective effects on AMD, while others may be risk factors for AMD or glaucoma. Besides, reverse MR found that glaucoma led to increased abundance of certain gut bacteria. Further trials are needed to clarify the specific mechanisms involved.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. In late-stage AMD, geographic atrophy (GA) of dry AMD or choroidal neovascularization (CNV) of neovascular AMD results in macular atrophy (MA), leading to significant visual loss. Despite the development of innovative therapies, there are currently no established effective treatments for MA. As a result, early detection of MA is critical in identifying later central macular involvement throughout time. Accurate and early diagnosis is achieved through a combination of clinical examination and imaging techniques. Our review of the literature depicted advances in retinal imaging to identify biomarkers of progression and risk factors for late AMD. Imaging methods like fundus autofluorescence (FAF), near-infrared reflectance (NIR), widefield imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), multicolor confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can be used to detect and monitor the progression of retinal atrophy. Multifocal electroretinogram (ERG) and microperimetry are methods for quantifying visual function to map disease progression. The evolving diverse imaging modalities optimize detection of pathology anatomy and measurement of visual function; they may also contribute to the understanding of the underlying mechanistic pathways, particularly the underlying MA changes in late AMD.

The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019 reveals an increasing prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) from 1990 to 2019. This study delves into the role of dietary risk factors across different demographic and socioeconomic groups. Utilizing data from the GBD 2019, it analyzes age-adjusted T2DM metrics—death counts, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), and Age-Standardized Rates (ASR)—stratified by age, sex, and region. The study employed Estimated Annual Percentage Changes (EAPCs) to track trends over time. Results show that in 2019, 26.07% of T2DM mortality and 27.08% of T2DM DALYs were attributable to poor diets, particularly those low in fruits and high in red and processed meats. Geographic variations in T2DM trends were significant, with regions like Southern Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia experiencing the most substantial increases in Age-Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) and Age-Standardized DALY Rate (ASDR). A positive correlation was noted between Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) and T2DM burden due to dietary risk factors. The study concludes that targeted public health initiatives promoting dietary changes could substantially reduce the global T2DM burden.

Anthropogenic chemicals are fundamental to our standard of living in modern society. Unfortunately, some chemicals are persistent and can enter waste streams and ultimately the environment. Commonly used household products including pharmaceuticals and personal care products are an important source of contaminants. The aim of this study was to develop an “Up-the-pipe Solutions” framework to raise awareness about the presence and potential risks of chemicals found in household products to reduce their levels in waste streams or substitute them with less harmful alternatives. This approach based on The Natural Step framework and the concept of essentiality recognises the importance of engaging the community to raise awareness around the consequences of our daily activities and behavioural patterns that can lead to the release of persistent contaminants in main waste streams from the kitchen and bathroom and green wastes we generate.

Hemilauxania parvula sp. nov., a new fossil species of the family Lauxaniidae (Diptera: Acalyptratae), is described and illustrated from Oise amber, France (Eocene, lower Ypresian, ca 53 Ma) and its relationship is discussed. Inasmuch as this first finding of a member of Schizophora in Oise amber probably represents the oldest known record of this group of Diptera, the age of Schizophora, based on the known fossil records, is discussed.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease pandemic, affected millions of people globally, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Causing further concern, significant proportions of COVID-19 survivors suffer from the lingering health effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the pathogen that causes COVID-19. One of the diseases manifesting as a post-acute sequela of COVID-19 is new-onset diabetes. This systematic review and meta-analysis will perform a comprehensive and systematic literature search to estimate the burden of new-onset diabetes after COVID-19. Specifically, this study will estimate the magnitude of the incidence, risk, and population-attributable fraction of new-onset diabetes. The study will also explore and summarize the data on the natural history or clinical course of the new-onset diabetes cases. Five bibliographic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, will be searched for eligible studies. The World Health Organization COVID-19 Research Database, preprint servers, and conference abstracts will also be searched. Cohort studies of COVID-19 patients of all ages providing data on new cases of diabetes in the post-acute phase of the illness will be included. The comparators to estimate the pooled risk ratio will be those with no diagnosis of COVID-19 or those infected with other respiratory tract infections. The findings of this study will likely inform clinical practice, public health guidelines, and policies for early detection and treatment of new-onset diabetes cases in the long-COVID phase. This protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: No.CRD42020200432).

In the present work, we report on a 3D MOF of {[Pb5(3-OH)(3-NO3)3(6-pmdc)3·H2O}n formula (pmdc = pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate) synthesized by an oven-heated solvent-free procedure. The large connectivity afforded by the three ligands in their coordination to lead(II) ions grows cubic building units characterized by a central Pb atom with an unusual coordination index of 12 and six pmdc ligands occupying the faces. These cubic units are linked one another giving rise to a quite condensed structure that represents an unprecedented topology showing the (4.62)6(43)2(45.610)3(45.68.82)6(46.69)6(612.83) point symbol. The crystalline material has been characterized by routine physico-chemical techniques to confirm its purity and its thermal behaviour has been also studied by thermogravimetric and thermodiffractometric analyses. The solid presents greenish blue photoluminescent emission based on pmdc ligands, as revealed time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations, by that is substantially more intense than in free H2pmdc ligand according to its improved quantum yield. The emissive capacity of the material is further analysed according to decreasing temperature of the polycrystalline sample, finding that sizeable long-lasting phosphorescence is present.

A recent study has suggested that the age profiles for deaths due to COVID-19 variants differs between variants and shows male/female specificity. This study demonstrates the age and sex dependency is common among human pathogens. The often-reported higher susceptibility to infections among the young and elderly is true in general but does not apply to individual pathogens. Even among different types of pneumonia there are subtle differences in the age profile. The gender ratio between pathogens likewise shows wide variation from as low as 10% female admissions for leptospirosis to around 90% for gonococcal admissions. The observed age/sex variation observed for mortality due to COVID-19 variants is an expression of a far wider phenomenon with implications to the age/sex response to vaccines. We propose that such differences are likely to be controlled by small noncoding RNAs which act as potent regulators of gene expression leading to altered cell morphology, metabolism, immune function, and response to vaccines.

Abstract: Sarcopenia poses a significant challenge to public health and can severely impact the quality of life of aging populations. Despite extensive efforts to study muscle degeneration using traditional animal models, there is still a lack of effective diagnostic tools, precise biomarkers, and treatments for sarcopenia. Zebrafish models have emerged as powerful tools in biomedical research, providing unique insights into age-related muscle disorders like sarcopenia. The advantages of using zebrafish models include their rapid growth outside of the embryo, optical transparency during early developmental stages, high reproductive potential, ease of husbandry, compact size, and genetic tractability. By deepening our understanding of the molecular processes underlying sarcopenia, we may develop novel diagnostic tools and effective treatments that can improve the lives of aging individuals affected by this condition. This review aims to explore the unique advantages of zebrafish as a model for sarcopenia research, highlight recent breakthroughs, outline potential avenues for future investigations, and emphasize the distinctive contributions that zebrafish models offer. Our research endeavors to contribute significantly to addressing the urgent need for practical solutions to the impact of sarcopenia on aging populations, ultimately striving to enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by this condition.

In contemporary sociological discourse, social trust emerges as a fundamental determinant in catalyzing positive socio-economic interactions. The nexus between social relationships and the inherent trust within them is quintessential for the holistic well-being of individuals. The current research undertook a rigorous examination of the variations in generalized trust levels across distinct age cohorts. For this empirical investigation, a dataset comprising 2,232 observations, exclusively from the United States, was meticulously sourced from the World Value Survey.The empirical findings elucidated a significant disparity in generalized trust levels across age cohorts. Notably, the geriatric demographic manifested elevated levels of generalized trust in juxtaposition to their younger counterparts. Such an observation posits the hypothesis that the construct of trust may indeed possess an age-related dimensionality. Furthermore, a robust statistical analysis accentuated the significance of these observed disparities. The divergences in trust levels across age cohorts retained their statistical significance even post the incorporation of confounding variables such as gender, socio-economic status, educational attainment, ethnic lineage, and religious affiliations. This seminal finding underscores the imperative for further academic explorations into the intricate dynamics of trust within the socio-cultural fabric of our society.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the predictive factors of response to induction chemotherapy in patients with resectable NSCLC, treated at the unit of Thoracic Surgery of Siena University Hospital with radical surgery. From January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2020, 78 patients were recruited. We analyzed the outcomes in terms of 5-years OS based on the Estimated Regression Rate, N2 downstaging and age; two patients’ subgroups were created by age (Group A: age &lt;66 years-old; Group B: age &gt;66 years-old). No 5-year OS difference was observed based on age, while it was observed in patients with N2 downstaging (p=0.031). Bewtween patients with N2 downstaging, only patients in Group A had a significantly increased 5-year OS (p=0.019), while this was not observed in Group B (p=0-321); the same result was observed with the Estimated Regression Rate &gt; 50% (Group A p=0.005; Group B p=0.391). The percentage of disease regression and the N2 down-staging after induction chemotherapy have great value on the survival, although this advantage seems to be observed mostly in younger patients. A multidisciplinary oncologic discussion of clinical cases could provide support in the careful selection of the ideal patients to undergo neoadjuvant treatment before radical surgery.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in the Western world. Mutations in different genes, such as TP53 and ATM, and deletions in specific chromosomal regions, including 11q or 17p, have been associated with a worse prognosis for the disease. Recent research from our group has demonstrated that, contrary to the usual cancer development process through missense mutations, B-CLL is driven by the overexpression of the small GTPase RRAS2 in its wild-type form, without activating mutations. While some mouse models of this disease have been developed to date and are commonly used in B-CLL research, they come with various disadvantages, such as a long waiting period until the leukemia fully develops, the need for cell engraftment, or, in some cases, a failure to replicate the alterations found in human patients. We have recently introduced Rosa26-RRAS2fl/flxmb1-Cre as a new mouse model of B-CLL with full disease penetrance. In this work, we have validated this mouse model as a novel tool for the development of new therapies for B-CLL by testing two of the most widely applied targeted agents: ibrutinib and venetoclax. This also paves the way for the development of new targeted agents against R-RAS2 itself, an approach that has not yet been explored in clinical practice.

A new malachite beetle, Baltamauroania mirabilicornis gen. et sp. nov., belonging to the tribe Am-auroniodini (Coleoptera: Dasytidae) embedded in Eocene Baltic amber is described and illustrated. The new genus differs from the congeners of the tribe Amauroniodini in possessing a black, elongate and subparallel body and a pronotum with scalloped lateral sides; long and 11-segmented antennae, with three apical antennomeres enlarged and forming a ‘club’, with cylindrical an-tennomere 1; tarsi shortened and compressed, 5-segmented, with tarsomeres 1 and 2 equal in length, and tarsomere 5 the longest in all legs; pubescence of the dorsal surface consisting of short strong brown semi-erect and fine adpressed hairs; punctation of dorsal surface irregular, elytra lacking grooves; pronotum almost equilateral, slightly elongate, with acute anterior and obtuse posterior angles, with wide margination of basal side and with scalloped and finely margined lateral sides; lateral edges of pronotum weakly rounded, with obtuse protuberance before middle. This is the second extinct genus and third record of the subfamily Danaceinae found in Eocene amber. The fossil records of the family Dasytidae are discussed. Three recent records of different Amauroniodini taxa from Eocene East European amber (Baltic and Rovno) shows there to have been a high Danaceinae biodiversity in both the southern coast of the Subparatethys (documented by Rovno amber) and in its northern coast (documented by Baltic amber). The phenomenon of Danaceinae diversity in the Eocene Epoch is discussed.

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) belongs to a heterogeneous group of highly complex neurodegenerative diseases and represents the second cause of presenile dementia in individuals under 65. Frontotemporal-TDP is a subgroup of frontotemporal dementia characterized by the aggregation of abnormal protein deposits, predominantly transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), in the frontal and temporal brain regions. These deposits lead to progressive degeneration of neurons resulting in cognitive and behavioral impairments. Limbic age-related encephalopathy (LATE) pertains to age-related cognitive decline primarily affecting the limbic system which is crucial for memory, emotions, and learning. Though distinct, emerging research suggests a potential overlap in pathogenic processes, with some cases of limbic encephalopathy displaying TDP-43 pathology. Genetic factors play a pivotal role in both disorders. Mutations in various genes, such as progranulin (GRN) and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), have been identified as causative in frontotemporal-TDP. Similarly, specific genetic variants have been associated with an increased risk of developing LATE. Understanding these genetic links provides crucial insights into disease mechanisms and the potential for targeted therapies.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest bacterial infections among reproductive age females. Untreated UTI in reproductive age female is associated with sexual dysfunction, cystitis, pyelonephritis and Pelvic inflammatory disease. At present, the antimicrobial resistance emergency has quadrupled worldwide and poses a serious threat to the treatment of patients. Thus, this study aimed to determine bacterial profile, antibiotic susceptibility pattern and associated risk factors of urinary tract infection among reproductive age females attending the Logbaba District Hospital Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January – July, 2023. Convenient sampling was employed to recruit 259 reproductive age females. Sociodemographic and risk factors information were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire. Mid-stream urine was collected and inoculated on cystine lactose electrolyte deficient media. Isolates were identified using API 20. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed using modified kirby-bauer susceptibility testing technique. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to assessed risk factors. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of UTI among reproductive age females was 82/259 (31.66%). Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients reported a prevalence of 50/121(41.32%) and 32/138 (23.19%), respectively. Ages ranging from 21-30 years (AOR: 2.53 ,95% CI 1.32 – 4.43, p=0.006) and 31 – 40 years (AOR: 0.19 , 95% CI: 0.14- 0.54; p <0.0001), student (AOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.21 - 2.75; p = 0.010), history of UTI (5.34, 95% CI = 1.86 - 18.15; p = 0.03), symptomatic (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI1.78 - 4.67, p <0.0001) and secondary education (AOR: 0.13, 95% CI 0.08 - 0.32; p<0.0001) were predictors to UTI. Klebsiella Pneumoniae was the most frequent species 27 (32.9%), follow by E coli 22(26.8%), Staphylococcus aureus 16 (19.5%), CONS 8 (9.8%), Proteus mirabilis 6 (7.3 %) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3(3.7%). Majority of the isolates were sensitive to cefotaxime (87.80%), imipenem (85.7%), vancomycin (79.27%), Ofloxacillin (76.83%), Ceftriaxone (75.61%), Ciprofloxacin (74.39%), Gentamicin (71.95%) and Doxycycline (69.51%), and resistant to Amoxicillin (51.22%), cotrimoxazole (47.56%) and Azithromycin (31.71%) , All the isolates were multidrug drug resistant (100%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae and E coli were the most multidrug drug resistant species Conclusion: In the present study, the prevalence of urinary tract infection among reproductive age females was high and considerably a high proportion of multidrug resistance was observed. This result will have a significant impact on the selection of appropriate antimicrobial agents for the treatment of urinary tract infection in the study area.

The effective treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), also known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), has transformed a highly lethal disease into a chronic and manageable condition. However, better methods need to be developed for eliminating the virus from reservoirs, enhancing patient access and adherence to therapy, and improving treatment in the long term to reduce adverse effects. From the perspective of drug discovery, one promising strategy is the development of anti-HIV prodrugs. This approach aims to enhance the efficacy and safety of treatment, promoting the development of more appropriate and convenient systems for patients. In this review, we discussed the use of the prodrug approach for HIV antiviral agents and emphasized nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. We comprehensively described various strategies that are used to enhance factors such as water solubility, bioavailability, pharmacokinetic parameters, permeability across biological membranes, chemical stability, drug delivery to specific sites/organs, and tolerability. These strategies might help researchers conduct better studies in this field. We also reported successful examples from the primary therapeutic classes while discussing the advantages and limitations. In this review, we highlighted the key trends in the application of the prodrug approach for treating HIV/AIDS..

In recent years, the interaction between adiponectin (APN), a versatile fat-associated adipokines, and eye disorders has become a captivating focus of interest. Unveiling the intricate relationship between APN and its receptors (AdipoRs) with aging eye disorders has emerged as a fascinating frontier in medical research. This review article delves into this captivating connection, illuminating the hidden influence of adipocytokine, APN on retinal health. This comprehensive review critically examines the latest findings and breakthroughs that underscore the pivotal roles of APN/AdipoRs signaling in maintaining ocular homeostasis and protecting against eye ailments. Here, we meticulously explore the intriguing mechanisms by which APN protein influences retinal function, lens clarity, and overall visual acuity. Drawing from an extensive array of cutting-edge studies, the article highlights APN's multifaceted functions, ranging from anti-inflammatory properties and oxidative stress reduction to angiogenic regulation within retinal and macula tissues. The involvement of APN/AdipoRs in mediating these effects opens up novel avenues for potential therapeutic interventions targeting prevalent aging eye conditions. Moreover, this review unravels the interplay between APN signaling pathways and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The single-cell RNA seq results validate the expression of both the receptor isoform (AdipoR1/R2) in retinal cells. The transcriptomic analysis showed lower expression of AdipoR1/2 in dry AMD pathogenesis compared to healthy subjects. The inhibitory peptide (APN1) demonstrated over 75% suppression of CNV, whereas the control peptide did not exert any inhibitory effect on CNV. The elucidation of these relationships fosters a deeper under-standing of adipose tissue's profound influence on ocular health, presenting new prospects for personalized treatments and preventative measures. In conclusion, "Obesity Hormone's Role in Aging Eyes: Linking Adiponectin/AdipoRs to AMD" provides a captivating journey into the enthralling world of APN intertwining the realms of adipose biology and aged ophthalmology.

Background: Lipid disorders are one of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the lipid profile in early childhood in the group of Polish children born small for gestational age (SGA). Materials and Methods: The study included 140 children (93 SGA and 47 controls) aged 5 to 11 years. All children underwent a physical examination and blood tests for the glucose and lipid profile. SGA group was divided in subgroups: symmetrical and asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Results: Blood sample analysis revealed higher levels of total cholesterol levels (SGA group 190.61 +/- 24.66 mg/dl vs control 143.23 +/- 23.90; p&lt;0.001). The analysis of particular fractions of cholesterol showed significantly higher mean values of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol as well as lower mean values of HDL-cholesterol in children born as SGA. Children in both groups did not differ significantly according to weight and body mass index. A statistically significantly higher glucose concentration was obtained in the group of children with IUGR with symmetrical type of IUGR. Conclusions: Children born SGA even in their early childhood, without overweight or obesity, have abnormal lipid profile, which may be a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.

Due to the inclusion of both the principles and divination methods, the study of Yijing (Yijing) becomes more complex. The complex data types, diverse semantic relationships, and unclear influencing mechanisms in Yijing pose challenges to its scientific research. Knowledge graph, as an advanced way of organizing knowledge, can provide technical support in exploring the hidden connections and knowledge structure within text resources. This paper proposes a method of constructing a Yijing knowledge graph based on Neo4j. By analyzing the concepts, entities, and various related relationships in Yijing, the method discusses the basic architecture, data model, and implementation steps of constructing the Yijing knowledge graph. It also extracts, integrates, and structures the Yijing knowledge, allowing for inquiries, associations, and reasoning about the knowledge and its various elements. By adopting a top-down approach, the paper reconstructs the fundamental knowledge system of the Yijing, including yin-yang, the five elements, generation and restriction, 64 hexagrams, and six lines(yao). It establishes a knowledge graph pattern layer and a data layer that encompass concepts, attributes, and relationships. With the technical support of the Neo4j platform, the visualization and retrieval of Yijing knowledge are realized, providing new ideas and methods for studying the mechanisms of the Yijing. The proposed method of constructing a Yijing knowledge graph can be expanded to other types of ancient scripture knowledge graph research and can be applied to the field of digital humanities, promoting in-depth cross-disciplinary research and integration.

The debate surrounding the scientific interpretation of Yijing has been ongoing, yet thus far, a systematic, comprehensive, and objective explanation of its scientization remains elusive. The intricate nature of Yijing' scientific content makes it challenging to gain universal acceptance. The emergence of ChatGPT presents a new opportunity to delve into the scientific aspects of Yijing. Leveraging the support of ChatGPT, this paper explores the potential for scientization of Yijing and the possibility of establishing a new scientific research paradigm through in-depth dialogue with ChatGPT. It examines various aspects including the evolution of scientific paradigms, perspectives from detractors and opponents of Yijing, as well as existing challenges and approaches to its scientization. The ideas presented in this paper may offer enlightening insights for further exploration of Yijing.

Several rheumatologic diseases are primarily distinguished by their involvement of bone tissue, where it not only serves as a mere target of the condition but often plays a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. This scenario is particularly prominent in chronic inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA). Given the immunological and systemic nature of these diseases, in this review, we report an overview of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the specific bone involvement, focusing on the complex interactions that occur between bone tissue's own cells and the molecular and cellular actors of the immune system, a recent and fascinating field of interest defined osteoimmunology. Specifically, we have comprehensively elaborated on the distinct pathogenic mechanisms of bone erosion seen in both rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis, as well as the characteristic process of aberrant bone formation observed in spondyloarthritis. Lastly, chronic inflammatory arthritis lead to systemic bone involvement, resulting in systemic bone loss and consequent osteoporosis, along with increased skeletal fragility.

In view of the complexity of the pile foundation underpinning structure system and the stringent requirements of the construction process, this paper briefly describes the necessity of introducing epoxy resin reinforcing adhesive of planting rebar in the design of pile foundation underpinning beam structure to im-prove the mechanical properties of the underpinning beam new and old concrete joint surfaces and proposes a new type of pile foundation underpinning beam system construction method by “chiseling + prestressed reinforcement + epoxy resin reinforcing adhesive”. This paper uses an actual pile foundation underpinning project of an urban overpass as a prototype, designs and creates a model structure with a similarity ratio of 1/6, and performs repeated pro-gressive static loading tests to study the load carrying capacity, displacement change, and other properties of the underpinning structure, as well as analyses and distorts the overall working performance and failure mode of them. On this basis, the prototype structure's finite element analysis model was built, and the finite element analysis results were compared with the test results to get the mechanical properties and deformation characters of the actual pile foundation under-pinning structure system corresponding to the actual underpinning beam load. This paper's study can lay the theoretical and experimental foundation for the smooth development of similar projects.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Its presentation as ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) is influence by atherosclerosis risk factors. Aim: To assess the patterns of presentation and predicting risk factors of acute MI in Kosovo. Methods: This is a cross sectional study from the Clinic of Cardiology of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, which included all patients hospitalized with acute MI over a period of 7 years (January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2020). Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and epidemiological patterns and risk factors were analyzed. Results: Among 7353 patients admitted with acute MI (age 63 ± 12 years, 29% female), 4366 (59.4%) patients had STEMI, and 2987 (40.6%) NSTEMI. Patients age was not different between the two groups (p=0.077). NSTEMI patients smoked less (48.3% vs. 54%, p<0.001), but were more diabetics (37.8% vs. 33.6%, p<0.001), more hypertensives (69.6% vs. 63%, p<0.001), frequently had family history for coronary artery disease (CAD) (40% vs 38%, p=0.009), and included more females compared to STEMI patients (32% vs 27%, p<0.001). The two groups of patients, did not differ in the prevalence of significant CAD on angiography (66.8% vs. 67.8%, p = 0.396), but NSTEMI patients underwent less primary percutaneous interventions compared with STEMI patients (43.6% vs. 55.2%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In Kosovo, STEMI is commoner than NSTEMI, who were mostly males, more likely to have diabetes, hypertension and family history for CAD compared to those with NSTEMI. Smoking and arterial hypertension proved the strongest predictors of acute MI, in Kosovo, thus highlighting the urgent need for better atherosclerosis risk control and education strategy.

Introduction: Determination of radiological bone age (BA) is a diagnostic method that consists of estimating chronological age (CA) from the bone maturation of children. Although environmental and hormonal factors can interfere with bone ossification, the process is essentially dependent on ancestral inheritance. These ethnic backgrounds are not usually considered, which can lead to biased interpretations and inadequate decision-making by pediatricians or forensic experts. The objective of this study was to determine the precision and accuracy of these radiological procedures among different ethnic groups. Methods: A qualitative systematic review carried out following MOOSE statement and previously registered in the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (CRD42023449512). Search was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed) (n=561), Cochrane Library (n=261), CINAHL (n=103), Web of Science (WOS) (n=181) and public institutional repositories (n=37) from inception to 31st December 2022 using Mesh as “Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures”, “Diagnostic imaging”, “Radiography”, “Age Determination by Skeleton” and free terms combining with booleans “AND” and “OR”. PEDro scale, and Risk of Bias in non-randomized Studies of Exposure (ROBINS-E) were used to assess methodological quality and risk of bias of included studies respectively. Results: 51 articles (n=19,531) were included according to the inclusion criteria previously established. There was a good to moderate methodological quality and a high to very high risk of bias. Skeletal methods for determining BA were precised in terms of intra-observer and inter-observer reliability in all ethnic groups. Regarding to accuracy of Skeletal methods in Caucasians and Hispanic children, GPA was accurate at all ages, but in youths, TW3 RUS could be a consistent alternative. In Asian and Arab, GPA and TW3 overestimated BA in adolescents near adulthood. In African youths, GPA overestimated BA while TW3 was more accurate in estimating CA. Dental and Cervical radiographic methods are equally precise but lesser accurate than Skeletal BA determination. Conclusion: Skeletal radiographic methods GPA and TW3 are both precise for BA determination among all ethnical groups, but their accuracy in estimating CA can be altered by racial bias.

De novo metastatic hormone-sensitive PC (mHSPC) accounts for 5-10% of all prostate cancer (PC) diagnoses but it is responsible for nearly 50% of PC-related deaths. Since 2015, the prognosis of mHSPC has slightly improved thanks to the introduction of new hormonal agents and chemotherapy combined with androgen deprivation therapy from the first-line setting. This review describes the current therapeutic opportunities in de novo mHSPC, focusing on potential molecular biomarkers identified in the main clinical trials that have changed the standard of care, the genomic features of de novo mHSPC, and the principal ongoing trials that are investigating new therapeutic approaches and the efficacy of a biomarker-guided treatment in this setting. The road towards a personalized treatment for de novo mHSPC is still long considering that the randomized clinical trials, which have furnished the basis of the current therapeutic options, stratified patients according to clinical criteria that not necessarily reflect the biological rationale of the chosen therapy. The role of transcriptomic profiling of mHSPC as predictive biomarker requires further validation, as well as it remains to ascertain how the genomic alterations detected in mHSPC, that are considered predictive in the castration-resistant disease, can be exploited in the mHSPC setting.

In order to alleviate the conflict between populations and land-resource, Tianjin has adopted multi-phase reclamation projects to formed large-scale artificial reclamation land. However, the reclamation areas are susceptible to subsidence, which demonstrate a serious threat to infrastructure and people’s lives and property. The SBAS-InSAR was used to acquired surface deformation of Tianjin Binhai New Area from January 2017 year to December 2022 year, analyzed in depth the response relationship between land subsidence and reclamation projects time as well as the land use type. The results show that the Lingang Industrial Zone was the earliest to be reclaimed, with extensive reclamation completed by 2016 year, while Nangang Industrial Zone and Hangu Port started reclamation projects in 2009 year, some areas are still currently under construction. There is a strong correlation between surface deformation and reclamation time, the severe land subsidence occurred over newly reclaimed areas. Surface deformation gradually intensifies from west to east, the maximum surface settlement in Nangang Industrial Zone, Lingang Industrial Zone from the west to the east has changed from -50 mm to -890 mm,45 mm to -580 mm, respectively, reclamation area of Hangu Port with maximum surface deformation is -250 mm. Significant differences deformation among different land use types, which reclamation projects completed in the same time. Subsidence is positively correlated with surface load, in areas with higher surface loads, the surface settlement is also severer,the average surface settlement for the heavy shipyard, 67 grain storage tanks, 27 grain storage tanks, road, and bare land are -201 mm, -166 mm, -107 mm, -64 mm, and -43 mm, respectively. This study reveals significant differences of surface deformation in the reclamation completed at different times and the load is the main driving factor of settlement difference in the reclamation land completed at the same time. Which has important guiding significance for preventing and controlling geological disasters in the reclamation area and later development planning.

In the last years, molecularly targeted agents and immune based treatments (ITs) have deeply changed the landscape of anti-cancer therapy. Indeed, ITs proved to be very effective in metastatic solid tumors, where outcomes were extremely poor with standard approaches. Such a scenario has been only partially reproduced in hematologic malignancies. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as innovative drugs are eagerly awaited in relapsed/refractory setting, different ITs have been explored, but the results are still unsatisfactory. In this work, we will discuss the most important clinical studies to date adopting ITs in AML, providing the bases to understand how this approach, although still in its infancy, may represent a promising therapeutic tool for the next future treatment of AML patients.

Staudinger taught us that macromolecules were made up of the covalently bonded monomer repeat units chaining up as polymer chains. The chemical nature of the monomer directed the type of covalent bonds conferring most of the specific properties of the polymer. The more the number of repeat units the longer the chains and the more the possibility for the chains to assume a variety of shapes, from an extended elongated one to a more compact coiled one. Also, the chemical process that resulted in the synthesis of macromolecules produced many chains, often not with the same shape or size. The properties of the polymers improved when the chains became longer but it was more difficult to process them: their viscosity increased with molecular weight; viscosity was no longer an intensive property like it was for small liquids. The main question raised in polymer physics remains: how do these long chains interact and move as a group when submitted to shear deformation at high temperature when they are viscous liquids? This question is debated in a field of polymer physics called RHEOLOGY, whose purpose is to understand the viscoelastic aspects of polymer melts deformation. The current consensus is that we need to distinguish two cases: the deformation of “un-entangled chains” for macromolecules with molecular weight, M, smaller than Me, “the entanglement molecular weight”, and the deformation of “entangled” chains for M > Me. Several eminent scientists have extensively studied these 2 cases over the last 70 years. Paul J. Flory, in 1974, and Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, in 1991, have been awarded the Nobel Price in Chemistry and Physics, respectively, for their significant theoretical contribution to understand these challenging problems. For both of these authors the properties of polymers derive from the statistical characteristics of the macromolecule itself, the designated statistical system that defines the thermodynamic state of the polymer. Me, the molecular weight between entanglements, is defined from the rubber elasticity theory and is known to be equal to Mc/2 where Mc is the molecular weight for the entanglements when viscosity measurements are made. The current paradigm is that the viscoelasticity of un-entangled melts ( M < Mc) is well described by the Rouse model and that the entanglement issues raised by the impact of the increase of the length of the macromolecules on the melt viscoelasticity, when M > Mc, are well understood by the reptation model introduced by de Gennes and co-workers. Both models can be classified in the category of “chain dynamics statistics”. In this paper we examine in details the failures and the current challenges facing the current paradigm of polymer rheology: the Rouse model for M < Mc, the reptation model for M > Mc, the time-temperature superposition principle, the strain induced time dependence of viscosity, shear-refinement and sustained-orientation. The basic failure of the current paradigm and its inherent inability to fully describe the experimental reality is documented in this paper. In the discussion and conclusion of the paper we suggest that a different solution to explain the viscoelasticity of polymer chains and of their “entanglement” is needed. This requires a change of paradigm to describe the dynamics of the interactions within the chains and across the chains. A brief description of our currently proposed open dissipative statistical approach, “the Grain-Field Statistics”, is presented.

Intergenerational integration has given rise to a novel aging paradigm known as all-age communities, which is garnering international attention. In China, the aging population and the implementation of the three-child policy have resulted in increased demand for retirement and childcare services among residents in older neighborhoods. Consequently, there is a pressing need to retrofit these older neighborhoods to accommodate all-age living arrangements given the high demand they generate. Therefore, this study undertakes research interviews with residents and constructs an exploratory theoretical model rooted in established theory. To assess the significance of our model, we employ Smart PLS 3.0 based on 297 empirical data points. Our findings indicate that anxiety has a significant negative effect on payment behavior; objective perception, willingness to pay, and government assistance exert significant positive effects on payment behavior. By comprehensively analyzing the mechanisms underlying residents’ payment behavior, this study provides valuable insights to the government for promoting the aging process within communities and formulating effective transformation policies.

This article examines how digitalisation is impacting the management of IT. Phase 1 of the re-search focuses on the German automotive industry, and adopts a qualitative inductive approach, based on feedback from 19 semi-structured interviews with IT managers and professionals. Five key aspects of digitalisation are identified, and a new model for the management of IT is devel-oped. Phase 2 then reviews the deployment of digital technologies in eight organisations from other industry sectors and assesses the overall impact on the management of IT. The results suggest that the transition to new IT management structures in the German automotive industry may be the forerunner of a change process that will impact more widely in other industries, in particular where digital technologies are now embedded in an organisation’s products or services. The results also provide some new perspectives on the conceptualisation of digitalisation and digital transformation, and represent a contribution to the developing theory around new tech-nology deployment and IT management in the digital era.

Due to the variation of the body coloration and the similarity of the related species, there are still some unresolved problems and debates in the taxonomic study of the genus Sycanus in China. We conducted the inter-specific phylogenetic analyses and the species delimitation for Sycanus in China based on DNA barcoding dataset of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of 81 samples and partial 28S rDNA sequences of 34 samples. The result showed that all the samples were divided into twelve species by integrating the results of DNA barcoding and morphological comparison. In the present paper, the genus Sycanus in China was reviewed systematically, all species were described or re-described, keyed, illustrated and photographed, among them, Sycanus taiwanensis Zhao & Cai sp. nov., Sycanus flavicorius Li & Cai sp. nov. and Sycanus hainanensis Wang & Cai sp. nov. were described as new to science. The biological informations of Sycanus falleni Stål, 1863 and Sycanus croceus Hsiao, 1979 were briefly recorded.

This study examined the eye movement patterns of 317 elementary students across reading conditions (audio-assisted reading (AR) and reading-only (R)) and text types (fiction and non-fiction), and identified eye movement parameters that predict their literal comprehension (LC) and inferential comprehension (IC). Participants, randomly assigned to either reading condition and either text type, answered questions assessing their LC and IC. Average fixation duration (AFD), total fixation duration (TFD), and scanpath length were used as eye movement parameters. There were main effects of age on all parameters and interaction effects between age and reading condition on TFD and scanpath length. Controlling for age, TFD had a positive impact on LC of both text types in the AR, while under the R, it affected negatively on IC of both text types. Longer scanpaths predicted IC of fiction in the AR, LC and IC of non-fiction under the AR, and LC of non-fiction within the R. AFD influenced negatively on IC of fiction in the AR, LC and IC of non-fiction in the AR, and LC of non-fiction under the R. These eye movement patterns and predictors indicate children employ different reading strategies based on reading modality and text type.

In this paper, the new optical wave solutions of truncated M-fractional perturbed Kundu-Eckhaus model with full non-linearity are obtained by utilizing the expa function technique and modified extended tanh expansion function technique. The solutions are in the form of dark soliton, bright soliton, singular solitons and other form of solutions. The gained solutions are helpful for the further development of concerned model. The obtained results have also been presented graphically in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional formats to discuss the dynamical features as well as the parametric dependence of the constructed solutions. The study offers a highly spectacular and acceptable techniques to combine various intriguing wave demonstrations for more sophisticated models of the modern day.

Antibiotics have played a crucial role in the reduction of TB incidence globally as evidenced by the fact that before the mid-20th century, the mortality rate within five years of the onset of the disease was 50%. The use of antibiotics has eliminated TB as a devastating disease, but the challenge of resistance to anti-TB drugs, which had already been described at the time of the introduction of streptomycin, has become a major global issue in disease management. Mismanagement of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases, resulting from intermittent drug use, prescription errors and non-compliance of patients, has been identified as a critical risk factor for the development of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in TB is a multi-factorial, complex problem of microbes evolving to escape antibiotics, the gradual decline of antibiotic development, and different economic and social conditions. In this review, we summarise recent advances in our understanding of how Mycobacterium tuberculosis evolves drug resistance. We also highlight the importance of developing shorter regimens that rapidly reach bacteria in diverse host environments, eradicating all mycobacterial populations and preventing the evolution of drug resistance. Lastly, we also emphasise that the current burden of this ancient disease is driven by a combination of complex interactions between mycobacterial and host factors, and that only a holistic approach that effectively addresses all the critical issues associated with drug resistance will limit the further spread of drug-resistant strains throught the community.

A recent study demonstrated that noninvasive measurements of cortical hemodynamics and metabolism in the resting human prefrontal cortex can facilitate quantitative metrics of unilateral mitochondrial-hemodynamic coupling and bilateral connectivity in infraslow oscillation (ISO) frequencies in young adults (YA). The ISO includes three distinct vasomotions with endogenic (E), neurogenic (N), and myogenic (M) frequency bands. The goal of this study was to prove the hypothesis that there are significant differences between young and older adults (OA) in the unilateral coupling (uCOP) and bilateral connectivity (bCON) in the prefrontal cortex. Accordingly, we performed measurements from 24 OA (67.2 ± 5.9 years of age) using the same 2-channel broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (bbNIRS) setup and resting-state experimental protocol as those in the recent study (Shahdadian et al, Cerebral Cortex Communications, 2022). After quantification of uCOP and bCON in three E/N/M frequencies and statistical analysis, we demonstrated that OA had significantly weaker bilateral hemodynamic connectivity but significantly stronger bilateral metabolic connectivity than YA in the M band. Furthermore, OA exhibited significantly stronger unilateral coupling on both prefrontal sides in all E/N/M bands, particularly with a very large effect size in the M band (&gt; 1.9). These age-related results clearly support our hypothesis and were well interpreted following neurophysiological principles. The key finding of this paper is that the neurophysiological metrics of uCOP and bCON are highly associated with age and may have the potential to become meaningful features for human brain health and be translatable for future clinical applications, such as early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the most endangered species of land mammals and has significant academic research value worldwide. The evaluation of hematological parameters in giant pandas is important for assessing the physiological status of animals. This study collected blood samples from 12 healthy giant pandas from September 2018 to August 2020 under non-anesthetic conditions. The samples were then analyzed for basic blood indices and blood rheology, and normal values for hematological parameters and blood rheology under non-anesthetic conditions in giant pandas in Beijing area were obtained. The study confirmed the influence of age and season on hematological and biochemical parameters in captive giant pandas: hematological morphology, blood rheology, and serum enzymes showed seasonal variations, while age affected the changes in serum enzymes, serum protein content, and serum metabolite content. There are significant differences in blood indicators among different age groups of giant pandas, indicating variations in the overall metabolic processes and differences among pandas of different age groups. Seasonal variations showed a regulatory effect on blood rheology parameters and a negative effect on blood viscosity. Further research should be conducted to investigate whether factors such as season and climate cause environmental stress in captive giant pandas. The results obtained in this study aim to better protect the stability of the giant panda population and provide references for the appropriate feeding and medical care of captive giant pandas.

The impact of early maternal age on several outcomes (e.g. mental health issues, delinquency, aggression, impulsivity, victimization and interpersonal difficulties) has been studied since the late 1980s. Research has demonstrated links between exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma related outcomes such as substance abuse, interpersonal and self-directed violence, and sexual risk-taking, to name a few. The current study analyzed the incidence of ACE exposure and mental health outcomes (e.g. suicidal behaviors or self-harm, psychiatric hospitalizations, and substance use) as related to early maternal age in youth known to have experienced trafficking or sexual abuse. General demographics and incidence of various experiences and clinical presentations (e.g. ACE exposure, age of mother at birth of youth and age at first birth), and history of self-harm, substance use and psychiatric hospitalization were examined in a sample of 225 youth referred for services subsequent to experiences of sex trafficking or exploitation. Relationships between ACE exposure and maternal age related to mental health outcomes was also examined. Trafficked and exploited youth reported rates of ACE exposure and poor mental health outcomes at far greater rates than the general population. Significant findings were related to early maternal age and engaging in self-harm or suicidal behaviors. Previously anticipated mediational analyses were not conducted due to the sample size and lack of correlations. Findings highlight the significant ACE exposure and high needs of exploited, trafficked and abused youth and related mental health outcomes, emphasizing the need for early and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic interventions.

To this day, use of oily eye drops and non-invasive retinal delivery remains a major challenge. Oily eye drops usually cause ocular irritation and interfere with normal function of the eye, while ocular injections for retinal drug delivery cause significant adverse effects and a high burden on the healthcare system. Here the authors report a novel topical Non-Invasive Ocular Delivery Platform (NIODP) through the periorbital skin for high efficiency anterior and posterior ocular delivery in a non-human primate model (NHP). A single dose of about 7mg JV-MD2 (omega-3 DHA) via the NIODP reached the retina at Cmax of 111µg/g and the cornea at Cmax of 66µg/g. NIODP also delivered JV-DE1, an anti-inflammatory agent in development for dry eye diseases, as efficiently as eye drops did to anterior segments of NHP. The topical NIODP seems to transport drug candidates through the cornea pathway to the anterior and via the conjunctiva/sclera pathway to the posterior segments of the eye. The novel NIODP method has the potential to reshape the landscape of ocular drug delivery, especially for oily eye drops and retinal delivery, where the success of treatment lies in the ocular tolerability and bioavailability of drugs in the target tissue.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes visual impairment in individuals >50 years of age. However, no study has investigated AMD using ultra-wide-field swept-source optical co-herence tomography (UWF SS-OCT). We aimed to evaluate central and peripheral choroidal thickness using UWF SS-OCT and compare AMD subtypes. We included 75 eyes of patients with typical AMD (tAMD), 56 with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), 29 with pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV), and 12 with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). To compare cho-roidal thicknesses in the central and peripheral choroids, we established subfields of <3 mm, <9 mm, and 9–18 mm from the fovea. PNV patients were significantly younger than those with tAMD (P=0.01). The choroidal thicknesses of PNV were significantly greater than that of tAMD in all subfields (P<0.01) and choroidal thickness significantly correlated with age and axial length in all subfields (P<0.05). Even after adjusting for age and axial length, the choroidal thickness in PNV was significantly greater than that in tAMD (P<0.05). In addition, the ratio of the posterior < 9 mm to peripheral 9–18 mm choroidal thickness in PNV was significantly greater than that in tAMD (P<0.01). A thickened choroid in PNV was more pronounced in the posterior choroid than in the periphery.

Treating clubfoot in walking age children is debated, despite studies showing that using Ponseti casting principles can correct the mid-foot effectively. We aimed to explore techniques and approaches for management of older children with clubfoot and identify areas of management consensus. A mixed-methods cross-sectional electronic survey on delayed presenting clubfoot (DPC) was sent to 88 clubfoot practitioners (response rate 56.8%). We collected data on decision-making, casting, imaging, orthotics, surgery, re-currence, rehabilitation, multidisciplinary care and contextual factors. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the qualitative data were analysed using conventional content analysis. Many respondents used the Pirani score and some used the PAVER score to aid deformity severity assessment and correctability [1,2]. Ponseti casting principles were consistently applied with a stepwise approach. Con-textual factors influenced the timing of the treatment, the decision to treat a bilateral deformity simultaneously, and casting intervals. Differences were seen around orthotic usage and use of tibialis anterior tendon transfer following full correction. The survey identified consensus areas in overall principles of management for delayed presenting clubfoot and implementation of Ponseti principles, indicating these principles are well recognized as a multidisciplinary approach for older children with clubfoot. Some dif-ferences in approach may reflect different economic or social contexts. The principles can be adapted well for different geographical and healthcare contexts.

As the global aging trend continues to intensify, there will inevitably be more complex and diverse aging problems in the future. There is no doubt that designers have the responsibility to explore the possibilities of the future and solve the problems that will be faced in the future. Based on the Future Cone, the Double Diamond Model and the IDEO Method Cards, this study proposes a new model to guide the design practice of future aging issues in the context of aging. With the aim of validating and refining the framework, an ageing designer workshop was held where participants were asked to imagine, explore and express ideas about future ageing issues. The workshop was used to refine the proposed model. More specifically, the model includes a future concept, a design guidance process based on the Double Diamond Model, and tools that can be applied at all stages of design, which can help designers generate ideas and solutions for future aging problems, and collectively lead society to a more desirable future. Moreover, this study also explores broader directions for the development of the model and provides a reference for continued research on this topic in the future.

Immunological aging type definition requires establishing reference intervals from the distribution of immunosenescence biomarkers conditional on age. For 1,605 individuals (18–97 years), we determined the comprehensive IMMmune Age indeX IMMAX from flow cytometry-based blood cell sub-populations, and identified age-specific centiles by fitting generalized additive models for location, scale and shape. The centiles were uncorrelated with age, and facilitated the categorization of individuals as immunologically slow or fast aging types. Using its 50th percentile as reference, we rescaled IMMAX to equivalent years-of-life (EYOL), and computed the immunological age gap as difference between EYOL and chronological age. Applied to preliminary baseline and follow-up measurements from 53 participants of the Dortmund Vital Study (Clinical-Trials.gov Identifier: NCT05155397), the averaged changes in IMMAX and EYOL conformed to the 5-year follow-up period, whereas no significant changes occurred concerning IMMAX centiles and age gap. This suggested that the participants immunologically adapted to aging, and kept their relative positions within the cohort. Sex was non-significant. Methodical comparisons indicated that future confirmatory analyses with the completed follow-up examinations could rely on percentile curves estimated by simple linear quantile regression, while the selection of the immunosenescence biomarker will greatly influence the outcome, with IMMAX representing the preferable choice.

Urban planning and transportation policies are vital to creating sustainable and liveable cities. Transit-orientated development (TOD) has emerged as a prominent approach, emphasising the establishment of neighbourhoods with convenient access to public transportation and promoting car-free lifestyles. TOD initiatives aim to improve public transit efficiency, reduce dependence on private vehicles, and encourage walkability and connectivity within communities. By prioritising TOD, cities can effectively address transportation challenges, alleviate congestion, mitigate carbon emissions, and improve residents' overall quality of life. This research paper investigates the connection between proximity to transit stations and local living habits. Specifically, it examines the human mobility of residents living within a 15-minute walk distance of transit stations in Auckland, New Zealand, a car-dependent city striving to transition into a sustainable TOD model. The objective is to determine whether people living near transit stations are more inclined to participate in local activities and exhibit a higher proportion of trips within a radius of 15 minutes. The results illustrate that approximately 54% of the residents show dominant local mobility patterns. However, only about 16 stations out of 34 show their local residents have prominent collective 'local' travel patterns. By understanding the connection between proximity to transit stations and local mobility patterns, urban planners and designers can make informed decisions to improve the built environment and optimise the land use mix. This research offers insights to support the creation of vibrant and people-centric urban environments, facilitating the development of sustainable and liveable cities.

This trial was carried out to find out the effects of the parent flocks and the hatching time of broiler chickens on the production traits and bacteriota development of animals. Two times 730 hatching eggs were collected from two different parent flocks with age of 22-23 and 65-66 weeks. In the hatchery both groups were divided into two subgroups, when the day-old chickens were separated according to their hatching time. A feeding trial was carried out afterwards, using the 4 treatments in 6 replicate floor pens, feeding commercial starter, grower, and finisher diets, that contained all the nutrients according to the breeder’s recommendations. The day-old chickens of the parent older flock and those hatched later were heavier and this advantage of the birds remained until end of the production period. The different age and origin of parent flocks failed to modify the microbiological parameters of the chicken’s ceca. However, the hatching time significantly influenced the different bacteriota diversity indices. The late hatched chickens showed higher Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria and lower Firmicutes abundances at day 11. These treatments resulted differences in the main families, Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Bacteroidaceae. These differences could not be found at day 39.

Abstract: Accurately predicting a fetus's gestational age (GA) is of utmost importance in prenatal care. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can automatically predict GA using biometric measurements derived from fetal brain mag-netic resonance imaging (MRI). Additionally, we aimed to assess the significance of con-sidering different references when interpreting GA predictions. To achieve this, we obtained measurements such as Biparietal Diameter (BPD), Fron-to-occipital Diameter (FOD), and Head Circumference (HC) from a dataset comprising 52 normal fetal MRI cases with T2 Haste sequences from Rush University. Both manual and AI-based methods were utilized to acquire these measurements. We also employed three reference papers (Garel, Freq, and Bio) for comparison purposes. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between manual and AI measure-ments, indicating consistency between the two methods. The AI-based measurement of HC exhibited a higher correlation with actual values compared to BPD, FOD, and correct-ed BPD (BPDC). When comparing these measurements with GA in the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), the differences varied depending on the reference used. Specifically, the differences ranged from 0.47 to 2.17 weeks for BPD, 0.46 to 2.26 weeks for FOD, and 0.75 to 1.74 weeks for HC. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coeffi-cient analysis revealed that all correlation coefficients between PACS records and GA pre-dictions using different references were greater than 0.97. In conclusion, the AI model based on fetal brain MRI accurately predicts GA by uti-lizing BPD, FOD, and HC measurements. The AI approach, which involves combining line segments to calculate fetal head circumference, offers improved accuracy and con-venience compared to manual estimation. This study underscores the potential of AI models in accurately estimating gestational age and highlights their utility in prenatal care. By integrating AI as a valuable tool in prenatal care, we can enhance the accuracy, ef-ficiency, and decision-making involved in assessing fetal development and monitoring pregnancies using MRI measurements.

This essay critically discusses the integration of queer theory into human geography while emphasizing its ties to the principles of traditional geography. The need for a separate sub-discipline called queer geography is questioned. At the same time, legitimate concerns about possible departures from the fundamental goals of geography and the risks of anachronistic interpretations in applying modern concepts to historical landscapes are acknowledged. In this discourse, we strongly advocate for values such as freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and international human rights. It is important to emphasize that it is not the intent of this essay to denigrate campaigns for feminism or equality or to disparage the scholarship that emerges from the application of queer theory. On the contrary, we recognize the emergence of gender theories out of a need to advance social justice approaches. We believe that traditional human geography, itself, is capable of comprehensively examining space, time, and the complexity of human experience and offering workable solutions within its established framework. We therefore believe that the inclusion of queer theory can be harmoniously integrated into the contours of human geography, eliminating the need for a separate sub-discipline while preserving the integrity and purpose of the discipline.

There are gravitational field and baryonic matter (star, planet, gases etc.) in our world; gravitational field is much more fundamental for that the relativistic mass of the gravitational field of a neutron star is almost 10²¹ times the mass of the neutron star. And, it is astonishing that the relativistic mass density of the gravitational field on the surface of a neutron star can be larger than the mass density of the neutron star. It is well known that, in the weak gravitational field a light line appears a straight line while in the strong field it is a curved line. It is stressed that the result measured in the strong field is more fundamental for that in a galaxy the measurable object is generally with strong field. It results in that the way that the result measured on the Earth with weak field is used as the universal standard need be revised as gravity is studied in the scale of a galaxy. It seems that a new theory of gravity need be developed for the new observations.

In this paper, we succeed to discover the new exact wave solutions to the truncated M-fractional complex three coupled Maccari’s system by utilizing the Sardar sub-equation scheme. The obtained solutions are in the form of trigonometric and hyperbolic forms. These solutions have many applications in nonlinear optics, fiber optics, deep water-waves, plasma physics, mathematical physics, fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics and engineering where the propagation of nonlinear waves is important. Achieved solutions are verified with the use of Mathematica software. Some of the achieved solutions are also described graphically by 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional and contour plots with the help of Maple software. The gained solutions are helpful for the further development of concerned model. Finally, this technique is simple, fruitful and reliable to handle the nonlinear FPDEs.

Stand biomass in boreal forests has attained recognition for its crucial role in carbon cycling. In this study, we examined the effect of stand age on above- and belowground biomass allocation in downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) in three drained peatland sites in Central Finland. We used allometric equations to estimate individual-tree above-ground biomass and its various components, including stem wood, stem bark, living branches, leaves, and dead branches. The above-ground biomass ranged from 10.5 t ha-1 to 276.0 t ha-1 and foliage biomass from 0.009 t ha-1 to 0.6 t ha-1. We found that stand age had a strong correlation with above-ground biomass, but foliage biomass appeared to peak at the middle-aged (50 years) stand compared to the young (10 years) or mature (80 years) stands. We observed coarse root biomass production of 45, 250, and 110 g m-2 in the 0–50 cm peat layer for young, middle-aged, and mature stands, respectively. Most coarse root biomass occurred in the top 20-cm layer (77%). These findings improve our understanding of how biomass allocation patterns – specifically those in foliar biomass– change over time, and the impact on litter inputs into the soil.

Age-related changes in behavior and sensory perception have been observed in a wide variety of animal species. In ants and other eusocial insects, workers often progress through an ordered sequence of olfactory-driven behavioral tasks. Notably, these behaviors are plastic, and workers adapt and rapidly switch tasks in response to changing environmental conditions. In the Florida carpenter ant, smaller minors typically perform most of the work needed to maintain the colony while the larger majors are specialized for nest defense and rarely engage in these routine tasks. Here, we investigate the effects of age and task group on olfactory responses to a series of odorant blends in minor and major worker castes. Consistent with their respective roles within the colony, we observed significant age-associated shifts in the olfactory responses of minors as they transitioned between behavioral states, whereas the responses of majors remained consistently low regardless of age. Furthermore, we identified a unitary compound, 3-methylindole, which elicited significantly higher responses and behavioral aversion in minor nurses than in similarly aged foragers suggesting that this compound may play an important role in brood care. Taken together, our results suggest that age- and task-associated shifts in olfactory physiology may play a critical role in the social organization of ant colonies.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness world-wide. We recently reported that polyethylene glycol (PEG) can activate the alternative pathway of the complement system and induce choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice. Currently, no other investigator has demonstrated CNV after PEG injection in the mouse eye. The aim of this article is twofold: we review the histologic changes in mouse retina and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) after treatment with PEG, and we summarize a model of wet and dry AMD pathogenesis in mice through subretinal PEG treatment of RPE cells and retinal layers. We injected (subretinal) male C57BL/6 mice with 2 μL of solution containing 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg of PEG or PBS in control groups. Eyes were harvested at day 1, 3 and 5 after injection and processed for analysis. Sections were immunohistochemically stained for complement component C3, mem-brane attack complex (MAC), and cytokeratin 18. Light and laser confocal microscopy was used for image capturing. PEG increased deposition of C3 and MAC on RPE cells and on all retinal layers after 1.0 mg injection. PEG induced loss of cellular contacts between RPE cells and migration of RPE cells in the subretinal space at day 1 after PEG injection. After 0.5 mg PEG injection, increased size of RPE cells was detected at day 3 and 5. Apoptotic bodies were observed in outer nuclear layer at day 3 and 5 after 0.5 mg PEG treatment. RPE cells with dark cytoplasm and condensed chromatin were observed. Higher doses of PEG induce CNV, encouraged RPE cell proliferation and death, and damage photoreceptors in mice. This simple and fast model may be useful to explore the pathogenesis of both dry and wet AMD.

We previously showed that mice with knockout in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PPARGC1A) gene encoding the PGC-1a protein and nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (NFE2L2) gene, showed some features of the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) phenotype. To further explore the mechanism behind the involvement of PGC-1a in AMD pathogenesis we used young (3-month) and old (12-month) mice with knockout in the PPARGC1A gene and age-matched wild-type (WT) animals. An immunohistochemical analysis showed age-dependent different expression of markers of oxidative stress defense, senescence and autophagy in the retinal pigment epithelium of KO animals as compared with their WT counterparts. Multivariate inference testing showed that senescence and autophagy proteins had the greatest impact on the discrimination between KO and WT 3-month animals, but proteins of antioxidant defense also contributed to that discrimination. A bioinformatic analysis showed that PGC-1a might coordinate the interplay between genes encoding proteins involved in antioxidant defense, senescence and autophagy in the aging retina. These data support importance of PGC-1a in AMD pathogenesis and confirm the utility of mice with PGC-1a knockout as an animal model to study AMD pathogenesis.

Progesterone receptor (PGR) expression level determines biological characteristics of the serous ovarian carcinoma, and low PGR expression appears to be associated with chemoresistance and worse outcome. In this study, we aimed to find relationships between tumor progesterone receptor level and RNA-profile (miRNAs, piwiRNAs, and mRNAs), determining its biological characteristics and behavior. For this purpose, we applied next generation sequencing of small noncoding RNAs, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry to analyze FFPE and frozen tumor samples as well as blood plasma from patients with benign cystadenoma (BSC), serous borderline tumour (SBT), low-grade and high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC and HGSOC, respectively). We found significant upregulation of MMP7 and MUC16 and downregulation of PGR in LGSOC and HGSOC in comparison with BSC. The tissue content of miR-199a-5p, miR-214-3p, miR-424-3p, miR-424-5p, miR-125b-5p significantly inversely correlated with the expression level of MUC16 and blood serum CA125 concentration, and significantly directly correlated with the PGR expression level in tumor tissue. On the contrary, the tissue content of miR-16-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-93-5p, responsible for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the cell, significantly directly correlated with the blood serum CA125 concentration and significantly inversely correlated with the PGR expression level in the tumor tissue. Levels of the EMT-associated miRNAs significantly directly correlated with the content of hsa_piR_022437, hsa_piR_009295, hsa_piR_020813, hsa_piR_004307, hsa_piR_019914 in tumor tissues. Among them, expression level of hsa_piR_004307 significantly inversly correlated with the PGR expression level in the tumor. Two optimal logistic regression models were developed based on the quantitation of hsa_piR_020813, miR-16-5p, hsa_piR_022437 or hsa_piR_004307, hsa_piR_019914, miR-93-5p in the tumor tissue, both of which significantly diagnose PGR-negative tumor phenotype with 93% sensitivity. According to FunRich3.1.3 functional enrichment analysis tool, 72 gene-targets of miRNA and piRNA identified here as markers of PGR-negative ovarian tumor phenotype were proven to be mutated in different cancers such as ovarian, breast, colorectal, liver, stomach, lung, endometrial, thyroid cancer. Among them, the blood plasma levels of miR-16-5p and hsa_piR_022437 can be used to diagnose PGR-negative tumor phenotype with 86% sensitivity before surgery and chemotherapy to choose the treatment strategy for this most aggressive type of ovarian cancer (for instance, neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cytoreduction in combination with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) to increase the effectiveness of treatment and longevity of the patient.

News recommendation schemes utilize features of the news itself and information about users to suggest and recommend relevant news items to the users towards the interest they have. However, the effectiveness of the existing news recommendation scheme is limited in the occurrence of new user cold start problems. Therefore, we designed a news recommender system using hybrid approaches to address new user cold start problems to ease and suggest more related news articles for new users. To achieve the objective mentioned above, user demographic data with a hybrid recommendation system that contains the scheme of both content-based and collaborative filtering approaches is proposed. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model, an extensive experiment is conducted using a dataset of news articles with user rating value and user demographic data. The performance of the proposed model is done by two ways of experiment. So, the performance of the proposed model performs around 68.05% of Precision, 42.46% of Recall and 52.1% of the average F1 score for the experiment based on individual user similarity in the system. And also performs around 93.75% of precision, 40.25% of recall and 56.31% F1-score for the similarity of users based on the similarity of users within the same category which is better than the first experiment.

Daniel Yergin’s “The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations” is a remarkable and groundbreaking work that addresses the ever-changing global energy landscape and its profound geopolitical implications. In this modest book review, we aim to offer a fresh perspective by re-examining the core issues from the standpoint of political geography. The aim of this article is twofold: to enrich the existing literature on political geography and to provide valuable insights to students of geography to broaden their knowledge in this field.

Iron oxide nanoparticles have been investigated due to their suitable characteristics for diverse applications in the fields of biomedicine, electronics, water/wastewater treatment and sensors. Maghemite, magnetite and hematite are the most widely studied iron oxide particles and have ferrimagnetic characteristics. When very small, however, these particles have superparamagnetic properties and are called superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Several methods are used for the production of these particles, such as coprecipitation, thermal decomposition and microemulsion. However, the variables of the different types of synthesis must be assessed to achieve greater control over the particles produced. In some studies, it is possible to compare the influence of variations in the factors for production with each of these methods. Thus, researchers use different adaptations of synthesis based on each objective and type of application. With coprecipitation, it is possible to obtain smaller, more uniform particles with adjustments in temperature, pH and the types of reagents used in the process. With thermal decomposition, greater control is needed over time, temperature as well as the proportion of surfactants and organic and aqueous phases in order to produce smaller particles and a narrower size distribution. With the microemulsion process, the control of the confinement of the micelles formed during synthesis through the proportions of surfactant and oil makes the final particles smaller and less dispersed. These nanoparticles can be used as additives for the creation of new materials, such as magnetic bacterial cellulose, which has different innovative applications. Composites that have SPIONs, which are produced with greater rigour with regards to size and distribution, have superparamagnetic properties and can be used in medical applications, whereas materials containing larger particles have ferromagnetic applications. To arrive at a particular particle with specific characteristics, researchers must be attentive to both the mechanism selected and the production variables to ensure greater quality and control of the materials produced.

Visual impairment and blindness are a growing public health problem, as they reduce the quality of life of millions of people. The management and treatment of these diseases represent a scientific and therapeutic challenge, since the different cellular and molecular actors involved in the pathophysiology are still being identified. The visual system components, particularly the retinal cells, are extremely sensitive to genetic or metabolic alterations, and immune cells activated by insults contribute to biological events that culminate with vision loss and irreversible blindness. Several ocular diseases are linked to retinal cell loss, and diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy are characterized by pathophysiological hallmarks that represent possibilities to study and develop novel treatments for retinal cells degeneration. Here, we present a compilation of revisited information on retinal degeneration, including pathophysiologic and molecular features, biochemical hallmarks and possible directions for novel treatments, aiming to assist as a guide for innovative research. The expansion of knowledge of the mechanistic bases of the pathobiology of eye diseases, including information on the complex interactions of genetic predisposition, chronic inflammation, and environmental and aging-related factors will allow the identification of new therapeutic strategies.

The coombs (in Catalan comes) form an integral part of the landscape. These are small valleys, with the deepest and flattest part cultivated for agriculture. They are predominantly found in the most arid regions of Catalonia, particularly around the cities of Tarragona and Lleida. They are generally dry land areas. We propose that these coombs gained significance in the early centuries of the Middle Ages, a period marked by intense erosion. It is important to identify their locations and establish connections with medieval written documents, the settlements that thrived throughout the Middle Ages, archaeological sites such as necropolises, and the valuable data derived from to-ponymy studies. We think that understanding these coombs can greatly contribute to under-standing how the territory was organized in the Middle Ages, the extent of cultivated lands that were established, and the distribution of many settlements. Ultimately, this knowledge can aid in acquiring better understanding of the current landscape.

Lipofuscin accumulates with age as intracellular fluorescent granules originating from incomplete lysosomal digestion of phagocytosed and autophagocytosed material. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the current understanding of the role of oxidative stress and/or lysosomal dysfunction in lipofuscin accumulation and its consequences, particularly for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Next, the fluorescence of lipofuscin, spectral changes induced by oxidation, and its contribution to retinal fluorescence are discussed. This is followed by reviewing recent developments in fluorescence imaging of the retina, and the current evidence on the prognostic value of retinal fluorescence for the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the major blinding disease affecting elderly people in developed countries. The evidence of lipofuscin oxidation in vivo, and the evidence of increased oxidative damage in AMD retina ex vivo lead to the conclusion that imaging of spectral characteristics of lipofuscin fluorescence may serve as a useful biomarker of oxidative damage which can be helpful in assessing the efficacy of potential antioxidant therapies in retinal degenerations associated with accumulation of lipofuscin and increased oxidative stress. Finally, amendments to currently used fluorescence imaging instruments are suggested, to be more sensitive and specific for imaging spectral char-acteristics of lipofuscin fluorescence.

In vineyards, Botryosphaeria dieback (BD) occurs in young and old plants. In the field, the prevalence and severity of the disease increase proportionally with the age of the vineyards. Among the pathogens that cause (BD), Diplodia seriata is the most prevalent species in Chile and other countries with a Mediterranean climate. To date, no information is available on the sus-ceptibility of adult wood to infection by this pathogen since most of the pathogenicity tests have been carried out on 1- or 2-year-old shoots or detached canes. Therefore, a pathogenicity test was carried out on plants under field conditions, with inoculations in plants, on one-year-old shoots, and 2- and 10-year-old wood in grapevine cv. Cabernet Sauvignon. A pathogenicity test was carried out with two isolates of D. seriata selected in an assay in detached canes that were 2-year-old. The results on plants showed that D. seriata was significantly more aggressive on 10-year-old than on one- or two-year-old tissue. These results were compared with the lesions ob-tained from two-year-old canes. The results of this work are consistent with the damage ob-served in the field, highlight the importance of identifying each pathogenic species that causes (BD) and contribute to the knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease in Mediterranean cli-mates.

Age-related mitochondrial markers may facilitate the prognosis of artificial reproductive technology outcomes. In this report, we present our study concerning the ratio of cf-mtDNA/cf-nDNA, namely the amount of cell-free mitochondrial DNA relative to cell-free nuclear DNA, in the follicular fluid (FF) of women undergoing IVF, aiming to generate a molecular fingerprint of oocyte quality. The values of this ratio were measured and compared among three groups of women (101 in total): (A)31 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), (B) 34 women younger than 36 years, and (C) 36 women older than 35 years of age. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to quantify the ratio by using nuclear- and mitochondrial-specific primers and analyzed for potential correlation with age and pregnancy rate. Our analysis showed that the level of FF-cf-mtDNA was lower in the group of advanced-age women than in the groups of PCOS and non-PCOS women. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between FF-cf-mtDNA and the number of mature (MII) oocytes was observed. Collectively, the data show that the relative ratio of cf- mtDNA to cf-nDNA content in human FF can be an effective predictor for assessing the corresponding oocyte’s age-related performance in IVF.

This article presents a state-of-the-art literature review to understand people’s perceptions and opinions of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and the factors that influence AV adoption. A strategic literature search was conducted to select articles for this review. Most of the articles were published within the last five years and they used a household questionnaire survey to collect data. Mostly, they used statistical and econometric methods to evaluate the factors that affect people’s intentions to adopt AVs. The results show that psychological factors often appear as the most important internal factors of people’s willingness to adopt AVs. Additionally, other internal factors such as the socioeconomic profile of individuals and their household, and knowledge and familiarity with AV technologies would affect AV adoption tendencies. User attributes also indirectly affect AV adoption by influencing the psychological factors of users. We identify several critical external factors such as opportunities (e.g., safety and security, low congestion, energy use) and challenges (e.g., system failure, privacy breach, and legal issues), while another influential group includes transportation factors (e.g., travel mode, distance, and time), urban form (e.g., urban/rural, density, land use diversity), affinity to new technology, and the institutional regulatory environment. We discuss some recommendations for policy makers, auto industries, and private stakeholders to formulate policies and strategies to increase market share of AVs. Finally, we identify some limitations of previous studies and provide a blueprint for future research on AV adoption.

To date, no scientific study has found evidence of an afterlife, and the mechanism of consciousness is two of the most challenging questions. Here, I show a hypothesis for consciousness and the probability of an afterlife through three simple thought experiments and theoretical evidence. More studies are needed to understand the mechanism precisely. I found that consciousness can be discussed based on a new theory. Here, I hypothesize that when a person or animal dies, the selection of a new nervous system's characteristic of a new life might depend on the characteristics of the final evolved yet unknown particle. Here, I suggest that the positive or adverse evolution of the said particle depends on the natural evolution of the materialistic brain's cognition, including intelligence. The fittest intellectuals, those who have a higher potential scan mind virus, may survive happier and help more for others to improve psychological well-being. Here, I suggest that when a brain dies, the two microparticles might emit at infinite speed from the dead brain and simultaneously bond with a naturally select suitable zygote or early nervous system somewhere in the universe/s, forming a new life with the impact of new nurture.

This paper explores the challenges faced by blue-collared international migrants in adapting to new and unfamiliar climates while pursuing job opportunities, with a focus on poverty alleviation. Drawing on existing research and empirical evidence, the study investigates the trials encountered by these migrants as they navigate climate shocks and assesses the potential impacts on poverty reduction efforts. The findings underscore the significant difficulties blue-collared migrants experience when confronted with abrupt changes in climate conditions, adversely affecting their physical and mental well-being, as well as their employment prospects. The process of adjustment involves not only acclimating to new climate patterns but also navigating cultural nuances and social dynamics, exacerbating stress and feelings of isolation. Consequently, these challenges can perpetuate poverty by disrupting employment stability and limiting opportunities for career advancement. To address these issues, the paper proposes comprehensive support measures, including targeted pre-departure training programs, access to retraining opportunities, and assistance in securing sustainable livelihoods. By prioritizing climate resilience and empowering blue-collared migrants to adapt effectively to new climates, it becomes possible to enhance their livelihood prospects, reduce poverty levels, and foster sustainable development. The paper concludes by highlighting the significance of integrating climate adaptation strategies with poverty alleviation efforts to create a more inclusive and resilient future for blue-collared migrants in their pursuit of sustainable livelihoods.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the bleeding that occurs during the first weeks of gestation and its implications throughout pregnancy. Secondarily, we studied the associated complications that appeared and tried to identify possible risk factors that could serve to select women at a greater risk of adverse outcomes that could benefit from an early diagnosis and improved monitoring. Materials and Methods: We selected all the women who consulted for first trimester metrorrhagia in the Emergency Department of the Hospital QuirónSalud in Malaga over the year 2015. We refer to first trimester metrorrhagia as that which occurs until week 12+6. Once the pregnant women were identified, we studied certain risk factors already present prior to the gestation and others associated with the gestation and its evolution. Results: After reviewing the visits to the obstetrics and gynecology emergency department, we selected those patients that met the inclusion criteria, resulting in a sample of 696 patients that we followed up. The average age of our patients was 34.1 years, with an average number of visits to the hospital of 1.67, most of them between the 5th and 8th weeks of pregnancy. 45.3% of these pregnancies resulted in a first trimester miscarriage, mainly between weeks 6 and 8. We tried to establish associations in order to identify possible risk factors, finding a relationship between increased maternal age and a higher risk of first trimester pregnancy loss, which rises as maternal age increases (33,37 4,316 years vs 35,01 4,740 years). This increase in risk is proportional to the increase in age. We made subgroups of women over 35 and over 40 and confirmed that increased age led to worse outcomes. We also studied several gestational complications and concluded that they appeared more frequently among older women. These complications include prematurity (33.11 vs 34.48 years), gestational diabetes (33.11 vs 36.06 years) and preeclampsia (33.25 vs 35 years). We reviewed the obstetric history of pregnant women whose gestation resulted in miscarriage and found that 50.5% of them had previously had another loss. Conclusions: Comparing the results with data from the general population, we found that the rate of first trimester miscarriage is up to 3 times higher among women who present bleeding during the first weeks of gestation compared to those who do not develop this complication. Maternal age is a risk factor for first trimester pregnancy loss and for the development of complications associated with pregnancy.

Japan has the world’s largest old population ratio, and aging is an urgent societal issue. As global trends seem to be following Japan’s social changes, there is an emphasis on municipalities becoming more age-friendly. Hence, we examine the age-friendliness of 135 Japanese municipalities, selecting 240 resident architectural designers and constructors to assess their municipalities, using the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ). The findings indicate that Japan lacks “outdoor spaces and buildings.” Additionally, the evaluation of “housing,” “community support and health services,” and “transportation” in populated municipalities in the past five years is significantly higher than those in depopulated ones. Age-friendliness is significantly affected in the AFCCQ total score (hereafter, Score) based on “housing,” “social participation,” “community support and health services,” “transportation” and “financial situation” evaluations. High specificity (0.939) was found when the Score was treated as a marker of depopulation and, therefore, an age-friendly approach is a necessary condition to prevent depopulation. Furthermore, a lack of “communication and information” is observed in municipalities with a higher rate of single-person households aged 65 years and above. Therefore, resident architectural designers’ and constructors’ assessments, combined with the AFCCQ can be a powerful tool in evaluating the age-friendliness of municipalities.

Introduction: The primary objective of researchers in the biology of ageing is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ageing process while developing practical solutions that can enhance the quality of life for older individuals. This involves a continuous effort to bridge the gap between fundamental biological research and its real-world applications. Purpose: In this narrative review, we attempt to link research findings concerning the hormetic relationship between neurons and germ cells, and translate these findings into clinically relevant concepts. Methods: We conducted a literature search using PubMed, Embase, PLOS, Digital Commons Network, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library from 2000 to 2023, analyzing studies dealing with the relationship between hormetic, cognitive, and reproductive aspects of human ageing. Results: The process of hormesis serves as a bridge between the biology of neuron-germ cell interactions on one hand, and the clinical relevance of these interactions on the other. Details concerning these processes are discussed here, emphasizing new research which strengthens the overall concept. Conclusions: This review presents a scientifically and clinically relevant argument, claiming that maintaining a cognitively active lifestyle may decrease age-related degeneration, and improve overall health in ageing.

This qualitative research examines the quality assurance practices in private school institutions in Iligan City during the first semester of 2020-2021. The study involves interviews with 30 school administrators and document analysis to uncover key themes and sub-themes. The findings reveal the significance of clear policies, professional development for teachers, stakeholder engagement, assessment strategies, and technology utilization in quality assurance. The study also identifies challenges such as the need for standardized assessment procedures, limited resources for professional development, and the integration of technology. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of adaptability and flexibility in the face of changing educational landscapes, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for further research include conducting a comparative analysis between private and public school institutions, investigating the long-term impacts of the pandemic on quality assurance, and exploring innovative strategies for online and blended learning environments. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of addressing challenges and embracing new perspectives in quality assurance to improve the overall quality of education. The implications of the study emphasize the need for comprehensive quality assurance frameworks that encompass all aspects of education and the importance of ongoing evaluation and improvement. Ultimately, this qualitative research article contributes valuable insights for private school institutions and educational policymakers to enhance their quality assurance practices and provide better educational experiences for students.

Helicosporous hyphomycetes is a class of filamentous fungi that shows promising application prospects in metabolizing bioactive natural compounds. During a study of helicosporous fungi in China, six new helicosporous taxa were collected and isolated from decaying wood in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Morphological comparisons with multi-gene phylogenetic analyses revealed that these six taxa belong to Helicosporium (Tubeufiaceae, Tubeufiales), and they can be recognized as three novel species, named Helicosporium liuzhouense, H. multidentatum and H. nanningense. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the newly discovered taxa and comparisons with similar fungi are provided. In addition, a list and a key to accepted Helicosporium species are provided.

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major risk factor for mortality in patients with osteoarthritis, and comorbidities increase postoperative complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Arteriosclerosis plays a major role in hemodynamic dysfunction and CVD; however, arteriosclerosis has not been preoperatively evaluated before TKA using the cardio–ankle vascular index (CAVI). In this study, we evaluated the degree of preoperative arteriosclerosis using the CAVI in patients undergoing TKA, as well as its correlations with several preoperative patient factors. Methods: Arteriosclerosis was evaluated in 209 consecutive patients (251 knees) with osteoarthritis who underwent TKA at our institution between May 2011 and June 2022. The CAVI was measured in the supine position 1 day before TKA, and the correlations between the CAVI and several clinical factors were analyzed. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The CAVI was normal in 62 knees (25%), borderline in 71 knees (28%), and abnormal in 118 knees (47%). Univariate analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between preoperative CAVI and age (r = 0.451, p < 0.001) and a weak negative correlation between preoperative CAVI and body weight (r = −0.306, p < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (r = −0.319, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age (β = 0.349, p < 0.001) and BMI (β = −0.235, p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with preoperative CAVI. Conclusion: Arteriosclerosis should be carefully managed intraoperatively and postoperatively in patients with osteoarthritis undergoing TKA, particularly in older patients and patients with a low BMI.

We study two fundamental linguistic channels ‒ the Sentences and the Interpunctions channels ‒ and show they can reveal deeper connections between texts. The theory applied does not follow the actual paradigm of linguistic studies. As study‒case, we consider the Greek New Testament, with the purpose of determining mathematical connections between its texts and possible differences in writing style (mathematically defined) of writers, and in reading skill required to their readers. The analysis is based on deep‒language parameters and communication/information theory. To set the New Testament texts in the larger Greek Classical Literature, we consider texts written by Aesop, Polybius, Flavius Josephus and Plutarch. The results largely confirm what scholars have found about the New Testament texts giving, therefore, credibility to the theory. The gospel according to John is very similar to Fables written by Aesop. Surprisingly, the Epistle to the Hebrews and Apocalypse, are each other “photocopy” in the two linguistic channels, and not linked to all other texts. These two texts deserve further study by historians of the early Christian Church Literature at the level of meaning, readers and possible Old Testament texts which might have influenced them. The theory can guide scholars to study any literary corpus.

The free energy principle (FEP) is a mathematical and scientific principle that describes the relationship between the physical behavior of a dynamical system and the interpretation of such behavior as carrying out inference. It blurs the boundary between the ontological mode of the system of interest and the epistemological significance it acquires through its dynamic interaction with the environment. New materialism (or neo-materialism), despite lacking a single definition, refers to a range of emerging perspectives that attempt to dismantle the long-held divisions between ontology, epistemology, and even ethics, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive transformation of naturalized thinking. In this context, new materialism provides powerful tools to reframe some of the conceptual foundations of the FEP. This paper is the first in a series that aims to systematically construct a neo-materialistic perspective for the FEP, exploring its wide-ranging implications. It serves as an introduction to the series, arguing for the justification of deploying new materialism to reframe the FEP and introducing some essential concepts to be utilized in developing a neo-materialistic account of the FEP.

For a long time, there has been interest in the relationship between personality traits and life satisfaction. However, many previous studies suffer from small sample sizes or selective sampling, sometimes leading to biased or imprecise results. The current study, which focuses on the trait of extraversion, attempts to overcome these limitations by using a large-scale German survey of more than 40,000 individuals aged 10 to 72. As the descriptive and regression results clearly show, there is a statistically significant relationship between extraversion and several dimensions of current life satisfaction. Depending on the type of satisfaction, the unstandardized regression coefficients range from 0.18 to 0.33. To gain further insight, age is added as an explanatory variable to test whether these associations change as a person ages. The results show that the effect sizes sometimes differ by age but remain robust and statistically significant. In conclusion, the study adds to the literature by providing convincing evidence that extraversion and life satisfaction are positively associated, at least in Western and industrialized countries, and that there are interaction effects with age.

The advent of the digital age has brought about significant transformations in the entertainment industry, challenging traditional paradigms and redefining the ways in which content is created, distributed, and consumed. This research paper critically reviews the paradigm shift occurring in the entertainment industry, focusing on the implications of digital technologies, the rise of online platforms, changing consumer behavior, and the impact on various stakeholders. By analyzing relevant literature, industry reports, and case studies, this paper aims to comprehensively understand the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age and assess its impact on the entertainment industry.

Targeted cancer therapy has grown exponentially in the last decade, representing the largest frontier in the modern concept of precision medicine. This renaissance is largely due to our rapidly evolving ability to biochemically harness our immune systems to target cancer-specific antigens. Combined with an increasing armamentarium of surgical and non-invasive techniques for cancer mitigation we have upgraded cancer therapy from a non-specific assault on cell-division to a multi-modal, targeted approach. This renaissance has resulted in an increase in the perioperative footprint of patients with advanced cancer. The scope of the perioperative clinician has evolved from one of passive/reactive management of complications to a proactive approach that starts in the preoperative optimization phase and continues into the postoperative period. The perioperative world should not exist in a silo, and thus involvement of the oncology team is paramount. To provide safe oncologic care, it is essential to be up to date in newer cancer therapies, lest we act on erroneous and/or outdated information. Oncologists should weigh in on immune status, recent chemotherapeutic exposures, and potentially evolving toxicities. These might involve critical changes to perioperative infectious prophylaxis, steroid administration, and coagulopathy management. First, patients living beyond the typical life-expectancy for their cancer will carry a high burden of cancer-related downstream effects. General metabolic issues will include malnutrition, cachexia, and gastric outlet obstruction. Severe protein-calorie malnutrition, as well as hepatic and renal dysfunction can impact the metabolism and clearance of drugs. The cardiovascular, endocrinologic, pulmonary, and central nervous system implications of new cancer therapies will be discussed extensively below. Second, we have to enhance our ability to manage a cancer population who may be experiencing increasing novel chemotherapeutic toxicities. Newer agents differ from historical agents, which were blunt-force tools aimed at nonspecific destruction of cell-division. These drugs are efficacious but physiologically costly. Newer immunogenic therapies have a slightly improved acute safety profile, and a more complex chronic toxicity profile that may be overt or insidious. Chronic toxicities can present overtly or as a smoldering undertone to other active medical conditions such as sepsis, pneumonia, failure to thrive, or renal failure. The new therapies discussed in this review occur in the context of an overall increasingly multi-faceted cancer care machine. An example is screening for esophageal cancer in patients with Barrett's esophagus, or periodic chest CTs for patients with a strong history of tobacco use. These interventions are more likely to detect disease while it is still resectable, and resections will commonly accompany neo-adjuvant therapy. These approaches commonly involve new immunotherapies whose efficacy is higher-yield with a lower disease burden. In a recent example, the immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) ipilimumab plus nivolumab have significantly increased survival rate for squamous cell esophageal cancer when combined with standard chemotherapy. Surgical resection has evolved to one that often accompanies neoadjuvant chemo and radiation. The increasing efficacy of this approach may de-necessitate many major resections, and increase the number of sub-anatomic resections and minimally invasive procedures. Improved techniques - notably for hepatectomy, whipple procedure, prostatectomy, nephrectomy - have increased the safety profile and decreased the perioperative physiologic burden. This has enabled a broader subset of patients (due to cancer burden or due to medical comorbidities) to qualify for the operation, and increased the involvement of anesthesia and their perioperative services. With an increase in surgical candidacy comes an increase in post-surgical complications, and post-surgical maintenance such as drains, embolizations, imaging studies, etc. In the non-OR anesthesia realm, there have been considerable advancements in cancer “micro-treatments” such as hepatic metastasis embolization, tumor ablation, and peri-tumor vascular embolization. There are an ever-increasing number of IR-guided embolizations for bleeding tumors, aspiration of malignant effusions, and drainage of abscesses. This review serves to provide insight into new categories of chemotherapy and their perioperative implications.

The Feni Island group is located at the southeastern end of the NW trending Ta-bar-Lihir-Tanga-Feni (TLTF) island chain, northeastern Papua New Guinea. This island chain is renowned for hosting alkaline magmas, geothermal activity, copper-gold mineralization and mining. The purpose of this paper is to present the geological observations of Feni Island within the context of the regional tectonic setting and evolution of the TLTF. The TLTF arc is a younger arc situated within the Greater Melanesian Arc, specifically within the New Ireland Basin bounded by New Ireland to the west and the extinct Kilinailau Trench in the east. The formation of the TLTF is attributed to post-subduction extensional tectonics relating to the opening of the Manus Basin and the magma is sourced from subduction-modified upper mantle. Normal, ex-tensional faulting is observed throughout the TLTF.

In this contribution a new configuration of a DC-DC Boost and Buck-Boost converters is proposed to track sinusoidal signals exactly, with zero tracking error. The stage is conformed by two DC-DC converters connected to the same load, this is, they are not connected in cascade. To track exactly the sinusoidal reference the control scheme is base on the indirect control algorithm and the harmonic balance method. The proposed algorithm considers a second control input with the end of cancel out the second harmonic, this second harmonic is produced by the non linearity of the model and must be cancelled since there must be a single frequency in the output. The result is such that the converters can track sinusoidal signals with exactly zero error, some numerical results are presented to corroborate the proposal.

The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, located in the west of the Xiaoqinling belt on the southern margin of the North China Craton, is a polymetallic deposit dominated by U, Nb, Pb, and rare earth elements. The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, discovered in the 1950s, has long been known as a carbonatite-type uranium deposit. Recently, new geological work has found uranium mineralisation in many granitic pegmatite veins in the Huayangchuan deposit and adjacent areas. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, zircon U-Pb ages, and in situ Lu-Hf isotopic characteristics of newly discovered U-rich granitic pegmatite veins in the west of Huayangchuan deposit. The petrological results showed that the lithology of the samples is equivalent to that of granite. The U-Pb ages of zircon were 1826.3 ± 7.9 and 1829 ± 11 Ma. Microscopically, the symbiotic characteristics of zircon, betafite, and uraninite exist in the intergranular fissures of K-feldspar and quartz, reflecting metallogenic phenomena in the rock formation process. Almost all whole-rock samples were rich in SiO2 (64.37–70.69 wt.%), total alkalis (K2O+Na2O = 8.50–10.30 wt.%), and Al2O3 (12.20–14.41 wt.%), but poor in Ti2O (0.23–0.73 wt.%), MgO (0.38–0.90 wt.%), P2O5 (0.14–0.83 wt.%), MnO (0.04–0.57 wt.%). Additionally, they showed enrichment of LILEs (such as Rb, Ba, Th, U, and K), depletion of HFSEs (such as Ta, Nb, P, Ti, and Hf), no alkaline dark minerals, and the characteristics are typical of intraplate A1-type granite. The A1-type granite displayed low zircon εHf(t) values (-19.42– -15.02) with zircon two-stage Hf model aged 3.10–2.76 Ga, indicating that the U-rich granitic pegmatite was derived predominantly from partial melting of the ancient continental crust (such as the early Taihua group formed in Archean-Neoarchean). Combined with the above results and regional geological data, the U-rich granitic pegmatite discovered in the Huayangchuan deposit was related to granite magma activity that formed in a post-collisional regime after the Luliang movement in the late Palaeoproterozoic. This study suggests that future uranium prospecting work in this area should focus on late Palaeoproterozoic U-rich granitic pegmatites.

Three new species of the Sequester group of Pteromalus (Habrocytus) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae), Pteromalus (Habrocytus) boleensis Yan et Li sp. nov., Pteromalus (Habrocytus) longepedicelus Yan et Li sp. nov., and Pteromalus (Habrocytus) robustus Yan et Li sp. nov. are described and illustrated based on adult morphology and molecular data from Xinjiang, China. The DNA barcodes (ITS2) of Pteromalus (Habrocytus) boleensis sp. nov. and Pteromalus (Habrocytus) robustus sp. nov. have been generated and compared with all existing sequences of the Sequester species group. The results of morphological taxonomy and molecular identification are consistent. A key to all known species of the Sequester group in the world is provided.

Despite the high prevalence of epilepsy in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) there is little information regarding whether seizure characteristics and treatment effectiveness change across age. Using an on-line survey, seizure characteristics, effectiveness of antiepileptic treatments, comorbidities and ASD diagnosis were collected from individuals with ASD and seizures. We previously reported overall general patterns of treatment effectiveness but did not examine the effect of seizure characteristics or age on antiepileptic treatment effectiveness. Such information would improve the personalized medicine approach to the treatment of seizures in ASD. Survey data from 570 individuals with ASD and clinical seizures were analyzed. Seizure severity (seizure/week) decreased with age of onset of seizures, plateauing in adolescence, with a greater reduction in generalized tonic clonic (GTC) seizures with age. Seizure severity was worse in those with genetic disorders, neurodevelopmental regression (NDR) and poor sleep maintenance. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine were reported to be more effective when seizures started in later childhood while surgery and the Atkin’s/Modified Atkin’s Diet (A/MAD) were reported to be more effective when seizures started early in life. A/MAD and the ketogenic diet were reported to be more effective in those with NDR. Interestingly, atypical Landau-Kleffner syndrome was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and NDR, suggesting a novel syndrome. These interesting findings need to be verified in independent, prospectively collected cohorts, but none-the-less these data provide some insight into novel relationships that may assist in a better understanding of epilepsy in ASD and providing insight into personalizing epilepsy care in ASD.

The present work concerns with presenting an explicit formula for new shifted wavelet (NSW) functions. Wavelet functions have many applications and advantages in both applied and theoretical fields. They are formulated with different orthogonal polynomials to construct new techniques for treating some problems in sciences, and engineering. A new important differentiation property of NSW in terms of NSW themselves is obtained and proved in this paper. Then it is utilized together with the state parameterization technique to find solution of optimal control problem (OCP) approximately. The suggested method converts the OCP into a quadratic programming problem, which can be easily determined on computer. As a result, the approximate solution closes with the exact solution even with a small number of NSW utilized in estimation. The error bound estimation for the proposed method is also discussed. Some test numerical examples are solved to demonstrate the applicability of the suggested method. For comparison, the exact known solutions against the obtained approximate results are listed in Tables.

The potential impact of a specific physical activity program on biomechanical gait parameters and neuromuscular strategies around the ankle joint in older adults with sarcopenic obesity (SO) remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 24-week Posture, Strengthening, and Motricity (PSM) program in improving neuromuscular strategies and biomechanical gait parameters in older adults with SO. 40 Participants were randomly assigned to either the trained group (TG) and the control group (CG). Only the TG received the PSM program. Standardized evaluations were performed before and after the intervention, including walking tests on an instrumented gait analysis treadmill to evaluate biomechanical gait parameters and EMG activity of ankle muscles. After the PSM program, TG exhibited an increase in comfortable walking speed (+80%, p<0.001) and step length (+38%, p<0.05). Moreover, TG demonstrated a reduction in CoP velocity (-26%, p<0.01). These gait modifications were associated with a decreased muscle activity during the different gait phases (p<0.05). The PSM program effectively improved gait, and neuromuscular capacities in older adults with SO. Notably, Results sheds light on the remarkable trainability of neuromuscular capacities in older adults with SO, despite the adverse effects of aging and obesity.

Malnutrition is the main cause of child mortality in developing nations, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asian countries. This undernutrition status is predominantly higher among primitive tribal (ST) children under 5 years of age. The nutritional status of tribal children is a serious concern in India. For this, there should be intends to examine the prevalence and determinants of primitive tribal children's nutritional status. To investigate the effect of household, child’s & maternal characteristics on biological children under 5 years of age. The study aims to find out the association between some selected determinants on scheduled tribe child’s nutritional status. The study used some selected variable of scheduled tribe mothers, household characteristics and their children anthropometric indices from DHS datasets of India, which was published by the NFHS datasets of India. In this study People datasets and Children (Under 5 years of age) of interviewed women file datasets of NFHS-IV & V is taken. The datasets of West Bengal, ST mothers, and their child into consideration as per the research interest. Then to analyze the determinants of ST children (U5 age) nutritional status, some determinant factors are taken from mothers, children and household characteristics. Children’s stunting, wasting and underweight as dependent variable and the mothers, child’s and household’s characteristics as independent variable. The statistical analysis was done by using Pearson Chi square test used to analyze the association between dependent and independent variables. The study results shows that the mother’s educational status, child’s age, birth order, size of child at birth, type of residence had significant associations with stunting. Mother's anemia status and mother age had significant associations with wasting. Mother education, currently breastfeeding, child age, sex of the child, birth order, size of child at birth, type of residence, wealth, toilet facility, and cooking fuel shows a significant association with underweight. The results found that many determinant factors had a significant role among ST children's (U5 age) nutritional status. Thus, the findings will help to achieve tentative resource allocation, and utilization through various programs and policies to improve the ST children (U5 age) nutritional status. There is a need to take a multisectoral and multidimensional approach to develop for those primitive tribal children.

As a manifestation of technological innovation achievements, patents reflect the frontier of technological development in the field. This paper constructs a multi-entity patent collaboration network and analyzes its evolution patterns to provide a reference for innovation organizations to grasp the general direction of innovation development and select partners. Based on the data of collaboration patents of two and three organizations in China's new energy vehicles (NEV) industry from 2008 to 2021, this paper constructs higher-order interaction collaboration innovation networks in different periods to analyze the spatial evolution of networks and patent cooperation activities. The results show that the generalized degree distribution of nodes and edges conforms to the power-law distribution. The two-dimensional simplex networks gradually form triangle groups centered on the core nodes, and the importance of key edges is beginning to emerge. Key organizations and partners, including State Grid Corporation of China, Tsinghua University, and China Electric Power Research Institute, will largely determine the direction for the future development of cooperation innovation. The study also reveals that Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangzhou, and Shanghai are in central positions in the cooperative innovation network, based on their cooperation breadth and depth measures. Additionally, key links formed by Beijing as hubs are not only the center of information exchange but also function as bridges that connect to other regions.

This paper proposes an imperfectly vaccinated SVEIR model for latent age. We calculate the equilibrium points and basic reproduction number of the model. The asymptotic smoothness, uniform persistence and the existence of the attractor of the semi-flow generated by the solutions of the system are addressed. Moreover, using LaSalle’s invariance set principle and constructing Volterra-type Lyapunov functions, we can prove the global asymptotic stability of both the disease-free equilibrium and the endemic equilibrium of the model. The conclusion is that if the basic reproduction number R0 is less than one, the disease will gradually disappear. On the other hand, if the number is greater than one, the disease will become endemic and persist. Finally, measures that can effectively control the ongoing transmission of the disease have been obtained.

Farmers are continually looking for new reliable, objective and non-invasive methods for evaluation of ewe condition. Live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) are used by farmers as a basis to determine the condition of the animal. Body composition is an important aspect of monitoring animal condition. The body composition is the amount of fat, lean and bone; knowing the amount of each is important because the information can be used for better strategic management interventions. Experiments were conducted to establish the relationship between body composition and body parameters, at key life’s stages (weaning and pre-mating), using measurements automatically determined by an image processing ap-plication at Lincoln University sheep farm for 88 Coopworth ewes. Computerized Tomography technology was used to develop relationship with body parameters and a subset was used to validate the predicted model. Multivariate linear regression (MLR), artificial neural network (ANNs) and regression tree (RT) statistical analysis methods were evaluated to determine their efficacy to predict body fat, lean and bone. The results showed a correlation between fat, lean and bone determined by CT and the fat, lean, bone weight estimated by live weight and body parameters calculated using the image processing application with R2 values of 0.90 for fat, 0.72 for lean and 0.50 for bone using ANNs statistical model. From these results, farmers can utilize accurate measures of fat which will enhance nutritional and management practices.

Accurately estimating a person's age is crucial for identity verification at all critical checkpoints, including airports, land borders, and seaports. Human gait may be used as a biometric identifier and indicator of age, among other things. This study aims to develop methods for estimating a person's age by observing their walk. In this paper, a novel technique for preprocessing the proposed gait dataset has been used by utilizing a combination of the gait energy image (GEI), the accumulated frame difference energy image (AFDEI), and the invariant moment of the image. The proposed technique outperformed state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy. The proposed method was tested and evaluated using a convolutional neural network (CNN), and it achieved an average accuracy of 90.35% across 14 different view angles within 5 K-Fold, the proposed method resulted in 94.68% and 94.54% in 30º and 75º view degree respectively. concluding that the approach is effective and promising for estimating age using human gait.