This article deals with the denoising of signals from sensors (current and voltage) in a photovoltaic conversion chain using wavelet theory. The idea is to reduce the noise as much as possible without distorting or losing the original signal information. To see the reliability of this proposed method, a comparative study between our proposed method (WDD) and the classic low-pass filter method was presented. The contribution in this work is the improvement of the DC-DC boost converter via the use of wavelet theory, however, that’s why we set two objectives: the first is to obtain reliable control of the DC-DC boost converter via the proposed WDD and the second to increase the overall system efficiency. The experimental results show a very great improvement in the quality of the signals of the proposed method compared to the classic method of filtering by low-pass filter.

Vaccine refusal and hesitancy pose a critical challenge to public health, leading to delays in vaccination and compromising herd immunity. To address this issue, we conducted a comprehensive observational study on the adult Spanish population in 2021. Through an online questionnaire, we explored the sociodemographic and sociocultural factors, beliefs, and opinions of those refusing or holding hesitancy about vaccines, and their vaccination behaviours by vaccine type and sex. Our findings revealed that vaccine refusal rates were relatively low (16.8%), and mainly associated with influenza vaccination (10.3%). Greater refusal of vaccination was observed in over 60 years old, in those expressing hesitancy due to vaccine components and opposing free and compulsory vaccination, unaware that vaccination protects the community and being against consuming cow’s milk and the use of infant formulas for breastfeeding. Vaccine hesitancy was greatest in individuals under 31 years old, women, parents of children under 15 years old, against compulsory vaccination, unaware that vaccination protects the community, with hesitancy due to vaccine costs, and in favour of alternative and complementary treatments. These insights underscore the need for strategies to improve education about vaccination and dispel misconceptions are crucial for effectively reducing vaccine refusal and hesitancy across the population.

Determining precise boundaries and protective zones for historical and cultural objects enables their effective preservation. This is particularly crucial in the face of increasing tourism, urbanization, and natural disasters. Accurately defining boundaries and protective zones can aid in the planning of scientific research, archaeological excavations, and other studies aimed at exploring the history and cultural significance of these objects. The article presents the framework for establishing protective zones around historical and cultural heritage sites existing in Ukraine, using the example of the Citadel defensive complex located in Lviv (Ukraine). It proposes general and detailed conceptual models for the combined application of remote and non-invasive methods for investigating historical and cultural heritage sites. This conceptual article introduces the theory of integrating radar satellite imaging with ground-based georadar imaging. Additionally, it presents a software module that has been developed to analyze collected data on two-dimensional historical and cultural heritage objects, refine their boundaries, and establish protective zones around them.

Secondary metabolites are bioactive compounds produced by living organisms that can reveal symbiotic relationships in nature. In the work described here, soil-born entomopathogenic-nematodes associated with symbiotic bacteria (Xenorhabdus stockiae and Photorhabdus luminescens) extracted from solvent supernatant containing secondary metabolites showed significant inhibitory action against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faceium, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis. These secondary metabolites, characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were found to be amine groups of proteins; hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of polyphenols; hydroxyl groups of polysaccharides, and carboxyl groups of organic acids. The major compounds identified by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of ethyl acetate extracts of Xenorhabdus stockiae revealed the existence of Nonanoic acid derivatives, Paromycin, Pyrrolidinone, Octodecanal derivatives, Trioxa-5-aza-1-silabicyclo, 4-Octadecenal, Methyl ester, Oleic Acid and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylicacid. Additional extraction from Photorhabdus luminescens was expressed functional compounds such as Indole-3-acetic acid, Piperidinol derivatives, Phthalic acid, 1-Tetradecanol, Nemorosonol, 1-eicosanol and unsaturated fatty acids. These outcomes support the development of new alternative natural antimicrobial agents for pathogen suppression in the future.

This study delves into the intricate dynamics of Business Intelligence (BI), focusing on the dual aspects of maturity and agility. It aims to explore how these elements interact and contribute to fostering BI agility within organizations.

Acemetacin (ACM) is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects. However, the poor water solubility and gastrointestinal side effects limit its use. Recently, the co-amorphous (CAM) strategy has attracted great interest to improve solubility for poorly water-soluble drugs, and basic amino acids have the potential to protect the gastrointestinal tract. In order to develop highly efficient and low toxic ACM formulation, we propose to prepare ACM CAM, with basic amino acids (lysine, arginine and histidine) as co-formers, using a cryo-milling method. The solid-state behaviors of the ACM CAMs were characterized by polarizing light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and molecular docking were carried out to understand the formation mechanism. Moreover, the gastro-protective effects of ACM CAMs were evaluated in a rat gastric ulcer model. The results demonstrated CAMs improved the dissolution rates of ACM compared with the neat amorphous counterpart. Furthermore, ACM CAMs are significantly effective in mitigating the ACM-induced gastric ulcer in rats, and the ulcer inhibition rates were almost 90%. More importantly, this study provided a useful method for mitigating drug-induced gastrointestinal damage and broadened the applications of drug-amino acid CAMs.

This study explores the potential of Eisenia fetida (Savigny) in vermicompost production within vermipits during winter months in the Rampur region of Uttar Pradesh, India. The vermipits were inoculated with 0.33 kg of E. fetida per pit, against the recommended rate of inoculation for assessment of real-time potential of earthworm on seasonal and regional grounds. The results revealed a significant increase in earthworm population, with three times production (4.1 kg) of the inoculated number (1.0 kg). The productivity dynamics of compost vs E. feida revealed a notable threefold and fourfold effectiveness, respectively. This dual advantage signifies the success of composting process, with the increased worm population indicating enhanced decomposition. The study attributes the combination of regional and edaphic factors viz., sandy loam soil with high humus content and good water passage, facilitating earthworm survival, reproduction and decomposition of agricultural waste. The loose and perforated soil structure allowed easy penetration of earthworms, transforming the soil into fertile compost. The research emphasizes the importance of soil moisture of semi-arid ecosystems thus highlighting the seasonal significance governing earthworm activity. The study provides insights into the mechanical ability of earthworms, its sensitivity to soil compaction and the influence of high hydration of the region. Inoculation during the winter period indicates increased earthworm activity setting the stage for enhanced compost production in the upcoming hot periods of summer months. The findings suggest that optimizing vermicomposting practices with altered feeding stocks, could further improvise compost and earthworm production and productivity in subsequent seasons. The study contributes for sustainable utilization of E. fetida in composting, its regional and seasonal efficacy turns trash to treasure for enhanced agricultural efficacy

Zinc (Zn) is the second most abundant metal in the human body, and is essential for the function of 10% of all proteins. As metals cannot be synthesized or degraded, they must be assimilated from diet by specialized transport proteins, which unfortunately also provide an entry route for the toxic metal pollutant cadmium (Cd). The intestinal absorption of Zn depends on the composition of food that is consumed, firstly the amount of Zn itself, and then the quantity of other food constituents such as phytate, protein and calcium (Ca). In cells, Zn is involved in regulation of intermediary metabolism, gene expression, cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Cellular influx, efflux, subcellular compartmentalization, and trafficking of Zn are coordinated by transporter proteins, the Solute-Linked Carrier 30A and 39A (SLC30A and SLC39A), known as the ZnT and the Zrt-/Irt-like protein (ZIP). Because of its chemical similarity with Zn and Ca, Cd disrupts the physiological functions of both. The concurrent induction of a Zn efflux transporter ZnT1 (SLC30A1) and metallothionein by Cd disrupts the homeostasis and reduces the bioavailability of Zn. The present review highlights the increased mortality and the severity of various diseases, including those induced by COVID-19 infections, among Cd-exposed persons and the roles of Zn and other transport proteins in the manifestation of Cd cytotoxicity. Special emphasis is given to the potential protective effects of Zn against bone, lung and heart diseases associated with Cd exposure. The difficult challenge of determining a permissible intake level of Cd is discussed in relation to the recommended dietary Zn intake levels.

Household waste is the primary source of environmental pollution due to global population growth compared to other sources of waste. This research aims to develop a smart and integrated household waste management system framework. The resulting framework not only focuses on dimensions of information technology but also links it with other integrated dimensions. This research attempts to conduct a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocol to produce a smart and integrated household waste management framework. The framework's design is carried out by identifying the type of household waste management process based on the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) framework, dimensions that support smart household waste management, and stakeholders involved. The SLR results, namely dimensions and subdimensions that support the framework of a smart and integrated household waste management system, were validated by a resource person from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The smart and integrated household waste management framework that has been developed in this research contains five main dimensions: Information Technology, Operational Infrastructure, Governance, Economy, and Social-culture. This framework also addresses stakeholder engagement to support smart household waste management systems and identifies waste management processes based on the ISWM framework. This research uses the PRISMA technique to provide a framework for smart and integrated household waste management systems in the initial stage. The proposed framework has been validated and can be further developed as a smart and integrated household waste management system. This research also contributes to the involvement of various dimensions identified to deal with waste problems.

To enhance the safety of power grid operations, this study proposes a high-precision short-term photovoltaic power prediction method that integrates information from surrounding pho-tovoltaic stations and the Conv-LSTM-ATT model. In the deep learning prediction model, not only is numerical weather prediction (NWP) data from the target photovoltaic station used as input features, but also highly correlated features from nearby photovoltaic stations are incor-porated. The research begins by analyzing the correlation between irradiance and power se-quences, along with distance factors, to calculate a composite similarity index between the target and other regional photovoltaic stations. Stations with high similarity indices are then selected as data sources. Subsequently, Bayesian optimization techniques are employed to find the optimal data fusion ratios. Ultimately, using the selected data, power prediction mod-eling is conducted via the Conv-LSTM-ATT deep neural network. Experimental results con-firm the superiority of the proposed model, which demonstrates higher predictive accuracy compared to three other classical models. The data fusion strategy determined by Bayesian optimization significantly enhances prediction accuracy, reducing the root mean square error (RMSE) of the test set by 20.04%, 28.24%, and 30.94% for three weather types, respectively.

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a common chronic allergic skin disease. In our previous study, we isolated two probiotic strains, Lactococcus cremoris subsp. cremoris MP01 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei MP02, from Mongolian fermented milk. These strains demonstrated potential in alleviating symptoms similar to AD and reducing specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in a mouse model of AD. Building upon this discovery, our current investigation sought to evaluate the therapeutic potential of these probiotics for treating CAD. We conducted an open-label, single-arm clinical trial where dogs diagnosed with AD were administered LCP capsules containing Lc. cremoris subsp. cremoris MP01 and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei MP02 once daily for 60 days. Stool, skin swab, and venous blood specimens were collected at three intervals: before, and after 30 and 60 days of LCP intervention. The skin and fecal microbiomes were analyzed using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing. After 60 days of LCP intervention, notable improvements were observed in skin lesions and scratching behaviors, accompanied by reductions in both the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI) and the Pruritus Visual Analogue Scale (PVAS) scores. Additionally, LCP intervention resulted in significant reductions in IgE levels and modulation in type 1 T helper (Th1)/ type 2 T helper cells (Th2)-related cytokine secretion. Microbiota analysis unveiled changes in the composition of both skin and gut microbiotas, including reductions in Shigella flexneri on the skin and Romboutsia in the gut. Levels of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) increased following the 60-days of LCP intervention. These effects were likely mediated by alterations in gut microbiota and the upregulation of SCFA levels, which subsequently reduced the secretion of allergy-related IgE. Collectively, these mechanisms contributed to alleviating CAD symptoms, regulating skin microbiota composition, and reducing the adherence and invasion of environmental microbes and pathogens. Overall, our findings highlight the promising therapeutic potential of the Lc. cremoris subsp. cremoris MP01 and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei MP02 mixture as an effective strategy for managing CAD in dogs.

Private Set Intersection Cardinality(PSI-CA) is a cryptographic method in secure multi-party computation that allows entities to identify cardinality of the intersection without revealing their private data.Traditional approaches assume similar-sized datasets and equal computational power, overlooking practical imbalances.In real-world applications, dataset sizes and computational capacities often vary, particularly in the Internet of Things and mobile scenarios where device limitations restrict computational types. Traditional PSI-CA protocols are inefficient here, as computational and communication complexities correlate with the size of larger datasets. Thus, adapting PSI-CA protocols to these imbalances is crucial.This paper explores unbalanced scenarios where one party (the receiver) has a relatively small dataset and limited computational power, while the other party (the sender) has a large amount of data and strong computational capabilities.This paper, based on the concept of commutative encryption, introduces Cuckoo filter, cloud computing technology, homomorphic encryption, among other technologies, to construct three novel solutions for unbalanced Private Set Intersection Cardinality (PSI-CA): an unbalanced PSI-CA protocol based on Cuckoo filter, an unbalanced PSI-CA protocol based on single cloud assistance, and an unbalanced PSI-CA protocol based on dual cloud assistance. Depending on performance and security requirements, different protocols can be employed for various applications.

Background/Objectives: Although the role of F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging is well established in oncology, its diagnostic value in routine monitoring for recurrent colorectal cancer (CRC) is still controversial. The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of FDG PET/CT in detecting recurrent CRC in correlation with CEA, CA 19-9 levels, and conventional imaging modalities (CIM). Methods: Between 2009 and 2023, we retrospectively studied 134 CRC patients referred for FDG PET/CT imaging on the suspicion of recurrence based on elevated CEA and/or CA 19-9, and/or equivocal radiological findings. According to the Institutional Tumor Board CRC protocol, after initial treatment which was dependent on TNM stage (neoadjuvant therapy, primary resection or adjuvant treatment), patients underwent a standard 5-year surveillance including CEA and CA 19-9 measurements, CIM, and colonoscopy every 6 months. The statistics including univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using the IBM SPSS 20.0 statistical software. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Recurrent CRC was confirmed in 54/134 (40.3%) patients with elevated tumor markers. FDG PET/CT shows high diagnostic performance in detecting recurrent CRC with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 94.4%, 82.5%, 78.5%, 95.7%, and 87.3%, respectively. The CEA shows a high sensitivity of 98.1%, but both low specificity and accuracy of 15% and 48.5%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, for CA 19-9 and CIM for the correct diagnosis in CRC patients were: 44.4%, 67.5%, 58.2%, and 51.9%, 98.8%, 79.9%, respectively. The AUC for FDG PET/CT, elevated CEA levels, CIM, and elevated CA 19-9 levels was 0.885 (95% CI: 0.824-0.946; p<0.001), 0.844 (95% CI: 0.772-0.916; p<0.001), 0.753 (95% CI: 0.612-0.844; p<0.001); and 0.547 (95% CI: 0.442-0.652; p=0.358). Univariate analysis shows that both FDG PET/CT- and CIM-positive results were highly associated with CRC recurrence (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), while gender, mucinous tumor type, presence of initial lymph node metastasis (N+), and presence of initial distant metastasis (M+) have no significance (p=0.211, p=0.158, p=0.583, and p=0.201, respectively). Our multivariate analysis shows that independent predictors for CRC recurrence are: positive FDG PET/CT scans (p<0.001), positive CIM results (p=0.001) and elevated CA19-9 levels (p=0.023). Although CA 19-9 was not detected as a statistically significant predictor in the univariate analysis (p=0.358), in a multivariate analysis it was recognized as a significant predicting factor in detecting CRC recurrence (p=0.023). Conclusions: FDG PET/CT shows a high diagnostic efficacy in CRC recurrence detection, in correlation with CEA levels, CA 19-9 levels, and CIM. This imaging modality should be routinely integrated into the postoperative follow-op in patients with elevated tumor markers.

This research aims to explore factors that influence sustainable music learning system from psychological perspective, and innovatively constructs a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. For first time, combines nonlinear system and identifies relevant factors affecting music learning by establishing data system for questionnaire answering and a quantitative model for actual academic performance. Existing research mainly looks at several factors that affect fragmented music learning system from perspective of teachers' teaching rules, emphasizing phased teaching state and learning goals of teachers as main body, thus ignoring music learning students, who are a large group of music learning objects. The research fills gap in this type of research object, focusing on sustainable music learning system from emotional perspective and students who occupy a dominant position in music learning, so as to more accurately explore impact of their emotional influencing factors on music learning system. The most prominent innovation of this study lies in construction of stochastic nonlinear system for psychological influencing factors of student music learning and a quantitative model for actual learning effect. Through analysis of nonlinear system, weight values of several negative emotions on music learning system are obtained. The comprehensive impact of emotional factors and practical learning on music learning system can be obtained by weighting them together.

The integration of commodities into stock exchanges marked a pivotal moment in the analysis of price dynamics. Commodities, essential for both daily sustenance and industrial processes, encompass hard commodities like metals and energy, alongside soft commodities such as agricultural produce. This paper investigates the implications of commodity price volatility on commercial and financial landscapes, recognizing its profound impact on global economies. This study employs a meticulous methodology, delineated into four stages: identification, control, and final selection of academic articles, culminating in their tabulation. Methodologically, a literature review serves as the primary tool for data acquisition, with a focus on existing scientific knowledge to bridge gaps and propose avenues for further inquiry. Drawing from reliable sources, including Google Scholar and Science Direct, the research navigates through a wealth of scholarly discourse on commodity market dynamics. By analyzing trends in academic publications, particularly focusing on the interplay between volatility spillover and gold, this paper provides insights into the evolution of research paradigms over time. Ultimately, this paper not only synthesizes existing knowledge but also identifies lacunae for future investigation, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding commodity markets and their ramifications on global economies.

The goal of this research is to determine the optimal microwave-assisted sol-gel synthesis pa-rameters of TiO2 nanoparticles with the achievement of the crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles with the highest specific surface area and the lowest energy band gap. Titanium isopropoxide was used as a precursor to prepare the sol (colloidal solution) of TiO2, isopropanol as a solvent, acetylacetone for complexation, and nitric acid as a catalyst. Four samples of titanium dioxide were synthesized from the prepared colloidal solution in a microwave reactor at a temperature of 150 °C for 30 minutes and at a temperature of 200 °C for 10, 20, and 30 minutes. The phase composition of the prepared samples was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms were used to determine the spe-cific surface area and pore size distributions by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The band gap energy values of the TiO2 samples were determined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). CrystallineTiO2 nanoparticles with the highest specific surface area and the lowest energy band gap were obtained for the TiO2 sample synthesized at 200 °C for 10 minutes.

In this paper thermo-mechanical behavior of 4D printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) was investigated, focusing on its response to varying strain rates and temperatures below the glass transition temperature. Dynamic mechanical analysis and uniaxial tensile tests confirmed PLA's dependency on strain rate, showcasing its sensitivity to external stimuli. Stress-strain curves exhibited typical thermoplastic behavior, with yield stresses varying with strain rates, underscoring PLA's responsiveness to different deformation speeds. Clear strain rate dependence was observed, particularly at quasi-static rates, with temperature and strain rate fluctuations significantly influencing PLA's mechanical properties, including yield stress and deformation behavior. Isothermal compression tests demonstrated predictable stress-strain curves with distinct yield points, while adiabatic tests reveal additional complexities such as heat accumulation leading to further softening. Thermal imaging revealed temperature increase during deformation, highlighting the material's thermo-sensitive nature. These findings provide the basis for future research with the focus on advanced modeling techniques and mitigation strategies for self-heating effects, aiming to enhance PLA-based product reliability and performance in applications with deformations at higher strain rates, while also developing models to simulate shape recovery in 4D printed PLA structures at both cold and hot programming temperatures.

New dimers of selected dipyridothiazines with an m-xylene linker have been designed, synthesized and characterized. Their structure was identified using 1H and 13C NMR as well as 2D NMR techniques (COSY, ROESY, HSQC and HMBC experiments) and HR MS spectrometry. The compounds were subjected to preliminary in silico biological profile tests using the Way2Drug server and analysis of the probable cytotoxic effect on various cancer cell lines. Preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity tests were performed against normal cell lines (HaCaT) and five cancer cell lines (SW480, SW620, MDA-MB-231, A-549, LN-229) showing moderate activity. An analysis of the structure-activity relationship was performed.

(1) Background: The interplay between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and laryngeal cancer represents a substantial challenge for both patients and healthcare. To garner information on recent mortality data for laryngeal cancer, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, we analyzed real-world data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2) Methods: We searched the CDC WONDER on-line database 2018-2022 using with the ICD-10 code for laryngeal cancer (C32; malignant neoplasm of larynx). We also performed a sub-analysis between genders, and across ten-year age groups. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post-hoc test. (3) Results: The trend of age-adjusted mortality ×100,000 did not change significantly between 2018-2022 (p=0.553). Males had higher age-adjusted mortality rates (M/F ratios between 4.6 and 5.0), but no significant variation was found in both genders (males: p=0.676; females: p=0.596). Although the mortality rate remained unchanged in people aged 35-84 years, the variation reached statistical significance in those aged 85 or older (p=0.004), displaying significant increase in 2021 compared to 2018 (p=0.006) and 2019 (p=0.039). (4) Conclusions: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality for laryngeal cancer seemed to be relatively modest in the general US population. Nevertheless, closer attention must be paid to older people, in whom the unfavorable consequences of misdiagnosis or mistreating can be exacerbated.

Aim: This study aimed to understand the role of workforce agility as a coping strategy to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study reviewed and integrated two lines of literature to develop a theoretical framework to help business organizations to respond, adapt, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Results: The results showed that there are several commonalities between the workforce agility literature and the crisis management literature, mostly manifested in the speed of responding to uncertain and unpredictable, adverse events in the business environment. A thorough review of key themes in both kinds of literature led to developing a theoretical framework that links crisis drivers, crisis enablers, crisis capabilities, and response strategy. Workforce agility can be used as a coping strategy to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Both kinds of literature evolve to respond to any crisis; the crisis management literature focuses on Meso-level (organizational level) or collective actions to mitigate the crisis, while the workforce agility literature focuses on the Micro-level (individual level). However, the successful response to any crisis requires the synergy of both actions. Future Studies: The results of this research are of prime importance for both researchers and practitioners. Researchers can use the theoretical framework as a baseline for building empirical research design. The current study also sets the context for future researchers who are interested in workforce agility to test the validity of agile work behaviors in real adverse context. It also opens a new stream of debate by deconstructing understudied links between workforce agility, resilience, and crisis management. Mangerial implication: For practitioners to ensure a successful response to any impending crisis, they must develop their employees’ agile behaviors. Practitioners can also redesign their recruitment strategy to select the right individuals with the right agile attributes, abilities, and behaviors to easily alter their behaviors according to the progressing crisis phases. Finally, practitioners can design continual learning interventions to include required agile skills and competencies to prepare their employees for future crises.

Quinoa is a resilient crop known for its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. This study examined the agronomic performance and ecological adaptability of quinoa across four distinct altitudes in the northwestern regions of China. Six quinoa genotypes were assessed for agronomic traits, phenology and yield performances, and nutritional quality characteristics in Yining city, Nilka County, Tekes County and Zhaosu County under varied environmental conditions. Our findings demonstrate significant variations in all measured traits including agronomic and nutritional quality traits across the various altitudes and genotypes. In Yining City, a warmer and lower altitude area, genotypes exhibit superior traits for fodder production, including increased branches, longer panicles, robust stems, and high seed protein content. Genotypes Jinli 1 and Beijing 2 achieve yields exceeding 3 tons per hectare (T/ha), highlighting the region’s productivity. Nilka and Tekes counties boasted the shortest quinoa crop cycles, with Jinli 1 yielding 4.05 T/ha seeds in Tekes County, exhibiting high protein and fat content alongside low saponins, making it prime location for yield production. Zhaosu County, with its cooler climate and fertile chernozem soil, elicited high 1000 seed weight and more robust protein response than Nilka and Tekes counties, illustrating the impact of soil fertility on nutritional composition. Correlation analyses further elucidated that the plants characterized by shorter flowering times, crop cycles, compact inflorescence, and taller heights exhibited superior seed yields. Our study contributes significant insights into the ecological adaptability and nutritional dynamics of quinoa, with implications for sustainable crop production and food security in diverse agroecosystems.

In this work, an analog front-end (AFE) circuit for Electrocardiogram (ECG) detection system has been designed, implemented, and investigated in an industry-standard Cadence simulation framework using advanced technology node of 45 nm. The AFE consists of an instrumentation amplifier, a Butterworth band-pass filter (with fifth-order low-pass and second-order high-pass sections), and a second-order notch filter- all are based on two-stage, Miller-compensated operational transconductance amplifiers (OTA). The OTAs have been designed employing the $g_m/I_D$ methodology. Both the pre-layout and post-layout simulation were carried out. The layout consumes an area of 0.0058 mm$^2$ without the resistors and capacitors. Analysis of various simulation results were carried out for the proposed AFE. The circuit demonstrates a post-layout bandwidth of 239 Hz with a variable gain between 44 to 58 dB, a notch depth of -56.4 dB at 50.1 Hz, a total harmonic distortion (THD) of -59.65 dB (less than 1\%), an input referred noise spectral density of $

The Ayers Rock of Australia which is known for its charming colors at different time is actually the Celestial Body Ring of the planet Earth that implies the great Celestial Body Love happened on Earth long long ago. The Tasmania island of Australia which is known for the World Heart is actually in the state of face to face with the main island of Australia, which implies the image spokesperson for the inner core (the heart) of the planet Earth. In other words, with the outline of the main island of Australia, the basic key information of the inner core of the planet Earth could be easily obtained by deducing logically, just like the similarity between the fists and heart of human body. Similar to the mechanism of the blood circulation dominated by the heart of human body, it is dominated and motivated by the inner core of the Earth which forms the circulation of mantle magma between the crust and the inner core, and what leads to the formation of expanding and active area on the equatorial and middle-lower latitude area and the silent and convergent area on the North and South Pole central area. Therefore, the mantle magma whirlpools under the crust on the North and South Pole are supposed to exist logically. The walking sideways of the crabs just implies the celestial body language of the motive trend of the main island of Australia based on their similar outline.

The concept of innovation ecosystems brings to light a whole set of stakeholders that face the entire set of barriers to making new technologies change people´s lives. This research aimed to understand and analyze the innovation ecosystem in organic and agroecological production in the Federal District, Brazil, and its directly influenced area. A questionnaire was applied to 27 institutions identified as the backbone of the innovation ecosystem. The Gephi 0.10.1 software and the Force Atlas 2 network algorithm set up the relationship network. We verified a certain misalignment between expected roles and functions performed by 66% of the stakeholders. Low integration and dispersed relationships in the network were observed with a misalignment around the innovation concept in organic food production. This arrangement of the ecosystem is compatible with the initial stage, in which stakeholders and resources would be spread out and demobilized. Although shared governance is the most effective for an innovation ecosystem, the analyzed ecosystem demands centralized governance with a leading organization. Strengthening strategies were proposed to (i) define leadership, (ii) define roles or competencies, and (iii) strengthen community attributes.

Poikilodermatous plaque-like hemangioma (PPH) is a recently described clinical and pathological entity, with only 18 cases reported in the literature. Although uncommon, this benign condition presents consistent clinical and histological findings. We present a new case of PPH in an 81-year-old male and review the existing literature. The persistence over time and the need to distinguish PPH from more significant lesions underscore the importance of its clinical and pathological recognition.

The existences of the N→C dative bonds in the complexes between N-containing molecules and fullerenes have been verified both theoretically and experimentally. However, finding stable N→C dative bonds is still a highly challenging task. In this work, we investigated computationally the N→C dative bonds in the complexes formed by fullerene C60 with 1,2,5-chalcogenadiazoles, 2,1,3-benzochalcogenadiazoles and 1,2,4,5-chalcogenatriazoles, respectively. It was found that the N→C dative bonds are formed along with the formation of the N–Ch···C (Ch = S, Se, Te) chalcogen bonds. In the gas phase, from S-containing complexes through Se-containing complexes to Te-containing complexes, the intrinsic interaction energies become more and more negative, which indicates that the N–Ch···C chalcogen bonds can facilitate the formation of the N→C dative bonds. The intrinsic interaction energies are compensated by the large deformation energy of fullerene C60. The total interaction energies of Te-containing complexes are negative, while both of the total interaction energies of S-containing complexes and Se-containing complexes are positive. This means that the N→C dative bonds in the Te-containing complexes are more easily observed in experiments in comparison with those in the S-containing complexes and Se-containing complexes. This study provides a new theoretical perspective on the experimental observation of the N→C dative bonds in the complexes involving fullerenes. Further, the formation of stable N→C dative bonds in the complexes involving fullerenes can significantly change the properties of fullerenes, which will greatly simulate and expand the application range of fullerenes.

Bone drilling is a common procedure used to create pilot holes for inserting screws to secure implants for fracture fixation. However, dis process can increase bone temperature, teh excessive heat can lead to cell death and thermal osteonecrosis, potentially causing early fixation failure or complications. We conducted a three-dimensional dynamic elastoplastic finite element model to evaluate teh propagation and distribution of heat during bone drilling and assess teh thermally TEMPeffected zone (TAZ) dat may lead to thermal necrosis. dis model investigates teh parameters influencing bone temperature during bone drilling, including drill diameter, rotational speed, feed force, and predrilled hole. Teh results indicate dat our FE model is sufficiently accurate in predicting teh temperature rise TEMPeffect during bone drilling. Teh maximum temperature decreases exponentially wif radial distance. When teh feed forces are 40 and 60 N, teh maximum temperature does not exceed 45 °C. However, wif feed forces of 10 and 20 N, both teh maximum temperature exceeds 45 °C wifin a radial distance of 0.2 mm, indicating a high-risk zone for potential thermal osteonecrosis. Wif teh two-stage drilling procedure, where a 2.5 mm pilot hole is pre-drilled, teh maximum temperature can be reduced by 14 °C. dis suggests dat higher feed force and rotational speed and/or using a two-stage drilling process could mitigate bone temperature elevation and reduce teh risk of thermal osteonecrosis during bone drilling.

The aim was to identify if surface electromyography (sEMG) parameters are indicative of post-activation potentiation (PAP)/post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE), in terms of twitch potentiation and voluntary performance. Three databases were used in March 2024, with the following inclusion criteria: (a) original research, assessed in healthy human adults, (b) sEMG parameters were measured. The exclusion criteria were: (a) studies with no PAP/PAPE-protocol, (b) non-randomized control trials. The following data were extracted: study characteristics/demographics, PAP/PAPE-protocols, sEMG parameters, twitch/performance outcomes, and study findings. A modified physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used for quality assessment. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with a total of 199 subjects were included. The M-wave amplitude (combined with a twitch torque outcome) was shown to generally be indicative of PAP. The sEMG amplitude (in some muscles) were found to be indicative of PAPE during ballistic movements, while a small decrease in the MdF (in certain muscles) were shown to reflect PAPE. Changes in the Hmax/Mmax ratio were found to contribute (temporally) to PAP, while the H-reflex amplitude was shown to be neither indicative of PAP nor PAPE. This review provides preliminarily findings suggesting that certain sEMG parameters could be indicative of PAP/PAPE. However, future research is warranted.

Chamazulene (CA) is an intensely blue molecule with a wealth of biological properties. In cosmetics chamazulene is exploited as a natural coloring and soothing agent. CA is unstable and tends to spontaneous degradation accelerated by light. We studied the photodegradation of CA upon controlled exposure to UVB-UVA irradiation by multi-ple techniques, including GC-MS, UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS and by direct infusion in ESI-MSn, which were matched to in silico mass spectral simulations to identify degra-dation products. Seven byproducts formed upon UVA exposure for 3 h at 70mW/cm2 (blue-to-green color change) were identified, including CA dimers and CA benzenoid which were not found on extended 6 h irradiation (green-to-yellow fading). Photosta-bility tests with reduced irradiance conducted in various solvents in the pres-ence/absence of air indicated highest degradation in acetonitrile in the presence of ox-ygen, suggesting a photo-oxidative mechanism. Testing in the presence of antioxidants (tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate, hydroxytyrosol, bakuchiol, γ-terpinene, TEMPO and their combinations) indicated highest protection by tocopherol and TEMPO. Sun-screens ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and particularly Tinosorb® S (but not octo-crylene) showed good CA photoprotection. Thermal stability tests indicated no degra-dation of CA in acetonitrile at 50°C in the dark for 50 days; however, accelerated deg-radation occurred in the presence of ascrorbyl palmitate.

This study investigates the efficiency of BEAM (Biologically Enhanced Agriculture Management) inoculant, derived from compost produced under Dr. David Johnson-Su's composting technique, in promoting plant growth. A winter mix of pasture comprising Oats, Tetila, unhulled Couch, and Haifa was used as the test crop. Seeds were soaked in BEAM inoculant, water (control), and a competitor product 'Companion.' Results revealed significant enhancements in germination rates, foliage growth, and root development in the BEAM-treated group compared to controls. Further research aims to identify the microbial components of BEAM and explore its potential as a suppressant for fusarium species in orchards.

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

Throughout the Covid19 period, families were forced to stay indoors, adapting to online school-ing, remote work, and virtual social engagements, inevitably altering the dynamics within households. There is a notable increase in mental health challenges in terms of anxiety and de-pression in children and adolescents. This study intends to explore the psychosocial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in Italian families adopting self- and proxy-report questionnaires on anxiety, anger, and health-related quality of life. The results showed that approximately 20% obtained a clinical anxiety score and only 10% obtained a clinical anger score. There was found a difference in the perception of the quality of life reported by the child and that perceived by the parent. The stepwise regression model showed that total anxiety scores were predicted by sex, quality of life scores from the parents' self-report version and total anger score. Another stepwise regression model identified physiological and social anxiety as the best predictors that impact the quality of life. Parental well-being actively influences the well-being of children, so it is fundamental to implement preventive programmes and promote child well-being providing parents the most adequate support possible.

Triticale is known for being an alternative energy source to usual cereals such as maize and wheat in poultry nutrition. Several studies suggested opposite results regarding its incorporation as a feed ingredient on laying hens’ production parameters. This article used a meta-analysis to assess the factors influencing the effects of triticale on layers’ performance. In July 2022, papers studying the effect of triticale on layers’ egg production (EP), egg weight (EW), egg yolk color (EYC), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were identified on Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. According to the eligibility criteria of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, 6 articles were registered and segmented into 16 experiments for our meta-analysis. Overall, the trim and fill method revealed that triticale had similar impacts to conventional cereals on laying hens' performance. However, the meta-ANOVA and the meta-regression emphasized that triticale percentage, triticale strains and laying hens strains could significantly influence the effect of triticale on layers' performance. Indeed, the meta-Anova highlighted that the Hy-Line Brown strain and Joesong and Juanilo triticale strains in-duced the best laying hens’ performance. Moreover, the meta-regression emphasized a positive correlation between the triticale inclusion percentage and the EW in Juanilo triticale diets and a negative correlation between the triticale inclusion percentages and the EYC in the triticale and laying hens strains studied. Even though the funnel plot and the Egger linear test suggested sig-nificant publication bias, the present meta-analysis remains consistent research to understand how certain factors could influence the impact of triticale on layers' performance.

Cybercrime Threat Intelligence (CTI) allows us to change our actions from reactive to proactive in the fight against threat actors, and to make more informed, data-driven security decisions. Thus this study proposes the practical implementation of CTI in the Arab world. This study focuses on strengthening CTI by integrating Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and collecting realistic security alerts from honeypot systems and open source intelligence. The collected data is stored in the Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP), an open source platform that allows users to create and share IoCs with other organizations while staying informed about new threats. It features an intuitive interface for data analysis and threat identification, facilitating sharing, storage, and correlation of IoCs. Therefore, we leveraged MISP to generate IoCs based on the collected data and analyzed the results to identify potential cyber threats. The implemented platform aims to provide organizations with actionable information to prevent, detect and respond to cybercrime. This study presents a practical approach to strengthening CTI in the Arab world and provides an opportunity to strengthen the region’s security posture.

: Shear-wave elastography (SWE) has become popular in clinical practice for many diseases.However, there are not adequate research for spleen-related diseases.This study aimed to investigate the potential of quantitative values obtained through SWE in evaluating spleen pathologies in the pediatric population and to demonstrate its perfomance to differentiate splenomegaly-related diseases.Research group retrospectively included children with pathological diagnoses related to spleen from November 2016 to April 2021 and they were categorized three groups as portal hypertension (PH), benign lymphoid hyperplasia (BLH), malignant infiltration (MI).Spleen sizes and parenchymal stiffness were also calculated for each group.Subsequently, mean spleen stiffness in each compared with normal values within the same age group.In total 2781 children (1379 children for study group, 1402 children for control group) were enrolled to the study.The highest stiffness were observed in the PH group, which is statistically higher than others (p&lt;0.05). Although the mean spleen stiffness in the group with BLH was higher than the control and MI group, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.08).The mean stiffness in the group with MI was significantly lower than both the control group (p=0.005) and PH (p=0.01).In conclusion, using SWE in the differential diagnosis of etiologies causing splenomegaly, could make important contribution.

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the spectrum and determinants of child abuse and neglect in Nkpor-Uno, a community in Anambra State, Nigeria. Through a descriptive surveys design, the study explores various forms of abuse and neglect experienced by children, as well as the underlying factors contributing to these phenomena. The population for the study consisted of 1000 parents/ caregivers who are residents of Nkpor-uno. The sample for the study consisted of 100 respondents, purposive sampling techniques was used for the study. The questionnaire was a self-designed structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, mean and standard deviation. Findings reveal alarming prevalence rates of child maltreatment, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect. Socioeconomic factors such as poverty, parental substance abuse, family dynamics, and inadequate sex education emerged as significant contributors to child maltreatment. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and support systems to address the root causes of abuse and neglect and safeguard the well-being and development of children in Nkpor-Uno. By raising awareness, enhancing access to resources, and promoting positive parenting practices, we can strive towards building a safer and healthier environment for children, ensuring they are protected from harm and given the opportunity to thrive.

This study utilized phytochemical screening to conduct qualitative analysis of plant extracts, aiming to identify various classes of secondary metabolites. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of different types of O. vulgare and S. triloba extracts was determined. To achieve the aim of the study, aqueous, ethanolic, and enzymatic extracts were prepared and screened for phytochemical capacity and antioxidant activities. Determination of the antibacterial activity included phenotypic screening of antibiotic susceptibility pattern of oral and food pathogenic bacterial strains, determination of Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration - Microdilution broth test and in vitro valuation of antibacterial efficacies - anti-biofilm properties of the studied herbal extractions. Results: Our study evaluated the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm properties of O. vulgare and S. triloba extracts. The analyzed samples contained bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and flavonoids, contributing to the observed strong antioxidant effect. Furthermore, they exhibited notable activity against oral biofilm formation and demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy against dental caries microorganisms as well as food pathogens. Despite methodological variations, all extracts showed significant antioxidant capacity and promising antibacterial activity against various pathogens, including resistant strains, while also inhibiting biofilm formation. Although limited to two plant species and facing methodological constraints, the study lays a groundwork for future research, indicating the therapeutic potential of O. vulgare and S. triloba extracts. Further exploration is needed to report on underlying mechanisms and validate efficacy through clinical trials.

Here we compile a detailed record of eddies and examine their intra-annual variability over the Spitsbergen Bank in the northwestern Barents Sea using spaceborne Sentinel-1 A/B synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data acquired in 2018. Analysis of 3070 SAR images enabled to register 1758 eddy manifestations in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) and 1631 signatures in the open water (OW). Submesoscale and small mesoscale eddies were observed within a range 0.2-40 km with the range of MIZ eddies being twice larger than that of OW eddies. We note a strong seasonal variability of eddy diameters and the ratio of cyclones to anticyclones. The eddies were present in all seasons showing an approximate parity in eddy generation intensity in the surface layer between winter and summer. The peak eddy activity is observed during the first (January to March) and third (July-September) quarters of the year. A well-pronounced seasonality of SAR-derived eddy intensity correlates with that of eddy kinetic energy in the surface layer of the Eurasian Arctic. Eddies were detected most frequently in Storfjorden, south of Edge Island, near Hopen Island and along the entire eastern flank of the Spitsbergen Bank. Very low eddy activity was observed in the central part of the bank. The MIZ eddies were recorded during eight months of the year peaking in February, and being spatially limited by a 200-m isobath. The OW eddies were widely dispersed across the study domain peaking in August and tending to accumulate in regions of relatively weak surface currents. In summer, about 20-25% of them were observed within the Barents Sea Polar Front.

The main purpose of this work was to tests of form and size of fatigue wear of the top layer of oil gear pump wheel (3PW-BPF-24). The object of tests was operated during a determined number of hours at strictly controlled operational and environmental parameters. A microscope of focal differentiation by Alicona InfiniteFocus G4 (with Focus-Variation optical measuring technology) was used for an identification, measurement and description of noticed superficial defects, which resulted from the fatigue process of the top layer and an earlier thermochemical treatment. The work was finished with an analysis of obtained results (based on the analysis of 3D scans) and conclusions concerning about optimization of the thermal treatment. Taking into consideration the presented results (suggestions) in the technology of improving strength properties of gear wheels (of this type oil pumps) may render it possible to obtain an appropriate fatigue endurance of the top layer, i.e. a minimization of observed superficial defects.

The electron of spin −1/2 is a Dirac fermion of a complex four-component spinor field. Though it is effectively addressed by relativistic quantum field theory, an intuitive form of the fermion still remains lacking and it is often described by the so-called Dirac belt trick. In this novel undertaking, the electron is examined within the boundary posed by a recently proposed MP model of a hydrogen atom into 4D space-time. Its transformation to Dirac fermion appears consistent with Dirac belt trick, quantum mechanics and Lie group with gravity considered to be a classical force for an irreducible spinor field. These outcomes are compatible with Dirac field theory and its associated features like wave function collapse, quantized Hamiltonian, non-relativistic wave function, Weyl spinor, Lorentz transformation and Feynman diagrams. The model though speculative, it could become important towards defining the fundamental state of matter subject to further examinations.

In the early decades of the 19th century, the deaf population in the eastern US and Canada was distributed across a vast area. After the 1817 founding of the American School for the Deaf (ASD) in Hartford, CT and the subsequent establishment of schools for the deaf in New York City (NYSD), Philadelphia, and many other US states, hundreds of deaf students called these schools home for several years. After leaving school, the early American Deaf community faced a challenge: How would the community maintain its social and linguistic ties across a vast geographical area once community members had dispersed to their hometowns? In this paper we analyze the attendance registries of two large gatherings of deaf individuals in Hartford in the years 1850 and 1854. These were among the largest and earliest known gatherings of deaf adults. The demographic data included in these registries open a window onto the evolving American Deaf community of the mid-19th century. Our analyses of the attendees’ school affiliations, ages, and marital status show that the signing community that had taken root among students at schools in Hartford and New York persisted among the adult graduates of those schools in towns across the northeastern US. We compare the places of residence of ASD and NYSD alumni in 1850 and 1854 to their hometowns when they first enrolled at school. Our comparisons suggest the mid-19th-century signing community had become more urban; it was centered to a greater extent in populous cities such as New York, Boston, and Hartford than had been true when the attendees had enrolled in school. We consider how the geography of deafness in the 19th century might inform our understanding of the sources of regional variation in ASL. We also consider how early cross-regional interactions may have inhibited such regional variation.

Keywords: grape pomace extracts, encapsulation, freeze-drying, bioaccessibility, phenolic compounds

Coconut is an important multipurpose crop wherein different stages of its maturity are used for different products. Traditional approach of its classification use sound formed by tapping the fruit, and the tapper will base its judgment through the sound he heard. The procedure was highly subjective and attempts had been made by other researchers to automate and classify the adulthood of the coconut objectively. Nowadays, deep learning techniques are being utilized to solve classification problems. One such method is Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) that takes raw pixel data, learns to extract features, and ultimately classifies the input. In this study, a portable device was developed that takes audio signals generated from tapping the fruit mechanically. This audio clip was converted to spectrogram and was used as input to a LeNet CNN architecture. We argue that CNN classifier has improved accuracy compared to the non-deep learning system. Our evaluation confirmed that the use of CNN had improved the accuracy of classifying coconut by about 15%.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infections represent the fourth-leading cause of death attributable to antimicrobial resistance globally, but a standardized therapy is still lacking. In this narrative review we focused the antibiotic treatment of CRAB infections in view of newly β-lactam agents (NBLs) like sulbactam/durlobactam and cefiderocol, discussing the main hot points such as the superiority of combination treatment over monotherapy and the best antibiotic partner to use in combination. Sulbactam/durlobactam seems to be the best candi-date to replace current back-bone agents. Cefiderocol, could play a crucial role in combina-tion-regimen. Due to toxicity and the PK/PD limitations, colistin (or polymyxin B) should be used as an alternative agent (when no other options are available). Tigecycline (or minocycline) and fosfomycin could represent suitable partners for both NBLs. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are needed to better evaluate the role of NBLs in CRAB infection treatment and to compare the ef-ficacy of tigecycline and fosfomycin as partner antibiotics. Synergism should be tested between NBLs and “old” drugs (rifampicin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole). Huge efforts should be made to accelerate pre-clinical and clinical studies on safer polymyxin candidates with lung im-proved activity, as well as on the i.v. rifabutin formulation.

Abnormalities in sperm nuclei and chromatin can interfere with normal fertilization, embryonic development, implantation, and pregnancy. We aimed in this study to determine the impact of H2BFWT gene variants in sperm DNA on ICSI outcomes in couples undergoing ART treatment. One hundred and nineteen partners were divided into pregnant (G1) and non-pregnant (G2) groups. After semen analysis, complete DNA was extracted from purified sperm samples. The sequence of the H2BFWT gene was amplified by PCR and then subjected to Sanger sequencing. The results showed that there are three mutations in this gene: rs7885967, rs553509 and rs578953. rs553509 and rs578953 showed significant differences in the distribution of alternative and reference alleles between G1 and G2 (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0020, respectively). However, there was no association between these SNPs and the studied parameters. This study is the first to shed light on the connection between H2BFWT gene variants in sperm DNA and pregnancy after ICSI therapy. This is a pilot study, so further investigations about these gene variants at the transcriptional and translational levels, in a larger cohort of patients, are needed to determine its functional consequences and to understand the mechanism of how the pregnancy is affected by sperm DNA.

The Eurasian grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is the most widely grown horticultural crop in the world and is important for the economy of many countries. In the wine production chain, grape varieties play an important role as they directly influence the authenticity and classification of the product. Identifying the different grape varieties is therefore fundamental for quality control and inspection activities, as well as for regulating production. Currently, ampelography and molecular analysis are the main approaches to identifying grape varieties. However, both methods have limitations. Ampelography is subjective and prone to errors and is experiencing enormous difficulties as ampelographers are increasingly scarce. On the other hand, molecular analyses are very demanding in terms of cost and time. In this scenario, Deep Learning (DL) and Machine Learning (ML) methods have emerged as a classification alternative to deal with the scarcity of ampelographs and avoid molecular analyses. In this study, the most recent and current methods for identifying grapevine varieties using DL classification-based approaches are presented through a systematic literature review. The classification pipeline of the 31 studies found in the literature was described, highlighting its pros and cons. Most of the studies used DL-based models trained with leaf images acquired in a controlled environment at a maximum distance of 1.2 metres to classify grape varieties. In addition, there is a large gap between practical applications and the datasets used: a great lack of varieties, limited data acquired in the field and a lack of tests on plants under adverse conditions. Potential directions for improving this area of research were also presented.

Avatar therapy (AT) is a novel virtual reality-based psychotherapy that has been developed to treat auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients. Various psychotherapeutic components, such as emotions and sense of presence, could contribute to clinical outcomes. However, the interplay between sense of presence, emotions and clinical response has seldom been investigated. This study aimed to explore the relations between sense of presence, emotions, and clinical outcomes in AT. To conduct this investigation, data from previous and ongoing AT trials were used. Sense of presence and emotions were assessed using standardized questionnaires. AVH were evaluated using the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales. While sense of presence was positively associated with positive emotions such as control and serenity, no significant associations were found for negative emotions. Moreover, a higher level of sense of presence was associated with a bigger decrease in AVH. Overall, positive emotions seem to be associated with sense of presence in AT. Sense of presence also seems to be involved in the therapeutic outcome, thereby suggesting that this could be an important component related to clinical response. More studies are needed to confirm these trends, which could be generalized to other virtual reality-based psychotherapies.

Longitudinal cutting is a most common process in steel structure manufacturing, and the man-hours of the process provide an important basis for enterprises to generate production schedules.However, currently the man-hours in factories are mainly estimated by experts, and the accuracy of this method is relatively low.In this study,we propose a system that predicts man-hours with history data in the manufacturing process and that can be applied in practical structural steel fabrication.The system addresses the data inconsistency problem by one-hot encoding and data normalization techniques,Pearson correlation coefficient for feature selection,and the Random Forest Regression(RFR) for prediction.Compared with the other three Machine Learning(ML) algorithms, the Random Forest algorithm has the best performance.The results demonstrate that the proposed system outperforms the conventional approach and has better forecast accuracy, so that it is suitable for man-hours prediction.

Background: Malnutrition commonly affects patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which contributes to worsening prognosis. Moreover, specific strategies for diagnosing and managing malnutrition in OSCC are lacking. Methods: This retrospective study included 52 consecutive patients with OSCC who underwent surgery at the University Hospital of Palermo (I) from Jan 2020 to May 2023. In-hospital nutritional support was provided by a dedicated team. The patients were compared with a historical control group of 11 patients. The nutritional treatment consisted of standard oral (ON) or artificial nutrition (AN). Traditional measurements, including bioimpedance-derived body composition and volumetric reconstruction of the posterior paraspinal muscles at the C3 level based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-C3), were obtained in 16 patients to investigate sarcopenia. Results: The patients were categorized according to TNM stage: groups A (TNM stages I-III) and B (IVa-IVc). The prevalence of group A patients was 59.6% in the case group and 90.9% in the control group (P

Understanding speech in noise is particularly difficult for individuals occupationally exposed to noise due to a to a mix between noise-induced auditory lesions and energetic masking of speech signal. For years, the monitoring of conventional audiometric thresholds has been the usual way to check and preserve the auditory function. But the highlighting of supra-threshold deficits, notably speech in noise understanding difficulties, has pointed out the need for new monitoring tools. The present study aims to identify the most important variables that predict speech in noise under-standing in order to suggest a new way of regular monitoring. Physiological (distortion products of otoacoustic emissions, electrocochleography) and behavioral (amplitude and frequency modula-tion detection thresholds, conventional and extended high frequency audiometric thresholds) variables were collected in a population of individuals presenting a relative homogeneous occu-pational noise exposure. Those variables were used as predictors in a statistical model (random forest) to predict scores of three different speech in noise tests and a self-report of speech in noise ability. The extended high frequency threshold appears to be the best predictor and therefore an interesting candidate for a new way of monitoring noise exposed professionals.

Background: The pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia (FD) remains insufficiently understood, and the pain and economic constraints associated with endoscopic examinations hinder the precise definition and treatment of this disorder. Exploring the potential of multi-omics biomarkers for FD could yield promising targets for effectively diagnosing and treating this condition. Methods: We recruited 54 FD patients and 29 healthy volunteers and characterized their gut microbiota by shotgun metagenomic sequencing and their serum and urine metabolites by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Results: We identified the changes in circulating metabolites associated with FD and linked to the gut microbial alterations. Among the differential circulating metabolites, we particularly highlighted the strong association of L-glutamate deficiency with the severity of FD symptoms and its strong predictive value for FD. Although no significant changes were noted in the gut microbial community structure of the FD samples, this might be attributed to symptom overlap between epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) and postprandial distress syndrome (PDS). However, significant alterations in the abundance of certain species were observed, including a substantial increase in the abundance of Streptococcus in the digestive tract of patients with FD. Finally, a cross-omics correlation network integrating metabolomic data with microbial community abundance was established, uncovering potential host-microbe-metabolite interactions. Conclusions: This work provides the first comprehensive description of the disrupted state of blood and urine metabolite composition and gut microbiota in patients with FD. These findings potentially offer promising targets for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition through a multi-omics approach, with particular emphasis on serum metabolomics.

It’s well known that existing horizontal well drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology that is used to achieve large-scale cost-effective production from immature to low-moderate maturity continental shale in China, where the organic matter mainly exists in the solid form is fairly ineffective. To overcome the obstacles, in-situ conversion technology seems feasible, while implementing it in the target layer along with estimating the amount of expected recoverable hydrocarbon in such shale formations seems difficult. This is because there is no guideline to choose the most appropriate method and select relevant key parameters for this purpose. Hence, based on thermal simulation experiments during the in-situ conversion of crude oil from the Triassic Chang 73 Formation in the Ordos Basin and the Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation in the Songliao Basin, this deficiency in knowledge was addressed. First, relationships between the in-situ converted total organic carbon (TOC) content and the vitrinite reflectance (Ro) of the shales and between the residual oil volume and the hydrocarbon yield was established. Second, the yields of residual oil and in-situ converted hydrocarbon were measured, revealing their sensitivity to fluid pressure and crude oil density. In addition, a model was proposed to estimate the amount of in-situ converted hydrocarbon based on the TOC, hydrocarbon generation potential, Ro, residual oil volume, fluid pressure, and crude oil density. Finally, a method was established to determine key parameters on the final hydrocarbon yield from immature to low-moderate maturity organic material during in-situ conversion in shales. Following the procedure outlined in this paper, estimated recoverable in-situ converted oil in the shales of the Nenjiang Formation in the Songliao Basin was estimated to be approximately 292×108 tons, along with 18.5×1012 cubic meters of natural gas, in an area of approximately 8×104 square kilometers. Collectively, the method developed in this study is independent from the organic matter type and other geological and/or petrophysical properties of the formation and can be applied to other areas globally where there isn’t any available in-situ conversion thermal simulation experimental data.

Verification of inclusivity of molecular detection methods gives indications on the reliability of viral infections diagnosis because of the tendency of viral pathogens to undergo sequence variation. This study was aimed to select inclusive probe based reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for the diagnosis of the most widespread and detrimental viruses infecting honeybees, namely the acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), the black queen cell virus (BQCV), the chronic paralysis bee virus (CBPV), the deformed wing virus variants A (DWVA) and B (DWVB), and the sacbrood virus (SBV). Therefore, detection methods previously described were re-evaluated in silico for specificity and inclusivity. Based on this evaluation, selected methods were modified or new ones were designed and tested in duplex RT-qPCR reactions. The limits of detection (LODs), effect of multiplexing on sensitivity and viral RNA quantification potential in bees and hive debris were assessed. This study made available diagnostic assays able to detect an increased number of virus variants compared to previously described tests and two viral pathogens in a single PCR reaction.

Objective: This prospective study investigated the feasibility performing laparoscopic pelvic surgery in spinal anesthesia and analyzed their intraoperative side effects like pain and nausea and vomitus of 915 patients. Methods: Implementation and performance of laparoscopic surgery under local anes-thesia of 915 patients out of a total of 3212, who underwent laparoscopic pelvic surgery in spinal anesthesia, were analyzed in relation to BMI (Body Mass Index), obesity, pain during surgery and amount of intraperitoneal mmHg CO2 gas pressure and surgical complications. Results: BMI > 30, intraabdominal adhesions, increased duration of the operation, bleeding and increased intraperitoneal CO2 pressure were statistically significant as the main causes of pain during laparoscopic surgery in spinal anesthesia. Under-weight patients, on the other hand, had less pain when intra-abdominal pressure in-creased compared to those of normal weight. The appearance of pain, nausea and vomitus occurred in 10,3% and was easy to manage and treat. It did not affect the sur-geon's work and the course of the operation. Conclusion: In view of these observations, we are proposing spinal anesthesia for lap-aroscopic surgery as the first choice in those patients, who have no contraindications. In our knowledge this clinical study constitutes the largest clinical observations and dataset that applies spinal anesthesia in laparoscopic pelvic surgery.

Crop production in Afghanistan suffers from limited phosphorus (P) availability, which severely hinders national agriculture sustainability. This present study hypothesized that deep fertilizer placement could significantly enhance uptake of immobile P and thus tissue P accumulation and crop yield. A two-year pot experiment growing two maize (Zea mays) hybrid cultivars (Xida-789 and Xida-211) was therefore conducted to test these hypotheses under three contrasting fertilizer placement methods (broadcast, side band, and deep band). In doing so, P concentrations in both maize tissues and soils were compared at 45, 60, and 115 days after sowing (DAS) under nine combinations of nitrogen (N) and P fertilizer rates (kg ha-1: N112P45, N112P60, N112P75, N150P45, N150P60, N150P75, N187P45, N187P60, N187P75). Results have shown that deep band placement significantly increased P uptake efficiency, leading to greater P concentration and accumulation in maize tissues compared to other two fertilization methods. This improved P uptake was attributed to several factors associated with deep placement, including reduced P fixation, enhanced root access to P, and moisture availability for P uptake. Additionally, deep band placement combined with higher N application rates (N187 and N150) further enhanced plant P uptake by promoting P availability and utilization mechanisms. Deep band placement also resulted in significantly higher total soil P, Olsen-P, and P use efficiency than broadcast and side band methods, indicating a more efficient P fertilization strategy for maize that can improve growth and yield. This present study also found positive correlations between P concentration in plant organs and soil Olsen-P, highlighting the importance of adequate soil P levels for optimal plant growth. Overall, our results have showed that deep band fertilizer placement emerged as a superior strategy for enhancing P uptake efficiency, utilization, and maize productivity compared to broadcast and side band placement. This approach can potentially optimize P fertilizer utilization, improve maize growth and yield, while minimizing environmental P losses associated with broadcast applications.

Preterm birth accounts for about 10% of births worldwide. Studying risk factors for perinatal brain damage is essential, as findings suggest that almost 20% of disabilities are linked to risks in the early stages of development. This research aimed to study longitudinal changes in intelligence from 6 to 8 years of age in a sample of 39 preterm children with a history of risk of brain damage and a control group of 35 children born at term. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC-IV) was used for cognitive measurement. The results showed that the preterm group obtained significantly lower scores than the control group. The working memory indicator significantly affected the interaction between age and prematurity. We consider that it is crucial to expand the knowledge we have about the neurocognitive development of premature infants both in specific cognitive domains and in age ranges so that the information obtained helps to predict the probability of presenting cognitive alterations from early stages and, therefore, to implement intervention strategies and programs based on scientific evidence and complemented in their design by clinical experience, empirical and theoretical knowledge of the different professionals involved in infant cognitive intervention.

In order to cope with the limited supply of feed for global animal production, there is a pressing need to explore alternative feed resources. Orange pulp, a by-product of agriculture and industry, has shown potential to positively or neutrally impact pig productive performance when included in their diet. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of fermented navel orange pulp (FNOP) on pig growth and productive performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FNOP as a dry matter substitute on pig’s growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, meat nutrition, and serum biochemical indicators. The experiment involved 128 finishing Tibetan pigs, divided into four feed treatment groups, with varying levels (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) of FNOP replacing dry matter in the basal diet. The results indicated that substituting 5% to 15% FNOP had no adverse effects on pig growth performance. However, at a 15% substitution rate, there was a decrease in serum growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, along with an increase in feed-to-gain ratio. A 10% FNOP replacement notably increased the eye muscle area of pigs. Additionally, 5% and 10% FNOP substitutions reduced the drip loss of pork. The study also found that substituting 5% to 15% FNOP increased unsaturated fatty acids and umami nucleotide contents in pork, as well as raised serum total protein and uric acid (nucleotide metabolism related-product) levels. These findings suggest that moderate FNOP substitution might enhance meat quality and maintain growth and productive performance in Tibetan pigs by improving protein synthesis and nucleotide metabolism, while also reducing feed costs. The optimal substitution ratio identified was 10%.

Fault detection in transmission lines plays a role in maintaining the dependability and steadiness of power networks. Traditional methods for identifying faults often struggle to handle the diverse nature of real world fault situations. Machine learning (ML) algorithms offer a data centered approach that can adjust and learn from datasets potentially overcoming the limitations of traditional approaches. This document presents a review of progress in using ML for detecting faults in transmission lines. By drawing insights from a variety of studies we explore how ML algorithms have evolved in fault detection, including techniques like networks, recurrent neural networks featuring Long Short Term Memory and convolutional neural networks. We delve into the spectrum of applications where ML is used for fault detection across fault scenarios and operational settings. Additionally we discuss the obstacles and prospects linked to putting ML based fault detection systems into practice such as challenges with data quality, model interpretability and integration with existing grid monitoring systems. Lastly we outline future research paths focused on pushing forward the boundaries of fault detection, in power transmission systems through approaches and collaborative endeavors involving academia, industry players and policymakers. In general, this review highlights how machine learning has the power to revolutionize fault detection methods enhancing the resilience and dependability of power systems.

Available options to combat bacterial infections are getting scarce. We require innovative and imaginative approaches to enhance the identification and discovery of effective antimicrobials capable of combating bacteria resistant to multiple or all available drugs. These methods should either directly eliminate the resistant bacteria or influence their viability indirectly by inhibiting their virulence or reducing their resistance to antibacterial agents. One interesting approach is to analyze ancient remedies presumably used to treat bacterial infections, try formulating them, and test them against modern microbes. The field was recently named ancientbiotics. This approach allows us to take advantage of centuries of accumulated empirical knowledge, from several traditional medicines of various ancient cultures across the world. The strategy has already resulted in promising formulations to combat the ESKAPE group of nosocomial pathogens. Moreover, molecular de-extinction consists of genome analysis of extinct species in the search for useful antimicrobials, such as peptides. The de-extinction of simple organisms such as bacteriophages may eventually become a resource for novel tools to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this review, we summarize and discuss the reported antimicrobial effects of ancient remedies and de-extinct molecules known to modern science, and discuss possible new strategies to further harness the potential of past remedies and molecules to help us fight the rise of superbugs.

The state of Oaxaca, Mexico obtained the “Pluma” designation of origin in 2022 and has stood out for the production of specialty coffee. Within its process, roasting is one of the stages that contributes to the physical, chemical and sensory quality of the coffee bean. Therefore, the microstructure and elemental chemical composition of special medium-roasted Coffea arabica L beans from six locations with this denomination were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The average values of roughness Rz (25.93±2.69-34.18±1.15 and 13.85±1.66-21.85±6.63) and Ra (5.20±0.47- 8.27±0.82 and 6.55±0.94-11.53±1.65) were obtained at 400 and 2000x, respectively. The roasted Coffea arabica L. beans from MAP and HUA are the ones with the greatest roughness and both are located at a lower altitude compared to the rest. PLU and PTO roasted beans showed the highest physical and structural integrity. In all grains, 6C (66.48-81.14%), 8O (18.86-28.69%) and only 20Ca (4.5%) were found on the outside. This research constitutes a standard of authenticity and microstructural and elemental quality of Coffea arabica L. beans with designation of origin "Pluma".

Evidence is emerging on the role of maternal diet, gut microbiota, and other lifestyle factors in establishing lifelong health and disease, which are determined by trans-generationally inherited epigenetic modifications. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms may help identify novel biomarkers for pregnancy-related exposure, burden, or disease risk. Such biomarkers are essential for developing tools for the early detection of risk factors and exposure levels. It is necessary to establish the exposure threshold to the fetus due to nutrient deficiencies or other environmental factors that can lead to clinically relevant epigenetic changes that modulate disease risks. This narrative review summarizes the latest updates on the roles of maternal nutrients (n-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins) and gut microbiota on the placental epigenome and its impacts on fetal brain development.

Background: Infantile tibia vara (ITV) is a rare proximal tibia deformity in infancy, leading to progressive knee varus. High tibial osteotomy is commonly practiced but has high recurrence rates. This study analyzed factors affecting treatment failure and recurrence in children undergoing opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) for ITV. Methods: We retrospectively studied children with ITV who had OWHTO with press-fit cancellous bone allograft between 2000 and 2020, with ≥2-year follow-up. Outcomes included recurrence (knee varus with tibiofemoral angle >10°), complications, and reintervention. Results: We analyzed 39 knees in 29 patients (mean age: 4.8 ± 1.9 years; median follow-up: 7.4 years). Recurrence occurred in 22 cases (56%). Age at surgery significantly influenced recurrence, with rates of 16% before age 5 versus 95% later (hazard ratio: 12.0, p = 0.001). Langenskiöld stage also affected recurrence (β-coefficient: 2.7, 95% C.I. 1.0–4.5, p = 0.002; pseudo-R-squared: 0.50, p = 0.001), with recurrence in all stage III IV or higher cases. Conclusions: Early diagnosis and treatment before age 45, ideally with Langenskiöld stage III or lower, are crucial for stable correction with OWHTO alone. Late, high-grade ITV may require combined, acute or gradual, and/or staged correction. Further evidence is needed for optimal management.

Background This study aimed to identify the prominent risk factors that may trigger danger signals of early onset of vascular deregulation in T1D. The risk factors we have identified may serve as dual-purpose biomarkers of rapid diagnosis that offer prospective tailor-made resolution therapeutics. Methods The healthy control (HC) was compared with individuals diagnosed with T1D for the risk factors of vascular deregulation in published research studies from year 2013 to 2023. The PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched from 1/1/2013 to 1/9/2023. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane (ROBINS-I ) tool, which is relevant to clinical subjects. A random effect model for continuous data was followed and analysed by RevMan 5.4 and GraphPad Prism software. Results 80 relevant case-control studies having 5293 HC and 7492 T1D patients were included. The age and sex-matched HC consisted of persons free of disease and not under any medication while clinical subjects of all age groups were included. 28 risk factors were grouped into six primary outcome models, all of which favoured the T1D synonymous with a high risk of CVD. Conclusions Our findings have strong implications for improving the quality of life and health economics related to vascular disease in T1D. HbA1c% is the most effective biomarker, followed by FBG, LDL-C, and AI% which the clinicians could evaluate using a simple blood test or non-invasive techniques. (Protocol registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ CRD42022384636).

The rodents of Saudi Arabia consist of 20 species and 12 genera within four families (Gliridae, Dipodidae, Muridae, and Hystricidae). Details on the past and present distribution of the rodents were included along with available data on their habitat preference and biology. The eastern central part of Saudi Arabia covering Tuwiq mountains plateau, including the vicinity of Riyadh, hosts the highest number of rodent species. Analysis of the rodent fauna of Saudi Arabia revealed that they have four major zoogeographical affinities; Palaearctic-Oriental (one species), Afrotropical- Palaearctic (six species), Palaearctic (four species), endemic to Saudi Arabia and Yemen (three species), Afrotropical-Palaearctic-Oriental (three species) and three cosmopolitan species. According to the National Red List, the Euphrates Jerboa, S. euphratica, is listed as Endangered, Near Threatened for the Indian Crested Porcupine, H. indica, three species as Data Deficient, while the rest are considered as Least Concern.

Limb-salvage surgery is the first choice for treatment of primary or metastatic bone tumors when possible to perform. Rehabilitation plays a major role after surgery, with the aim of improving function and maintaining the highest possible quality of life. Megaprostheses are currently the most frequent type of limb reconstruction used to treat the bone defect after tumor resection and The Modular Universal Tumor And Revision System (MUTARS®)is currently among the most used tumor and revision systems. Several studies have evaluated the causes and rate of failure of this system, but only few studies investigated the rehabilitative outcomes in terms of function and quality of daily life. The aim of this narrative review is to explore the correlations between functional outcomes and quality of life after implant of MUTARS® prostheses surgery in patients with bone tumor of the lower extremities. A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus using the following MESH terms: “MUTARS”, “Megaprosthesis”, “bone”, “tumors”, “metastasis”, “lower limb”, “rehabilitation”, “outcome”, “quality of life”, and 12 studies were included. The most frequent oncological pathology was found to be primitive bone tumors treated with modular prosthesis. Outcome measures used were Henderson et al classification, HHS, MSTS, VAS, ROM,LSR, KPS and quality of life questionnaire. Reconstruction of the lower limbs with the MUTARS® system seemed to be a valid treatment option after bone tumor resection. Rehabilitation after MUTARS® surgery is very relevant, but currently, functional and rehabilitative outcomes are inadequately represented in the literature. Therefore, further studies are needed to define best rehabilitation protocols in clinical practice after oncological orthopedic surgery.

Structural and functional asymmetries are traceable in every form of life and, at all cases, are a phenomenon of homology. Functionally speaking, the division of labour between the two halves of the brain is a basic characteristic of the nervous system that arose even before the appearance of vertebrates. The most prominent consequence of this specialization in humans and animals is handedness. Even if handedness is far more commonly associated with the presence of a nervous system, it is also observed in aneural organism such as plants. To date, little is known regarding the possible functional significance of handedness in plants, and many questions remain open (among these, whether it reflects a generalized behavioural asymmetry). Here, we propose a comparative perspective to the study of handedness, including plants, by taking advantage of the experimental models and paradigms already used to study laterality in humans and various animal species. By taking this approach, we aim to enrich our knowledge on the concept of handedness across natural kingdoms.

The study of innovation in the public sector has attracted increasing interest in the last decade. Contributions of the literature concerning its possible innovation drivers and inhibitors have primarily had a theoretical or documentary perspective; empirical studies are scarce, as are work-team studies in organizations of this sector. The present study therefore focuses on identifying and understanding those variables or factors that induce or inhibit innovative activity in work teams in public organizations in a developing country. The research focus is qualitative, and 16 directors of 13 public Costa Rican institutions were interviewed for the study. A set of coding methods allowed to identify 19 thematic categories of variables linked to the capacity to generate innovations in these work teams.

We present a novel approach to quantum theory construction that involves maximizing the Shannon entropy of quantum measurements relative to their initial preparation. By constraining the maximization problem with a phase that vanish under measurements, we obtain quantum mechanics (vanishing U(1)-valued phase), relativistic quantum mechanics (vanishing Spin^c(3,1)-valued phase), and quantum gravity (also a vanishing Spin^c(3,1)-valued phase, but with a dilation constraint replacing the normalization constraint). The first two cases are equivalent to established theory, whereas the later case yields a quantum theory of accelerated reference frames, in which a quantized version of the Einstein field equation lives. Specifically, the spacetime interval is promoted to an observable, effectively building the metric tensor from the underlying quantum structure. Moreover, the SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) gauge symmetries of the Standard Model arise naturally without additional assumptions. Finally, the solution is consistent only with 3+1 spacetime dimensions, as it encounters obstructions in all other dimensional configurations. This framework integrates quantum mechanics, relativistic quantum mechanics, quantum gravity, spacetime dimensionality, and particle physics gauge symmetries from a simple entropy maximization problem constrained by a vanishing phase.

Using the phenomenon of transpiration, plants are able to raise soil water to a height of about 100 meters. According to the Cohesion - Tension theory, water moves through the capillaries of plant along a gradient of negative water potential in a single unified flow along a single route from roots to leaves, entering on its way into living cells for their nutrition and evaporating into the atmosphere in significant amounts in the leaves. The paper shows that in a case of artificial transpiration devices (ATD), the flow of rising water can be divided into two streams - the transpiration stream and the passive water stream - and as a result, such devices become capable of raising water to any given height. As proof, the working variant of two-stream ATD is proposed. The development of this ATD was carried out in two stages, discussed in details in the paper. At the first, experimental stage, a physical model was designed and manufactured, in which the flow of rising water was divided into two streams moving along two independent routes. The first route is used exclusively for the purpose of transpiration of water - transporting it into an artificial evaporator for complete evaporation into the atmosphere. The second route is used exclusively to transport passive water using the energy obtained in the first route during the process of transpiration. During many hours of testing, the physical model demonstrated a stable ability to bring masses of passive water, maintaining normal atmospheric pressure in them, to a small height, even in the extreme case not exceeding 10 meters. At the second, analytical stage, this two-stream model was developed into a two-stream multi-stage model, capable of raising water to any given height by choosing the number of stages. The number of stages can be very large, and portions of water can be delivered to any given height, remaining under normal atmospheric pressure. The conclusion part of the paper discusses the prospects of creating on the basis of the developed two-stream ATDs large systems that can, using the phenomenon of transpiration, become a sources of clean energy, similar to how it is realized in the mass of plants.

Despite the growing capabilities of large language models, concerns exist about the biases they develop. In this paper, we propose a novel, automated mechanism for debiasing through specified dataset augmentation in the lens of bias producers that can be useful in a variety of industries, especially ones that are “restricted” and have limited data. We consider that bias can occur due to intrinsic model architecture and dataset quality. The two aspects are evaluated using two different metrics we created. We show that our dataset augmentation algorithm reduces bias as measured by our metrics.

Oracles have been suggested as a vital piece of infrastructure necessary to allow blockchain-based smart contracts to reach their full potential by interacting with real-world data. This paper begins by providing an approachable entry point to the oracle problem and the current landscape of existing solutions. From there, we provide an overview of published research to narrow down unexplored research directions and derive questions for interviews. Finally, the results of 15 unstructured expert interviews are presented and discussed. The focus here is the industry landscape of oracle projects, opportunities for innovation, and challenges needing to be overcome.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as viable alternatives to the toxic organic solvents. The most intriguing aspect of these solvents is perhaps the widely varying physicochemical properties emerging from the changes in the constituents that form DESs along with their composition. Based on the constituents, a DES can be hydro-philic/polar or hydrophobic/non-polar rendering vastly varying spectrum of polarity a possibility. DESs formed by mixing urea (U) with hydrated lanthanide salts, lanthanum nitrate hexahydrate (La : U), cerium nitrate hexahydrate (Ce : U), and gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate (Gd : U), respectively, exhibit very high polarity as manifested via probe-reported empirical parameters dipolarity/polarizability (π*). The highest π* of 1.70 exhibited by the DES (Gd : U) in 1 : 2 molar ratio is unprecedented. The π* ranges from 1.50 to 1.70 for these DESs, which is almost the highest reported for any solvent system. The π* decreases with increasing urea in the DES, however, the anomalous trends in H-bond donating acidity (α) and H-bond accepting basicity (β) appear to be due to the hydrated water of the lanthanide salt. The emission band maxima of fluo-rescence probe of “effective” dielectric constant (εeff) of the solubilizing media, py-rene-1-carboxaldehyde (PyCHO), in salt-rich DESs reflect higher cybotactic region di-polarity than even that offered by water. Probe Nile red aggregates readily in these DESs to form non-fluorescent H-aggregates; a characteristic of highly polar solvents. Behavior of probe pyranine also corroborates these outcomes as the (lanthanide salt : urea) DES system supports the formation of deprotonated form of the probe in the excited-state. The (lanthanide salt : urea) DES system offers solubilizing media of exceptionally high polarity, which is bound to expand their application potential.

Models of quantum measurements are presented, including observers subject to the laws of quantum mechanics. Observers perform multiple measurements in an attempt to disprove the collapse hypothesis. It is shown that under reasonable assumptions the effort cannot succeed. Under a unitary evolution the end state is a correlation between the result of the first measurement and the result(s) of the others, consistent with the observer's collapse hypothesis. The observer may conclude that the laws of nature include a non-unitary collapse mechanism, even if one does not actually exist. Discard of information is the crucial factor which distinguishes entanglement from measurement.

Financial fraud poses a severe threat to the integrity of corporate financial statements and market efficiency. While auditors play a crucial role in detecting and preventing such fraud, the unique characteristics of this domain, including class imbalance, high misclassification costs, and am-biguous attributes, pose significant challenges. Traditional classification algorithms may not be optimally suited for this task. This paper proposes a novel stacking ensemble learning approach to enhanced detecting of Financial Statement Scam. By combining the strengths of multiple base learners, including Random Forest, XGBoost, and Gradient Boosting Decision Trees, our model leverages their diverse predictions to improve overall performance. A Logistic Regression me-ta-learner is employed to integrate the outputs of the base learners, capturing their collective wisdom while mitigating individual weaknesses. Extensive experimentation using a real-world dataset shown the superiority of our approach, achieving remarkable recall, precision, accuracy, and area under the curve metrics. The proposed model outperforms individual base learners, under-scoring the efficacy of ensemble learning in tackling the intricate problem of financial fraud detection. This research contributes to the creation of substantial and robust fraud detection systems, fostering trust and transparency in financial markets.

The chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Mill.) is gaining importance in the mountainous regions of southern Europe due to the high value of its fruits. It is essential to establish effective cultivation protocols, considering that this species is still relatively understudied. In this study, we present the outcomes of the initial establishment of a chestnut orchard conducted through a nutrient omission trial for four years. The treatments included a fertilization plan with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and boron (NPKB), the control, and four other treatments corresponding to the omission of each nutrient (-NPKB, N-PKB, NP-KB, NPK-B). The -NPKB and NP-KB treatments showed significantly lower trunk circumferences and canopy volumes compared to the other treatments. The NPK-B treatment resulted in the lowest fruit production, with a total accumulated yield (2020-2022) of 0.56 kg tree–1, a value significantly lower than that of NPKB (1.12 kg tree–1) and N-PKB (1.19 kg tree–1). The assessment of nutrient concentrations in the leaves revealed plants with deficient levels of B and K in treatments that did not receive these nutrients. Conversely, N levels in the leaves in the -NPKB treatment fell within the sufficiency range (20 to 28 g kg–1). This suggests that the sufficiency range should be adjusted to higher values, given the treatment's effect on tree growth. It was also observed that the -NPKB treatment led to lower soil organic matter compared to the other treatments, likely due to reduced herbaceous vegetation development under the canopy, leading to decreased organic substrate deposition in the soil. The main findings of this study are that N and K were crucial elements for the optimal growth of chestnut trees, while B played a significant role in fruit production.

Dearth of information on extent of genetic variability in cassava limits the genetic improvement of cassava in Sierra Leone. This study aimed at assessing the genetic variability and relationships within 103 cassava genotypes using agro-morphological and culinary markers. A field trial was conducted in the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences research site. The experiment was laid in an augmented randomized block design. Morphological classification based on qualitative and quantitative traits categorized the germplasm into three different groups. A total of ten principal components (PCs) in the qualitative and six PCs in the quantitative trait sets accounted for 66.74% and 67.27% of the total genetic variation, respectively. Traits with significantly strong and positive correlations included presence of fruit (PFRT) and presence of seed (PSE)(r = 0.86***),root yield per plant (RYPP) and number of storage root (NSR) (r = 0.76***), RYPP and number of commercial root (NCR) (r = 0.68***), length of leaf lobe (LLL) and width of leaf lobe (WLL) (r = 0.66***),and between NSR and NCR (0.84***). Cooking time, cooking percentage, texture, mealiness, taste and aroma varied widely among the accessions. Findings established that the cassava germplasm possess useful genetic variability that could be exploited through selection for short term release programme, genetic conservation of valuable germplasm and genetic improvement of the crop.

The assessment of Photovoltaic (PV) systems, a key component of sustainable energy solutions, is of paramount importance in the pursuit of a greener future. This abstract provides an overview of environmental assessments associated with PV systems, considering their life cycle, energy production, and ecological impact. The study explores various methodologies and tools employed in the evaluation of PV systems’ environmental performance, addressing issues such as material sourcing, manufacturing, installation, and end-of-life disposal. Additionally, it delves into the trade-offs and challenges in achieving sustainability objectives in the solar energy sector. By critically examining the environmental implications of PV systems, this research contributes to informed decision-making and the sustainable integration of solar power into our energy landscape.

The magnesium ion is an essential cation in the human body and participates in numerous physiological activities. A deficiency in magnesium ions is closely associated with tumor development, and supplementation with magnesium ions has been shown to partially inhibit tumor growth. However, the specific mechanisms by which magnesium ions suppress tumor proliferation remain unclear. Currently, studies have revealed that mitochondria may serve as a crucial intermediate link in the regulation of tumors by magnesium ions. Mitochondria might intervene in the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells by modulating energy metabolism and oxidative stress levels. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive review of the relationship between magnesium ions and tumors, the mechanisms by which magnesium ions regulate mitochondrial function, and the theoretical basis and prospects of magnesium ion regulation of mitochondrial function for tumor treatment. This review aims to offer insights for clinical tumor treatment strategies involving magnesium ion intervention.

Millions of children in developing countries face preventable deaths due to inadequate vaccination and malnutrition, in part due to insufficient monitoring and the absence of official identification. A reliable fingerprint recognition system can be a practical solution to address this issue. However, the scarcity of longitudinal fingerprint datasets for young children leads to unresolved questions regarding the earliest age for fingerprint biometric use, the frequency of enrollment required for reliable recognition, and the methods to accommodate agerelated changes. A few recent studies introduced high-resolution fingerprint scanners and showed promising recognition performance for young children. However, these studies were conducted on a small dataset over a shorter period with limited diversity; further evaluation of their finding is essential. This study assessed the effectiveness of a high-resolution contactless scanner in a controlled, diverse longitudinal dataset of children (0-15 years). Our results indicate that infants can be enrolled at five days old and reliably recognized after two months with a TAR= 100% @ FAR = 0.1%, and children aged 4-15 years can be recognized after one year with a TAR= 98.72% @ FAR = 0.1%.

The dynamic nature of international business necessitates a strategic approach to achieve sustainable value creation. This paper supports the hypothesis that understanding institutional constraints and leveraging organizational resources provides the foundation for sustainable value creation during international expansion. These elements provide a solid foundation for firms seeking to expand internationally by enabling them to effectively navigate the complexities of foreign markets. Using the context supplied by Peng (2023), the subsequent sections and subsections delve into critical facets of international expansion, including market integration, the role of entrepreneurial firms, entry strategies, supply chain establishment, multinational strategies, and the impact of global trade and foreign direct investment (FDI).

This comparative study aims to investigate environmental awareness, knowledge, and safety among students in Montenegro and North Macedonia, considering the unique socio-cultural and environmental contexts of both countries. A mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews was employed to gather data from students in educational institutions across Montenegro and North Macedonia. The study assessed various factors, including students' awareness of environmental issues, their perceived level of knowledge, and their attitudes towards safety measures. A comprehensive series of 400 face-to-face interviews was carried out and these interviews encompassed 200 students from Montenegro and an equal number from North Macedonia, taking place at two esteemed academic institutions: The University of Montenegro in Podgorica and The University of St. Clement of Ohrid, Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia. Our hypothetical conceptual framework proposes that a combination of variables, including gender (H1), age (H2), year of study (H3), and rate of study (H4), significantly influences the attitudes of students from Montenegro and North Macedonia towards environmental awareness, safety, and knowledge. Research findings indicate significant variations in environmental awareness and knowledge perception among students in the two countries. While both Montenegro and North Macedonia face environmental challenges, differences in educational systems and socio-economic factors contribute to distinct attitudes and behaviors towards environmental issues and safety practices. This study sheds light on the importance of understanding regional differences in environmental awareness and knowledge perception among students. By identifying areas of strength and areas needing improvement, policymakers and educators can develop targeted interventions to enhance environmental education and foster a culture of sustainability in both Montenegro and North Macedonia.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Classically, liver transplantation (LT) can be curable for HCC tumors within the Milan criteria. Bridging strategies to reduce the dropouts from LT waiting lists or/and to downstage patients who are beyond Milan criteria are widely utilized. We conducted a literature-based review to evaluate the role of systemic therapies as a bridging treatment to liver transplantation (LT) in HCC patients. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) can be used as a bridging systemic therapy to LT in patients with contraindication to locoregional liver-directed therapies. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) treatment can be utilized either as a monotherapy or as a combination therapy with Bevacizumab or TKIs prior to LT. Acute rejection post liver transplantation is a concern in the context of ICIs treatment. Thus, a safe ICI washout period before LT and cautious post-LT immunosuppression strategies are required to reduce post-LT rejections and to optimize clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, prospective clinical trials are needed to establish definitive conclusions about the utility of systemic therapy as a bridging modality prior to LT in HCC patients.

Background and Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the SII index and the micro-macro complications and death that develop in the first year and the following 3 years, following the calculation of the index in type 2 diabetic retinopathy patients. Materials and Methods: This study was performed retrospectively with 523 type 2 diabetic retinopathy patients admitted to the endocrinology outpatient clinic of our hospital between January 2019 and December 2019. The demographic, and clinical characteristics of the patients were evaluated using descriptive statistics. Shapiro-Wilk test was used for the normal distribution of quantitative data; Mann-Whitney U, Mc Nemar Chi-square, and Cochran's Q tests were used to analyze SII values between groups and complication rates by years; sensitivity and specificity were determined by ROC analysis and considered statistically significant with a significance level of P

The first member of the family, visual arrestin-1, was discovered in the late 1970s. Later the other three mammalian subtypes were identified and cloned. The first described function was regulation of GPCR signaling: arrestins bind active phosphorylated GPCRs, blocking their coupling to G proteins. It was later discovered that receptor-bound and free arrestins interact with numerous proteins, regulating GPCR trafficking and various signaling pathways, including those that determine cell fate. Arrestins have no enzymatic activity, they function by organizing multi-protein complexes and localizing their interaction partners to particular cellular compartments. Today we understand the molecular mechanism of arrestin interactions with GPCRs better than the mechanisms underlying other functions. However, even limited knowledge enabled the construction of signaling-biased arrestin mutants and extraction of biologically active monofunctional peptides from these multifunctional proteins. Manipulation of cellular signaling with arrestin-based tools has research and likely therapeutic potential: re-engineered proteins and their parts can produce effects that conventional small molecule drugs cannot.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a progressive optic neuropathy with a complex, multifactorial aetiology. Raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most important clinically modifiable risk factor for POAG. All current pharmacological agents target aqueous hu-mour dynamics to lower IOP. Newer therapeutic agents are required as some patients with POAG show a limited therapeutic response or develop ocular and systemic side ef-fects to topical medication. Elevated IOP in POAG results from cellular and molecular changes in the trabecular meshwork driven by increased levels of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) in the anterior segment of the eye. Understanding how TGF affects both the structural and functional changes in the outflow pathway and IOP is required to de-velop new glaucoma therapies that target the molecular pathology in the trabecular meshwork. In this study we evaluated the effects of TGF-1 and -2 treatment on miRNA expression in cultured human primary trabecular meshwork cells. Our findings are pre-sented in terms of specific miRNAs (miRNA-centric), but given miRNAs work in net-works to control cellular pathways and processes, a pathway-centric view of miRNA ac-tion is also reported. Evaluating TGF-responsive miRNA expression in trabecular meshwork cells will further our understanding of the important pathways and changes involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma and could lead to the development of miRNAs as new therapeutic modalities in glaucoma.

Abstract: Falls are among the top 10 causes of years lived with disability in people aged 75 and over. Preventive programs like case management (CM) are crucial. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a multifactorial fall prevention program, based on CM, on physical performance, presence of pain and risk of falls and fractures in elderly people who have suffered falls. Methods: This is a randomized, single-blind clinical trial with parallel groups: intervention group (IG) and control group (CG) composed of 55 older people with a history of falls living in the community. All participants underwent an initial assessment via video call (containing anamnesis, Timed Up and Go test, Falls Risk Score, Short Physical Performance Battery and Clinical Frax). The IG underwent CM, the physical exercise protocol and the cognitive stimulation protocol. The CG was monitored through telephone calls and received general health and falls guidance. Results: No significant results were found in physical capacity, presence of pain, risk of falls and fractures between the intervention and control groups and between assessments. Conclusion: This program was not effective in improving functional performance, but it was important for characterizing pain and the probability of fracture in the next 10 years in this population.

The microbiome is capable of modulating the bioavailability of chemotherapy drugs mainly due to metabolizing these agents. Multiple cytostatic bacterial metabolites were recently identified that have cytostatic properties on cancer cells. In this study we addressed the question whether the cytostatic bacterial metabolites (cadaverine, indolepropionic acid, indoxylsulfate) can interfere with the cytostatic effects of the chemotherapy agents used in the management of breast cancer (doxorubicin, gemcitabine, irinotecan, methotrexate, rucaparib, 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel). The chemotherapy drugs were applied in a wide concentration range to which a bacterial metabolite was added in a concentration within its serum reference range and the effects on cell proliferation were assessed. There was no interference between doxorubicin, gemcitabine, irinotecan, methotrexate, rucaparib and the bacterial metabolites. Nevertheless, cadaverine increased the Hill coefficient of the inhibitory curve of 5-fluorouracil and indolepropionic acid increased the IC50 value of 5-fluorouracil that are either disadvantageous effects or effects of unknown significance. Nevertheless, indolepropionic acid decreased the IC50 value of paclitaxel that is a potentially advantageous combination.

In recent decades the Mediterranean area observed an increase in large fires, despite the decrease in the number of fire ignitions, following a worldwide tendency. Climate change has been the main culprit for large burnt areas, and alterations of forest ecosystems, resulting in the increased recurrence of forest fires. In Portugal, the analogous trend resulted in the destruction of large rural, urban and industrial areas, where after the 2017 months of June and October catastrophic events, the government implemented the 2019 specific policies for preventing fire outbreaks and defending the forest against fires. This compulsory policy demanded that landowners and local governments alike needed to contact specific authorities requesting authorization for their intentions to clean properties in and around urban areas, roads, and forest limits. Despite policy and careful monitoring, ignitions still occur, and in many cases resulting from the implementation of such policies. The study analyses the before and after policy implementation, considering 6904 ignitions records from the period between 2014 and 2023 from the central area of Portugal, covering the transition area between the agricultural fields of the Tagus valley and the Monte-junto-Estrela Mountain range, the district of Santarém. The authorization to use fire in clearance practices is granted according to a set of weather conditions, temperature, wind intensity, and relative humidity, when analyzing fire ignitions with the average daily wind intensity at the site of the occurrence, we observed that more than half of wildfires occur on days with winds between 10 and 20 Km/h, whereas intensities greater than 30 Km/h only 1% of the total occurrences, and of these 22% occurred due to the use of fire in the burning of agricultural leftovers and cut and piled bushes. The circulation of the thermal depression in the Iberian Peninsula gives rise to increasing intensity throughout the day, reaching a maximum in the late afternoon, this factor combined with the misjudgment of safe conditions leads us to suggest stricter intervals and the need for awareness of daily variation in conditions.

Several studies have shown that antibiotics, analgesic – sedative, and antiseizure medications are among the most commonly used medications in preterm and sick neonates. These infants are at high risk of developing nosocomial infections, central nervous system complications, and are exposed to numerous painful/stressful procedures. These severe, potentially life-threatening complications may have serious short- and long-term consequences and should be prevented and/or promptly treated. Previous studies and reviews have revealed significant variability in medications used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) worldwide, especially concerning the indications and dosages of first-line medications. This variability indicates the lack of adequate studies regarding the effectiveness and safety of these medications in neonates, especially the preterm ones. Important obstacles contributing to inadequate studies in preterm infants include difficulties in obtaining parental consent, physicians’ unwillingness to recruit preterm infants, the lack of license for use in neonates, and other scientific and ethical concerns. This review is an update on the use of antimicrobials – antifungals, analgesics – sedatives, and antiseizure medications used in neonates, focusing on existing evidence or knowledge gaps regarding their pharmacokinetics, indications, safety, dosage regimen (dose, dosing interval, route of administration), and evidence-based guidelines for the optimal use in neonates.

: This study focuses on optimizing chlorophyll extraction techniques and strategically placing leaf disks to enhance chlorophyll concentration in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) leaves. Thirty sesame genotypes, categorized into light green (LG), middle green (MG), and deep green (DG) pigment groups based on leaf coloration, were selected from a larger pool of field-grown accessions. The investigation involved determining optimal SPAD value index measurements, quantifying pigment concentrations, exploring extraction solvents, and selecting suitable leaf disk positions. Significant variations in chlorophyll content were observed across genotypes, greenness categories, and leaf disk positions. The categorization of genotypes into DG, MG, and LG groups revealed a correlation between leaf appearance and chlorophyll content. The study highlighted a consistent relationship between carotenoids and chlorophyll, indicating their role in adaptation to warm environments. Examination of leaf disk positions revealed a significant chlorophyll gradient along the leaf blade, emphasizing the need for standardized protocols. Chlorophyll extraction experiments identified DMSO and 96% ethanol, particularly the later incubated for 10 minutes at 85°C, as effective choices. This recommendation considers factors like cost-effectiveness, time efficiency, safety, and environmental regulations, ensuring consistent and simplified extraction processes. For higher chlorophyll extraction, focusing on leaf tips and the 75% position along the sesame leaf blade is suggested, consistently yielding higher chlorophyll content. Our findings therefore, underscores insightful knowledge on chlorophyll gradients and encouraging for standardized protocols, that enabling researchers to refine experimental designs for precise and comparable chlorophyll measurements. Recommended solvent choices ensure reliable outcomes in plant physiology, ecology, and environmental studies.

To enable net zero sustainable thermal building energy this study develops an open-source thermal house model to couple solar photovoltaic (PV) and heat pumps (HP) for grid-connected residential housing. The calculation of both space heating and cooling thermal loads and the selection of HP is accomplished with a validated Python model for air-source heat pumps. The capacity of PV required to supply the HPs is calculated using an System Advisor Model integrated Python model. Self-sufficiency and self-consumption of PV and the energy imported/exported to the grid for a case study are provided, which shows that simulations based on the monthly load profile have a significant reduction of 43% for energy sent to/from the grid compared to the detailed hourly simulation and an increase from 30% to 60% for self-consumption and self-sufficiency. These results show the importance of more granular modeling and also indicate mismatches of PV generation and HP load based on hourly simulation datasets. The back-calculation PV sizing algorithm combined with HP and thermal loads presented in this study exhibited robust performance. The results indicate this approach can be used to accelerate the solar electrification of heating and cooling to offset the use of fossil fuels in northern climates.

The growing urgency for sustainable energy solutions necessitates a deeper understanding of the environmental impacts of renewable technologies. This article aims to synthesize and analyze Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) in this domain, providing a comprehensive perspective. We systematically categorize 2,923 articles into four communities: (1) Photovoltaic systems, (2) Wind energy systems, (3) Materials for auxiliary industry of photovoltaic and wind systems, and (4) Solar thermal systems. A comparative analysis is conducted to identify methodological consistencies and disparities across these communities. The findings reveal diverse methodological approaches and a range of environmental impacts, highlighting the complexities in assessing renewable energy systems. The article underscores the significance of material selection in photovoltaic and wind systems, providing a critical overview of the current state of LCA research in renewable energy and stressing the need for standardized methodologies. It also identifies gaps in recent research, offering insights for future studies focused on integrating environmental, economic, and social considerations in renewable energy assessments.As a case study, an LCA was used to evaluate two energy supply methods for a sensor network: one connected to the public grid and another powered by a photovoltaic panel. The off-grid system, while more environmentally friendly by reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources, posed challenges due to the high environmental impact of battery production and disposal. Integrating environmental assessments provides a robust framework for making informed decisions on sustainable technologies. The findings are critical for projects that balance technological needs with sustainability goals.

The increasing growth in knowledge about functioning of the nervous system of mammals and humans, as well as the significant neuromorphic technologies development in recent decades, have led to the emergence of a large number of brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics for the regenerative medicine tasks. Neurotechnologies have traditionally been developed for therapeutic purposes to help or replace motor, sensory or cognitive abilities damaged by injury or disease. They also have significant potential for memory enhancement. However, there are still no fully developed neurotechnologies and neural interfaces capable of restoring or expanding cognitive functions, in particular memory, in mammals or humans. In this regard, the search for new technologies in the field of restoration of cognitive functions is an urgent task of modern neurophysiology, neurotechnology and artificial intelligence. Hippocampus is an important brain structure connected to memory and information processing in the brain. The aim of this paper is to propose an approach based on deep neural networks for prediction of hippocampal signals in CA1 region based on received biological input in CA3 region. We compare results of prediction for two widely used deep architectures: reservoir computing (RC) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. Proposed study can be viewed as a first step in the complex task of the development of a neurohybrid chip, which allows one to restore memory functions in the damaged rodent hippocampus.

This research was to examine the impacts of long-term rice-crayfish coculture systems(RS) on soil nutrients, carbon pools, and rice yields in paddy fields , aiming to establish a scientific basis for the sustainable development of RS in the northern region of Zhejiang. The results showed that the change from rice monoculture (CK) to RS resulted in a 24.99% increase in the 5-year average of soil ammonium nitrogen(AN), while the soil nitrate nitrogen(NN), available potassium(AK), and available phosphorus content(AP) decreased by 28.02%, 16.05%, and 28.76% respectively. Moreover, the total organic carbon(TOC), easily oxidizable organic carbon(EOC), dissolved organic carbon(DOC), and microbial biomass carbon(MBC) decreased by 2.45%, 8.82%, 35.31%, and 65.84% respectively. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between NN, EOC and MBC in the RS. In terms of rice yield, 5-year average of rice yield in RS has decreased by 8.4% compared to CK.The average yield of planting early-maturing varieties of rice was reduced by 13.16%, while the average yield of planting late-maturing varieties of rice was reduced by 6.00%. In conclusion, enhancing water and nutrient management and cultivating late maturing rice varieties are essential strategies for achieving the sustainable development of RS in northern Zhejiang.

A recent study showed the potential of DA Perten 7200 NIR Spectrometer in detecting chlorpyrifos-methyl pesticide residue in rough, brown, and milled rice. However, this instrument is still lab-based and generally suited for point-of-sale testing in many countries. To provide a field deployable version of this technique, an existing light emitting diode (LED)-based instrument which provide discrete NIR wavelength illumination and reflectance spectra over the range of 850-1550 nm was tested. Spectra were collected from rough, brown, and milled rice at different pesticide concentrations and analysed for quantitative and qualitative measurement using partial least squares regression (PLS) and discriminant analysis (DA). Simulations for LED-based instruments were also evaluated using segments of spectra from the DA7200 to represent LED illumination. For the simulation of the existing LED-based instrument (LEDPrototype1) using their wavelengths range yielded 70.4% to 100% correct classification. Simulation of a second LED instrument, LEDPrototype2, with spectral segments selected based on significant wavelength regions from PLS regressions coefficients obtained from the DA7200 showed improved performance with R2 of 0.59 to 0.82 and correct classifications of 71.3 to 100%. An actual LED based instrument with this capability could provide a quick screening tool to determine if MRLs are exceeded.

A correlation of basic science and clinical symptoms in the human to propose a new theory for how the vestibular system works Neil S. Longridge Professor Emeritus, Division of Otolaryngology Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC CANADA *Arthur I. Mallinson, Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Otolaryngology Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC CANADA NS Longridge † *AI Mallinson † These authors contributed equally to this work. ABSTRACT; Bipedalism is unique among mammals. Until modern times, a fall and resulting leg fracture could be fatal. Balance maintenance after a destabilizing event requires instantaneous decision-making. The vestibular system plays an essential role in this process, initiating an emergency response. The afferent otolithic neural response is the first directionally oriented information to reach the cortex, and can then be used to initiate an appropriate protective response. Some vestibular efferent axons feed directly into the type I vestibular hair cells. This allows for rapid vestibular feedback via the striated organelle (STO), which has been largely ignored in most texts. We propose that this structure is essential in emergency fall prevention, and also that the system of sensory detection and resultant motor response works by having efferent movement information transmitted to the maculae simultaneously with the movement commands. This results in the otolithic membrane positioning itself precisely for the planned movement, and any error is due to an unexpected external cause. Error is fed back via the vestibular afferent system. The efferent system through the STO causes macular otolithic membrane movement which occurs simultaneously with the initiating motor command. As a result, no vestibular afferent activity occurs unless an error must be dealt with.

Purpose To investigate the effects of intra-articular glenohumeral joint triamcinolone injection in treating secondary adhesive capsulitis after breast cancer surgery.Methods This study prospectively enrolled 37 participants, 22 of the breast cancer surgery group and 15 of the idiopathic group. All participants received intra-articular glenohumeral joint injection in the affected shoulder joint and received physiotherapy for 12 week. The clinical assessment evaluated before, and 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. The primary outcome was the change in the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).Results The total SPADI(%) in both groups showed significant decrease from baseline to 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. There was no significant difference in the differences of the total SPADI from baseline to 1, 3, and 6 months between two groups. However, the improvement in the SPADI pain subscale and the PROM of abduction at 3 and 6 months post-injection in the breast cancer group were inferior to the idiopathic group.Conclusion Intra-articular triamcinolone injection for adhesive capsulitis after breast cancer surgery significantly improved in significant improvements of pain, shoulder function and the PROM. The effects were similar to idiopathic adhesive capsulitis, but in the breast cancer surgery group, appropriate pain and ROM management and monitoring are required even 3 months after injection. With a standardized injection protocol, intra-articular triamcinolone injection could be an effective and safe treatment option for secondary adhesive capsulitis after breast cancer surgery.

Keywords: environmental impacts of hotels; environmental management in lodging facilities; corporate sustainability.

Postbiotic is a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host. Different bacterial strain and preparation method result in different functions. Herein, a postbiotic preparation named Postbiotic-P by intercepting 1-5 KD of the cell-free supernatants of L. caseiparacasei P6 fermentation broth was prepared, and its multifunctional activities were evaluated. The results showed that Postbiotic-P exerted good antihemolytic (10%-50% Postbiotic-P resulted in 4.9%-48.1% antihemolytic rate), anti-inflammatory (8% to 40% Postbiotic-P is comparable to 259.1-645.4 μg/mL of diclofenac sodium equivalents), antioxidant [reducing power (1.25%-12.5% Postbiotic-P resulted in the increase of OD700 from 0.279-2.322), DPPH free radical scavenging activity (2.5%-50% Postbiotic-P resulted in 38.9%-92.4% free radical scavenging rate), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (0.5%-4% Postbiotic-P resulted in 4.66%-10.38% hydroxyl radical scavenging rate)], and antimicrobial activities (against 2 Gram-positive, 8 Gram-negative and 1 fungus). Furthermore, it was proved that Postbiotic-P could significantly inhibit the increase of the peroxide value and the malondialdehyde content in cookies, indicating the application potential of Postbiotic-P in food preservation. Taken together, Postbiotic-P has good application potential for the development of health care products and functional foods. However, further studies are needed to determine their precise mechanism of action, to clarify the active components responsible for the function, and to validate the biological activities in animal models or clinical trials.

The B169L protein (pB169L) of African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a structural protein with an unidentified function during the virus replication. The sequences of the B169L gene and the downstream B438L gene are separated by short intergenic regions. However, the regulatory mode of the gene transcription remains unknown. Here, we identified two distinct promoter regions and two transcription start sites (TSS) located upstream of the open reading frame (ORF) of B438L. Using the promoter reporter system, we demonstrated that the cis activity of the ORF proximal promoter exhibited significantly higher levels compared with that of the distal promoter located in the B169L gene. Furthermore, transfection with the plasmids with two different promoters for B438L could initiate the transcription and expression of the B438L gene in HEK293T cells, and the cis activity of the ORF proximal promoter also displayed the higher activities compared with the distal promoter. Interestingly, the B438L distal promoter also initiated the transcription of the alternatively spliced B169L mRNA (B169L mRNA2) encoding a truncated pB169L (tpB169L) (amino acids 92–169), and the gene transcription efficiency was increased upon mutation of the initiation codon located upstream of the alternatively spliced B169L gene. Taken together, we demonstrated that the distal promoter of B438L gene initiates the transcription of both the B438L mRNA and B169L mRNA2. Comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional regulatory mode of the B438L gene is beneficial for the understanding of the association of B438L protein and pB169L and the construction of the gene-deleted ASFV.