The DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX3X is a multifunctional protein involved in RNA metabolism and stress responses. In this study, we investigated the role of RG/RGG motifs in the dynamic process of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of DDX3X using cell-free assays and explored their potential link to cancer development through bioinformatic analysis. Our results demonstrate that the number, location, and composition of RG/RGG motifs significantly influence the ability of DDX3X to undergo phase separation and form self-aggregates. Mutational analysis revealed that the spacing between RG/RGG motifs and the number of glycine residues within each motif are critical factors in determining the extent of phase separation. Bioinformatic analysis of cancer genomic datasets uncovered a significant enrichment of DDX3X mutations in RG/RGG motifs across multiple cancer types, particularly in the N-terminal region of the protein. Furthermore, we found that DDX3X is co-expressed with the stress granule protein G3BP1 in several cancer types and can undergo co-phase separation with G3BP1 in a cell-free system, suggesting a potential functional interaction between these proteins in phase-separated structures. DDX3X and G3BP1 may interact through their RG/RGG domains and subsequently exert important cellular functions under stress situation. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into the role of RG/RGG motifs in modulating DDX3X phase separation and their potential contribution to cancer pathogenesis.

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

This research article describes the creation of a mock-up for a Smart Insole prototype that employs Force Sensitive Resistors (FSRs) and an ADXL345 accelerometer. The mock-up is an early step towards realising the concept and functionality of the planned Smart Insole system. The key factors in the mock-up's design, integration, and testing are highlighted, with a focus on the iterative refining and optimisation process. The mock-up, which was carefully planned and implemented, highlights the practicality and possible applications of Smart Insole technology in healthcare, sports performance measurement, and rehabilitation. The paper outlines the development process and implementation of a "Smart Insole" utilizing Force Sensitive Resistors (FSR) and the ADXL345 accelerometer. The project aims to create an innovative wearable technology solution for monitoring foot biomechanics and enhancing human performance. The Smart Insole prototype integrates FSRs strategically placed on the insole to capture pressure distribution across the foot, along with an ADXL345 accelerometer to track foot orientation and movement. Through a combination of hardware integration, firmware development using Arduino IDE, and visualization using Processing application, the Smart Insole offers real-time monitoring and analysis of gait dynamics, pressure distribution, and foot movement.

Cement-free concrete has superior physical performance, such as strength and durability, compared to OPC concrete, however, it has the disadvantage of large shrinkage. Large shrinkage can cause cracks due to shrinkage stress in the long term. In this study, a shrinkage reducing agent (SRA) was used to reduce the shrinkage of cement-free mortar; its content was increased from 0.0 to 1.5 %. For an SRA content of 1.0 %, a calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) expansive additive (EA) (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5%) was added. To calculate the shrinkage stress of cement-free mortar using the SRA and EA, the compressive strength, elastic modulus, and total and autogenous shrinkage were measured. The unit shrinkage stress of cement-free mortar was obtained by multiplying the elastic modulus by the length change and accumulated to obtain the shrinkage stress acting on the mortar according to the age. The shrinkage stress of cement-free mortar showed different tendencies as the age increased. At early ages, the shrinkage rate of the mortar occupied a large proportion of the shrinkage stress. In the long term, the shrinkage stress was significantly affected by the elastic modulus. As a result, SRA was found to be effective in reducing the shrinkage stress by decreasing both the elastic modulus and shrinkage. However, EA increased the shrinkage stress over the long term due to an increase in elastic modulus even though it compensated for early-ages shrinkage.

There is significant need for development of a new environmentally friendly, extraction-free sample collection medium that can effectively preserve and protect genetic material for point-of-care, and/or self-collection, home-collection, and mail-back testing. Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) was used to create anti-ribonuclease (RNase) Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) aptamers against purified RNase A conjugated to paramagnetic carboxylated beads. Following 8 rounds of SELEX carried out under various stringency conditions, e.g., selection using Xtract-Free™ (XF) specimen collection medium, and elevated ambient temperature of 28 ºC, a panel of 5 aptamers was chosen following bioinformatic analysis using next-generation sequencing. The efficacy of aptamer inactivation of RNase was assessed by monitoring Ribonucleic acid (RNA) integrity by fluorometric and real-time RT-PCR analysis. Inclusion of aptamers in reaction incubations resulted in an 8,800 to 11,200-fold reduction of RNase activity, i.e., digestion of viral RNA compared to control. Thus, anti-RNase aptamers integrated into XF collection medium as well as other commercial reagents and kits have great potential for ensuring quality intact RNA for subsequent genomic analysis.

Early detection of neurological conditions is critical for timely diagnosis and treatment. Identifying cellular-level changes is essential for implementing therapeutic interventions prior to symptomatic disease onset. However, monitoring brain tissue directly through biopsies is invasive and high-risk. Bodily fluids such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid contain information in many forms, including proteins and nucleic acids. Particularly, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has potential as a versatile neurological biomarker. Yet, our knowledge of cfDNA released by brain tissue and how cfDNA changes in response to deleterious events within the brain is incomplete. Mapping changes in cfDNA to specific cellular events is difficult in vivo, where many tissues contribute to circulating cfDNA. Organoids are tractable systems for examining specific changes consistently in a human background. However, few studies have investigated cfDNA released from organoids. Here, we examined cfDNA isolated from cerebral organoids. We found that cerebral organoids release quantities of cfDNA sufficient for downstream analysis with droplet-digital PCR and whole-genome sequencing. Further, gene ontology analysis of genes aligning with sequenced cfDNA fragments revealed association with terms related to neurodevelopment and autism spectrum disorder. We conclude that cerebral organoids hold promise as tools for the discovery of cfDNA biomarkers related to neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders.

This study addresses the pressing need for flood extent and exposure information in data-scarce and vulnerable regions, with a specific focus on West Africa, particularly Senegal. Leveraging the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and integrating data from Sentinel-1 SAR, Global Surface Water, HydroSHEDS, Global Human Layer Settlement, and MODIS Land Cover, our primary ob-jective is to delineate flood extents and compare them with centennial flood-prone areas, offering a comprehensive assessment of exposure during the period from July to October 2022 across Sen-egal's 14 regions. The findings underscore a total inundation area of 2 951 square kilometers, impacting 297 142 people, 175 square kilometers of urban and 16 square kilometers of crops. Notably, August wit-nessed the largest flooded areas, reaching 780 square kilometers, constituting 0.40% of the coun-try's surface. Subsequent regions, including Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor, Fatick, and Matam, experi-enced varying extents of flooding, with August data showing a 1.34% overall overlap compared to centennial flood-prone areas derived from hydrological and hydraulic modeling. This low per-centage reveals the distinct purposes and natures of the two approaches (remote sensing and modeling), as well as their complementarity. Turning to flood exposure, August emerges as the most critical month, affecting 76 595 people (0.43% of the total population). Dakar, Diourbel, Thiès, and Saint-Louis regions bore substantial impacts, affecting 100 707, 57 648, 31 579, and 26 581 people, respectively. These findings emphasize the imperative for comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts. The study provides a crucial national-scale perspective to guide Senegal's authorities in formulating effective flood management, intervention, and adaptation strategies.

Introduction/Aim: Central sensitivity to thyroid hormones refers to the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis to changes in circulating free thyroxine (fT4). The relationship between fT4 levels and iodine intake is complex. The aim of the present study was to assess central sensitivity to thyroid hormones in pregnancy against iodine intake. Materials & Methods: One thousand one hundred two blood and urine samples were collected from pregnant women (with a mean age+SD of 30.4+4.6 years) during singleton pregnancies; women with known/diagnosed thyroid disease were excluded. Specifically, TSH & fT4 and 24-hour urinary iodine excretion (UI) were measured in each trimester and at two months postpartum. The Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index (TFQI) was calculated to assess central sensitivity to thyroid hormones. For the statistical analysis of TFQI by time period, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used, while Pearson's correlation was used to assess TFQI versus UI. Results: The mean TFQI index ranged from -0.06 (first trimester) to -0.07 (two months postpartum), while the corresponding UI was 141 and 172 μg/L, respectively. The TFQI-UI correlation was negative (Pearson r: -0.325, p: 0.04 and r: -0.399, p: 0.023), for UI values over 250 μg/L, in the first and the third trimester of pregnancy, respectively. Discussion: TFQI is a new index reflecting central sensitivity to thyroid hormones. Lower TFQI indicates higher sensitivity to thyroid hormones. In our sample TFQI was inversely related to iodine intake, in the first trimester of pregnancy (the critical period of organogenesis) and the third trimester (the critical period of fetal growth). Thus, the observed changes in TFQI may reflect different ways of central action of thyroid hormones, according to the phase of pregnancy. The negative association between maternal TFQI (indicative of central sensitivity to thyroid hormone) and urine iodine levels during the third trimester of pregnancy may reflect the combined influence of maternal and fetal thyroid function. Our results are intriguing and have the potential to enhance our comprehension of the changes in the HPT axis’ function via variations in central sensitivity to thyroid hormones and its interplay with nutritional iodine status during pregnancy.

Originating in the Mediterranean, B. oleracea is grown all over the world and is highly valued for its nutritional value and variety in cooking. Its susceptibility to pests, diseases, and environmental stressors, however, poses significant challenges to sustaining consistent crop quality and productivity. The BASIC PENTACYSTEINE gene significantly impacts plant growth and responses to abiotic stresses. Nevertheless, little is known about its precise role and the underlying biological processes in B. oleracea. Eleven BPC genes in B. oleracea were identified by a thorough genome-wide investigation and categorized into three categories according to their structural traits and gene motifs. There were eight different chromosomes on which these BoBPCs were located. Comparative synteny analysis was used to reveal the evolutionary traits of potatoes, Arabidopsis, and B. oleracea. The BoBPC family genes in B. oleracea were found to have specific cis-elements linked to growth, stress responses, and hormone regulation when their promoter regions were studied. Cuticular wax synthesis expression revealed that all BoBZR1 genes, from wild to mutant, expressed at varied amounts in distinct types. Moreover, distinctive BoBPC gene expression patterns were found in the seven distinct tissues that were studied. Our thorough analysis shows that the BoBPC family is widely involved in B. oleracea developmental processes. The present findings provide an established theoretical basis for further exploration into the composition and roles of BoBPC in B. oleracea.

This paper introduces a novel architecture—bidirectional optical neural network (BONN)—for providing backward connections alongside forward connections in artificial neural networks (ANNs). BONN incorporates laser diodes and photodiodes and exploits the properties of Köhler illumination to establish optical channels for backward directions. Thus, it has bidirectional functionality that is crucial for algorithms such as the backpropagation algorithm. BONN has a scaling limit of 96 × 96 for input and output arrays, and a throughput of 8.5 × 1015 MAC/s. While BONN's throughput may rise with additional layers for continuous input, limitations emerge in the backpropagation algorithm as its throughput doesn't scale with layer count. Successful BONN-based implementation of the backpropagation algorithm requires the development of fast spatial light modulator to accommodate frequent data flow changes. A two-mirror-like BONN and its cascaded extension are alternatives for multilayer emulation, and they help save hardware space and increase the parallel throughput for inference. An investigation into the application of the clustering technique to BONN revealed its potential to help overcome scaling limits and to provide full interconnections for backward directions between doubled input and output ports. BONN's bidirectional nature holds promise for enhancing supervised learning in ANNs and increasing hardware compactness.

Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome triggered by infection and accompanied by high mortality, with antimicrobial resistances (AMRs) further escalating clinical challenges. Rapid and reliable detection of causative pathogens and AMRs are key factors for fast and appropriate treatment, in order to improve outcome in septic patients. However, current sepsis diagnostics based on blood culture is limited by low sensitivity and specificity while current molecular approaches fail to enter clinical routine. Therefore, we developed a Suppression PCR-based selective enrichment sequencing approach (SUPSETS), providing a molecular method combining multiplex suppression PCR with Nanopore sequencing to identify most common sepsis-causative pathogens and AMRs using plasma cell-free DNA. Applying only 1 mL of plasma, we target eight pathogens across three kingdoms and ten AMRs in a proof-of-concept study. SUPSETS was successfully tested on first ten clinical samples and revealed comparable results to clinical metagenomics while clearly outperforming blood culture. Several clinically relevant AMRs could be detected additionally. Furthermore, SUPSETS provided first pathogen and AMR-specific sequencing reads within minutes of starting sequencing, thereby potentially decreasing time to results to 11 - 13 hours and suggesting diagnostic potential in sepsis.

This paper investigates the impact of debt financing on dividend payments when they face the agency costs of free cash flow. Focusing on a sample of 120 firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange during the period 2011-2021. The study found a negative association between agency cost of free cash flow and dividend payment. More importantly, our research highlights the significant role of long-term debt in making more prudent use of free cash flow. The obligation to meet interest and principal payments acts as an incentive for them to steer clear of unprofitable expenses and risky investments. Concurrently, long-term debt imposes restrictive clauses in debt contracts, such as minimum dividend distribution requirements, which further encourage higher dividend payments. Since interest and debt repayments are fixed obligations, using free cash flow for dividend disbursement is considered a more profitable and beneficial approach for shareholders in the context of Saudi Arabia.

The theories of Evolution and Big Bang have brought a major impact upon the scientific and societal perception upon the origins, abilities and roles of mankind on Earth. It is conclusively evident that Mother Nature and the physical realm is autonomous and all phenomena in the world occur without an imposition against the “free will” of such events and patterns. Nevertheless, this extent of freedom does not imply that life on Earth represents an accident and has no purpose. By careful analysis of ancient religious texts, it can be suggested even otherwise, that it is especially free will that is offered as a gift from outside of the physical dimensions of existence, with the purpose of a continuous edification and improvement of the overall life conditions and of the human perception. It may be that the multi-generational focus on improvement and progress have been misattributed as a long-term evolution of species, that humans came from animal ancestors and that there is a blurred line associating humans with animals. Furthermore, it may be that scientists based their suggestions that no outside Creator would have brought the Earth into existence on physical perspectives, when the extra-dimensional process of Creation implies that all elements of the physical existence undergo a process of Creation from the outside, where time, space and physical matter do not exist, in spite of such elements possibly reflecting unseen elements of the meta-physical world. Finally, there is the following example that deserves attention within the scientific community; just because all living cells - human, animal and plant - contain DNA chromosomes, ribosomes, mitochondria and a plasma membrane, it does not indicate that humans are animals, just as this does not indicate that plants are animals. In Science, there is a golden statement, that correlation does not imply causation. This example is in complete agreement with the verses of the Book of Genesis in the Holy Scriptures regarding the origins of life; namely, that animals could have been created by an Author of all life on Earth so that man would experience companionship. An improved scientific perception of the timeline of life on Earth may be reached via an approach that combines molecular biology with quantum physics, given that the three layers of Science - Biology, Chemistry and Physics - together with their foundational layer of Mathematics, are in fact situated in a relationship of complete harmony.

Abstract Precision medicine is essentially based on reliable and non-invasive biomarkers. Aim of this review has been to describe the newest biomarkers in the field of kidney transplantation and the kidney rejection, one of the commonest and severe complications. Standard of care tools to identify acute rejection are largely full of errors and of drawbacks. In recent years new and reliable biomarkers have been found. They are avoid of risks, non-invasive and able to detect rejection even in those frequent cases in which acute rejection are clinically asymptomatic and not otherwise identifiable. In recent years several biomarkers have been identified. Very recently have been found new relevant biomarkers able to diagnose rejection with high positive predictive value and low negative predictive value. These are the donor derived cell free DNA found in the recipient, the gene expression profile of the donor found in the recipient and the urinary cytokines that express modification in the graft tissue. The aim of this study has been to find the most recent findings in the literature on this topic and to describe the utility and possible limitation of such new biomarkers on kidney rejection.

Fast Field-Cycling (FFC) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry is a powerful non-destructive magnetic resonance technique that enables, among other things, the investigation of slow molecular dynamics at low magnetic field intensities. FFC-NMR relaxometry measurements provide insight into molecular motion across various timescales within a single experiment. This study focuses on a \textit{model-free} approach, representing the NMRD profile $R_1$ as a linear combination of Lorentzian functions, thereby addressing the challenges of fitting data within an ill-conditioned linear least-squares framework. Tackling this problem, we present a comprehensive review and experimental validation of three regularization approaches to implement the model-free approach to analysing NMRD profiles. These include: (1) \nameUpe, utilizing locally adapted $L_2$ regularization; (2) \nameL, based on $L_1$ penalties; and (3) a hybrid approach combining locally adapted $L_2$ and global $L_1$ penalties. Each method's regularization parameters are determined automatically, according to the Balancing and Uniform Penalty principles. % Our contributions include the implementation and experimental validation of the \nameUpe{} and \nameUp{} algorithms, and the development of a "dispersion analysis" technique to assess the existence range of the estimated parameters. The objective of this work is to delineate the variance in fit quality and correlation time distribution yielded by each algorithm, thus broadening the set of software tools for the analysis of sample structures in FFC-NMR studies. The findings underline the efficacy and applicability of these algorithms in the analysis of NMRD profiles from samples representing different potential scenarios. 1

The generation of high-quality wideband frequency sweeps presents a significant challenge, particularly in modern telecommunication, radar, and measurement systems where miniaturization is paramount. While phase-locked loops (PLLs) have become the dominant technique for signal generation, their application in broadband sweeps necessitates fractional-N operation. This, in turn, degrades phase noise and introduces unwanted spurs. This paper proposes a novel approach for broadband signal generation. By cascading two PLLs and utilizing a coaxial resonator, we achieve a high-performance oscillator that operates without the excessive fractional spurs, maintaining their level below -80 dBc across the entire frequency band. The prototype demonstrates non-degraded phase noise performance, reaching -102 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset and -121 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset for signal at 10 GHz. Despite significant frequency jumps, our design achieves lock times below 41 µs. These results, supported by theoretical analysis, validate the proposed method's effectiveness in generating low-noise broadband frequency sweeps, ideal for local oscillator applications.

Microscopic vision plays an important role in automated micro-assembly. However, some uncertain factors in the assembly process, such as occlusion and stains can lead to the mistakes of feature extraction. Herein, to solve the problem, the deep learning techniques are introduced into the feature recognition tasks, focusing on the attention mechanism and visualizing CNNs for DL-based microscopic vision. The main contributions are summarized as follows: The CBAM attention mechanism is combined with the YOLOv5 algorithm to improve the accuracy and robustness of feature extraction. The micropart feature occlusion experiment results show that at 70% occlusion degree, YOLOV5-CBAM can reach 97.9% mAP@0.5, which is 4.6% higher than the original one. Visualization analysis of DL-based model is conducted using Grad-CAM to make the decision result more transparent and avoid potential visual detection risks during assembly. The heatmap matching degree between GT area and high-light area is increased by 27.81% on average, which further verify the effectiveness of attention mechanism in micropart feature localization. Additionally, micropart surface stain and droplet quality classification models based on ResNet50 are trained to replace the manual sorting. The visual results are consistent with human eye discernment and judgement, confirming the reliability of parts and droplets sorting.

This paper addresses the input coupling problem for the shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated parallel platform with completely unknown nonlinear dynamics. The problem means that in a parallel platform with multiple SMA actuators acting together, the displacement of one of the actuators will simultaneously affect the remaining actuators to change. Due to the coupling problem and nonlinear characteristics of the SMA actuators, it is not easy to control the platform to achieve bi-directional swing with completely unknown nonlinear dynamics. Therefore, a model-free adaptive sliding mode control method is proposed to improve the control accuracy of the complex motion of the platform, avoiding the complex modeling process of the SMA actuated parallel platform. Based on the model-free adaptive control (MFAC) theory, a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) dynamic linearized mathematical model of the parallel platform is established using the online input and output data of the system. Then, a sliding mode controller is designed based on the dynamic model. A rigorous theoretical analysis proves that the proposed model-free adaptive sliding mode controller is able to stably control the SMA actuated parallel platform, and its tracking error is uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB). Finally, experiments are conducted on the established SMA actuated parallel platform. The results show that the proposed model-free controller is feasible and effective, and can control the system well to achieve the complex motion of bi-directional swing.

Machine Learning deals with creating algorithms capable of learning from the provided data. These systems have a wide range of applications and can also be a valuable tool for scientific research which in recent years has been focused on finding new diagnostic techniques for particle accelerator beams. In this context SPARC_LAB is positioned, a facility located at the Frascati National Laboratories of INFN, where the progress of beam diagnostics is one of the main developments of the entire project. With this in mind, you aim to present the design of two neural networks aimed at predicting the spot size of the electron beam of the plasma-based accelerator at SPARC_LAB, which powers an undulator for the generation of x-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL). Data-driven algorithms use two different data preprocessing techniques, namely autoencoder neural network and PCA. With both approaches, the predicted measurements can be obtained with an acceptable margin of error and most importantly without activating the accelerator, thus saving time, even compared to a simulator that can produce the same result but much more slowly. The goal is to lay the groundwork for creating a digital twin of linac and conducting virtualized diagnostics using an innovative approach.

Previous high throughput screening studies indicated trans-eQTLs tend to be tissue specific. In this study, I probed if this feature can be used to identify tissue-specific gene regulatory networks. eQTL data (P<5e-8) for 16,259 genes were identified and their summary association statistics were obtained from the eQTLGene database. Next, eQTLs that display both cis and trans regulatory effects were selected and the association between their corresponding genes were examined using Mendelian randomization. A total of 169 genes that exerted trans-regulatory impacts on 692 genes were identified. 90% of the genes (N=749) aggregated into a gene regulatory network significantly enriched in hemo-immune processes. The robustness of finding was confirmed through simulation. The identified network displayed the scale-free topology. This provided the reason to examine the association of the network’s hub genes with the phenome. The outcome of analyses revealed GSDMB and ORMDL3 impact several disorders of immune origin and ALDH2 overexpression contributes to obesity. This study reports trans-eQTLs can be used to identify tissue-specific gene regulatory networks and describes a workflow to achieve this purpose. The network identified in this study showed scale-free topology indicating the hub genes of a GRN could be targeted to prevent disease outcomes.

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) are pivotal in ocean exploration, research, and various industrial activities such as marine mining and offshore engineering. However, traditional methods of navigating these vehicles face significant challenges, mainly due to the inefficacy of electromagnetic waves in water, leading to signal loss. To address these limitations, researchers are increasingly turned learning, an artificial intelligence technique capable of learning from data-enhancing underwater navigation, mainly through visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). This paper explores integrating deep learning methodologies and sensor technologies to revolutionize underwater navigation for UUVs. Proprioceptive sensors, along with exteroceptive sensors, are crucial in accurately measuring and comprehending the underwater environment. Additionally, the paper provides detailed insights into the processes of underwater SLAM, camera-based underwater positioning systems, sonar systems for underwater navigation, and the utilization of Lidar in underwater navigation. Furthermore, it delves into applying deep learning techniques in underwater SLAM, offering a comprehensive understanding of the innovative processes driving advancements in underwater vehicle navigation. By leveraging these advancements, this research aims to improve underwater navigation systems' precision, reliability, and adaptability, thereby unlocking new frontiers in ocean exploration and industrial applications for UUVs.

Rice, as a staple crop feeding billions, faces constant threats from various diseases jeopardizing global food security. Precise understanding of disease resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing resilient rice varieties. Traditional genetic mapping methods, such as QTL mapping, provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of diseases. However, the complex nature of rice diseases demands a holistic approach to gain accurate knowledge of it. Omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, enable a comprehensive analysis of biological molecules, uncovering intricate molecular interactions within the rice plant. Integration of various mapping techniques using multi-omics data has revolutionized our understanding of rice disease resistance. By overlaying genetic maps with high-throughput omics datasets, researchers can pinpoint specific genes, proteins, or metabolites associated with disease resistance. This integration enhances the precision of disease-related biomarkers with better understanding of their functional roles in disease resistance. Improvement of rice breeding for disease resistance through this integration represents a significant stride in agricultural science because better understanding of the molecular intricacies and interactions underlying disease resistance architecture leads to more precise and efficient development of resilient and productive rice varieties. In this review, we explore how the integration of mapping and omics data can give a transformative impact on rice breeding for enhancing disease resistance.

Dysregulation of the Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) activity has been associated to many diseases including the colorectal and breast cancer. As usual in the CDK family, the activity of CDK8 is controlled by a regulatory protein called cyclin C (CycC). But while human CDK family members are generally activated in two steps that is, the binding of the cyclin to CDK and the phosphorylation of a residue in the CDK activation loop, CDK8 does not require the phosphorylation step to be active. Another peculiarity of CDK8 is its ability to be associated to CycC while adopted an inactive form. These specificities raise the question of the role of CycC in the complex CDK8-CycC, which appears to be more complex than for the other members of CDK family. Through MD simulations and binding free energy calculations, we investigated the effect of CycC on the structure and dynamics of CDK8 on the one hand, and the structural molecular basis of the protein-protein interaction between the two partners on the other hand. We found that CycC has a stabilizing effect on CDK8 and identified specific interaction hotspots within its interaction surface compared to other human CDK/Cyc pairs. Targeting these specific interaction hotspots could be a promising approach in terms of specificity, to effectively disrupt the interaction between CDK8. The simulation of the conformational transition from the inactive to the active form of CDK8 suggests that the residue Glu99 of the CycC may assume the role of the missing phosphorylation step in the activation mechanism of CDK8. In a more general view, these results point the importance of keeping the CycC in computational studies when studying the human CDK8 protein in both the active and the inactive form.

Surface–subsurface soil-rock modeling is crucial for infrastructure design and groundwater yield optimization, especially in the complex crystalline basement terrains of Penang Island, Malaysia. This study conducted large-scale characterization of soil-rock profiles using ERT, SRT, rock quality designation, and soil penetration test (SPT N-values) data, optimized through regression modeling. The approach effectively identified soil-rock structures and their suitability to prevent structural failures and enhance groundwater productivity. Correlations between borehole lithologic logs and velocity–resistivity models revealed distinct soil compositions across the study area. The results highlighted thick, saturated, and loose silty to sandy bodies in the eastern to northern sections, contrasting with sandy compositions and penetrative fractures in the southern part. The study also found good correlations between rock mass quality and N-values for different soil types. Depths of intra-bedrock weathered/fractured units varied between 12 and >35 m. This has significant implications for determining optimal foundation depths in the study area. Groundwater productivity was associated with intra-bedrock planes of weakness at depths exceeding 40 m. Overall, this study developed empirical relations between geophysical and geotechnical parameters for wet tropical granitic terrains, filling critical gaps in understanding subsurface characteristics.

Modern organic synthesis is majorly focused on developing environmentally benign synthetic protocols by employing green chemistry principles. Accordingly, in our recent research work, we herein report the use of modified supramolecular host cyclodextrin as an effective solid based green catalyst for accessing structurally diverse and medicinally relevant pyrimidone architectures. The catalyst and the synthesized compounds 4 (a-r) were characterized using FT-IR, NMR and GC-Mass spectroscopy. Major highlights of the reported work include: atom economical process, extremely milder reaction conditions, operational simplicity, high isolated yields, and excellent catalyst turnover number. The molecular docking studies suggest that the compound 4n has the hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and π-pair interactions with the active site of active sites of CXT M 15 receptor.

In this paper, a new axial-type magnetic gear with auxiliary flux-enhancing structure (AFS-AMG) is proposed. Compared to conventional AFS-AMG, it has the higher torque density and higher permanent magnet (PM) utilization factor. Firstly, the design rules and operating principles of proposed AFS-AMG are elaborated. Then, the mapping relation between the radial-type magnetic gears (RMGs) and AMGs are elucidated. Compared to its counterpart in RMGs, AFS-AMGs achieve small size. Then, the geometrical parameters of AFS-AMGs are optimized to obtain the better electromagnetic performances, where the torque density per volume and per PM volume is adopted as the evaluation standard. Finally, three different AMG topologies are constructed in finite element analysis (FEA) software for comparison. It is proven that the AFS-AMG has the largest torque density per volume and per PM volume.

The continuing mutability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can result in failures of diagnostic assays. To address this, we describe a generalizable bioinformatics-to-biology pipeline developed for calibration and quality assurance of inactivated SARS-COV-2 variant panels provided to Radical Acceleration of Diagnostics programs (RADx)-radical program awardees. Heuristic genetic analysis based on variant-defining mutations demonstrated the lowest genetic variance in the Nucleocapsid protein (Np)- C-terminal domain (CTD) across all SARS-COV-2 variants. We then employed the Shannon entropy method on (Np) sequences collected from the major variants, verifying the CTD with lower entropy (less prone to mutations) than other Np regions. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were raised against this target CTD antigen and used to develop an Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test for SARS-CoV-2. Blinded Viral Quality Assurance (VQA) panels comprising of UV-inactivated SARS CoV-2 variants (XBB.1.5, BF.7, BA.1, B.1.617.2, and WA1) and distractor respiratory viruses (CoV 229E, CoV OC43, RSV A2, RSV B, IAV H1N1, and IBV) were assembled by the RADx-rad Diagnostics core and tested using the ELISA described here. The assay tested positive for all variants with high sensitivity (Limit of Detection: 1.72-8.78 ng/mL) and negative for the distractor virus panel. Epitope mapping for the monoclonal antibodies identified a twenty amino acid antigenic peptide on the Np-CTD that an in-silico program also predicted for the highest antigenicity. This work provides a template for a bioinformatics pipeline to select genetic regions with a low propensity for mutation (low Shannon entropy) to develop robust ‘pan-variant’ antigen-based assays for viruses prone to high mutational rates.

This study evaluates audiogenic epilepsy in Krushinsky-Molodkina rats using a wireless EEG system to overcome the limitations of traditional methods that restrict animal movement. Nine male KM rats, prone to audiogenic seizures, were implanted with electrodes in areas critical for seizure activity (inferior colliculus, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, dorsal area of the secondary auditory cortex, and motor cortex). This setup allowed for the observation of seizures without movement restriction. Results showed that targeted neural intervention via electrode implantation reduced the intensity of convulsive seizures in half of the subjects, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach. The severity of seizures was influenced by the pre-phonostimulation EEG background activity in specific brain regions, identifying them as key in the genesis and generalization of seizures. Observations of dual generalized seizure waves and induced hyperkinesis challenge conventional epilepsy models and suggest new directions for research and therapy development.

Background Nigeria is among the top 5 countries that have the highest gap between people reported as diagnosed and estimated to have developed Tuberculosis (TB). To bridge this gap, there is a need for innovative approaches to identify geographical areas at high risk of TB transmission and targeted Active Case Finding (ACF) interventions. Leveraging community level data together with granular sociodemographic contextual information can unmask local hotspots which could be otherwise missed. This work evaluated if this approach helps to reach communities with higher numbers of undiagnosed TB. Methodology A retrospective analysis of the data generated from an ACF intervention program in 4 south-western states in Nigeria was conducted. Wards (the smallest administrative level in Nigeria) were subdivided into further smaller population clusters. ACF sites and their respective TB screening outputs were mapped to these population clusters. This data was then combined with open-source high resolution contextual data to train a Bayesian inference model. The model predicted TB positivity rates on the community level (population cluster level), and these were visualised on a customised geoportal for use by the local teams to identify communities at high risk of TB transmission and plan ACF interventions. The TB positivity yield (proportion) observed at model-predicted hotspots was compared with the yield obtained at other sites identified based on aggregated notification data. Results The yield in population clusters that were predicted to have high TB positivity rates by the model was at least 1.75 times higher (p-value <0.001) than the yield in other locations in all four states. Conclusion The community level Bayesian predictive model has the potential to guide ACF implementers to high TB positivity areas for finding undiagnosed TB in the communities, thus improving efficiency of interventions.

Risk stratification for malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death is a daunting task for physicians in daily practice. Multiparametric mapping sequences obtained via cardio-vascular magnetic resonance imaging can improve the risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias by unveiling the presence of pathophysiological pro-arrhythmogenic processes. However, their employment in clinical practice is still restricted. The present review explores the current evidence supporting the association between mapping abnormalities and the risk of ventricular arrhyth-mias in several cardiovascular diseases. The key message is that further clinical studies are needed to test the additional value of mapping techniques beyond conventional cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging for selecting patients eligible for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

This study comprehensively evaluates the DNA/RNA Defend Pro (DRDP) sample collection buffer designed to inactivate and stabilize patient samples. The primary objectives encompassed assessing DRDP's efficacy in ensuring sample stability, facilitating extraction-free polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and ensuring compatibility with rapid antigen testing.Ninety-five diagnostic nasopharyngeal swab samples tested for influenza A/B, RSV A/B, and/or SARS-CoV-2 were diluted 1/10 with DRDP and anonymized. Stability testing involved incubating 31 positive samples at 4 °C, 20 °C, and 37 °C for 7 days, with regular extraction-free nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT).Results demonstrated that DRDP guaranteed viral RNA stability at all temperatures for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV showing stability up to 7 days at 4 °C. DRDP-diluted samples exhibited robust compatibility with direct PCR, as 72 out of 88 samples positive for cobas Liat also tested positive for direct PCR. Non-concordant results could be explained by the 200-fold lower input in the extraction-free NAAT.Compared to NAAT, rapid antigen testing demonstrated lower sensitivity, as expected, while maintaining perfect specificity. Clear cutoffs between positive and negative rapid antigen testing results were observed in both cobas Liat and direct PCR analyses, validating DRDP's compatibility with these techniques. In conclusion, DRDP is an effective stabilizing medium compatible with direct PCR and rapid antigen testing and shows great potential for optimizing diagnostic processes, particularly in resource-limited or time-sensitive scenarios.

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) refers to small fragments of DNA molecules released after programmed cell death and necrosis in several body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. The discovery of cfDNA has revolutionized the field of non-invasive diagnostics in the oncologic field, in prenatal testing, and in organ transplantation. Despite the potential of cfDNA and the solid results published in recent literature, several challenges remain, represented by low abundance, need for highly sensitive assays and analytical issues. In this review, the main technical advances in cfDNA analysis are presented and discussed, with a comprehensive examination of the current available methodologies applied in each field. Considering the potential advantages of cfDNA, this biomarker is increasing its consensus among clinicians, as it consents to monitor patients’ conditions in an easy and non-invasive way, offering a more personalized care. Nevertheless, cfDNA analysis is still considered a research marker to be further validated, and very few centers are implementing its analysis in the real-life assistance. As technical improvements are enhancing the performances of cfDNA analysis, its application will transversally improve patients’ quality of life.

Hyperspectral imaging data holds great potential for the different stages of the mining life cycle in active and post-mining environments. However, the technology has yet to reach the stage of large-scale industrial implementation and acceptance. While hyperspectral satellite imagery can achieve high spectral resolution, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and global availability with break-through satellite systems like EnMAP, EMIT and PRISMA, limited spatial resolution poses chal-lenges for sectors like mining, which require decimetre to centimetre scale resolution for applica-tions such as reconciliation, ore/waste estimates, geotechnical assessments and environmental monitoring. Hyperspectral imaging from drones (referred to herein as Uncrewed Aerial Systems; UASs) offers high spatial resolution data relevant to the camp/ mine scale, with the capability for frequent, user-defined re-visit times. This has been made possible by the miniaturization of hy-perspectral imaging systems. Collection of data in the visible to near and shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) wavelength regions enables the detection of different minerals and surface altera-tion patterns potentially revealing crucial information for exploration, extraction, re-mining, waste remediation, and rehabilitation. In this paper, we provide a review of relevant studies de-ploying hyperspectral imaging in or applicable to the mining sector, especially for the use of hy-perspectral VNIR-SWIR Uncrewed Aerial Systems. Where required, we draw on previous in-sights derived from satellite or ground-based systems. We also discuss UAS survey planning, and sampling considerations for validation and interpretation.

Over the last several years, large-scale cancer genomics studies involving multi region, multi-sample sequencing indicate that most or at least many cancer patients may have one or more “clonal" mutations in their tumors. Clonal mutations are those that are present in all of a patient’s cancer cells. They can be identified via multiregion, multisample biopsies - or circulating tumor cells/cell-free DNA. Achilles Therapeutics is currently the only company targeting patient-specific, clonal mutations. They have opted to utilize an immunotherapy approach. However, I recently devised another approach for exploiting clonal mutations called “Oncolytic Vector Replication Contingent on Omnipresent Mutation Engagement” (OVERCOME). It is based on the identification of patient-specific, clonal mutations and targeting them using a bioengineered facultative intracellular bacterium. It would be initially non-replicating, but transiently regain the ability to replicate (and also transiently become hyper-virulent) upon mutation detection via molecular switches.

The stability issues in the widely known organic inorganic halide perovskite, CH3NH3PbI3, lead to the development of alternative halide double perovskite materials which get great attention in recent times. Although the stability issue seems promising, both materials and device performance of these photovoltaic materials remain inferior and challenging for improvements. Furthermore, the power conversion efficiency of single junction organic inorganic halide perovskite is now 24.2% and 29.15% for textured monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell, but for all-inorganic halide perovskite solar cell is 7.11% and halide double perovskite solar cells based on Cs2AgBiBr6 and Cs2TiBr6 is 2.8% and 3.3%, respectively, which is far less than 24.2% and 29.15%, respectively. This creates big question and concern that can both all-inorganic halide perovskite solar cell and halide double perovskites solar cells really be an acceptable alternatives to replace organic inorganic halide perovskite solar cells or lead based perovskite solar cells in the market in order to realize the practical applications? Not only this concern, but also there are many other big challenges facing by halide double perovskite solar cells. Such big challenges include: a) geometric constraints and limited integration with interfacial materials, b) dynamic disorder and a wide bandgap and localized conduction band caused by cubic unit cell which restrains the interactions of orbitals, c) high processing temperature which may limit on the diverse applications, d) low electronic dimensionality making them less appropriate for single junction solar cell purpose and etc. Moreover, origin of electronic and optical properties such as the polarizability, the presence of molecular dipoles and their influence on the dynamics of the photo-excitations in the halide double perovskites remains unlock concern that need to be elucidated. Now, another big question is how to develop overcoming mechanisms for such challenges. Can we really overcome these current limitations faced by halide double perovskites so that we use them for commercialization? This research roadmap for performance improvement is suggested focusing on: materials surface and bulk engineering, bandgap engineering, interfacial engineering, composition engineering, doping engineering, device architectural engineering, polar and domain order engineering. This was the reason that this review was developed in order to forward great contributions to the readers and commercial ventures.

Fundus image registration plays a crucial role in the clinical evaluation of ocular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, necessitating meticulous monitoring. The alignment of multiple fundus images enables the longitudinal analysis of patient progression, widening the visual scope, or augmenting resolution for detailed examinations. Currently, prevalent methodologies rely on feature-based approaches for fundus registration. However, certain methods exhibit high feature point density, posing challenges in matching due to point similarity. This study introduces a novel fundus image registration technique integrating U-Net for the extraction of feature points employing FIVES for its training and evaluation, a novel and large dataset for blood vessels segmentation, prioritizing point distribution over abundance. Subsequently, the method employs medial axis transform and pattern detection to obtain feature points characterized by the Fast Retina Keypoint (FREAK) descriptor, facilitating matching for transformation matrix computation. Assessment of the vessel segmentation achieves 0.7559 for Intersection Over Union (IoU), while evaluation on the Fundus Image Registration Dataset (FIRE) demonstrates the method’s comparative performance against existing methods, yielding a registration error of 0.596 for area under the curve, refining similar earlier methods and suggesting promising performance comparable to prior methodologies.

Cardiomyopathies (CMPs) are a group of myocardial disorders that are characterized by structural and functional abnormalities of the heart muscle. These abnormalities occur in the absence of coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, valvular disease, and congenital heart disease. CMPs are an increasingly important topic in the field of cardiovascular diseases due to the complexity of their diagnosis and management. In 2023, the ESC guidelines on cardiomyopathies were first published, marking significant progress in the field. The growth of techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and genetics has been fueled by the development of multimodal imaging approaches. For the diagnosis of CMPs, a multimodal imaging approach, including CMR, is recommended. CMR has become the standard for non-invasive analysis of cardiac morphology and myocardial function. This document provides an overview of the role of CMR in CMPs, with a focus on tissue mapping. CMR enables the characterization of myocardial tissues and the assessment of cardiac functions. CMR sequences and techniques, such as late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and parametric mapping, provide detailed information on tissue composition, fibrosis, edema, and myocardial perfusion. These techniques offer valuable insights for early diagnosis, prognostic evaluation, and therapeutic guidance of CMPs. The use of quantitative CMR markers enables personalized treatment plans, improving overall patient outcomes. This review aims to serve as a guide for the use of these new tools in clinical practice.

Hard tissue apposition along the root canal walls is a slow, normally occurring physiological aging process. In response to tooth wear, local deposition of hard tissue may also occur in the pulp at a slow pace. Sometimes, the rate of hard tissue deposition acceleration may seem to be uncontrolled after dental trauma, autotransplantation, and orthodontic therapy, leading to rapid partial or total obliteration of the root canal space. This situation is called calcific metamorphosis (CM) or pulp canal obliteration (PCO). Although the incidence of pulpal necrosis in these teeth is believed to be infrequent, conventional endodontic therapy in severely calcified canals poses extreme difficulties and a higher risk for procedural accidents. This article aims to review the available approaches for the predictable negotiation of calcified canals and to introduce the buckling resistance activation test (BRAT) technique.

Genetic variability in rice breeding program plays the very crucial role. It provides outstanding pool of superior alleles governing better agronomic and quality characters through association mapping. For the understanding of population structure and genetic relationship among the different rice lines is indispensable prior to setting of correlation among dynamic alleles and traits. In the present investigation, genetic diversity and population structure of 116 rice accessions by using 64 polymorphic SSR markers was targeted for the evaluation of the genetic relatedness and diversity. Genotyping assessment based on SSR markers revealed a total of 225 alleles, with an average PIC value of 0.755. The germplasm lines were classified into three distinct subgroups through population structure analysis, utilizing both model and distance-based approaches. AMOVA analysis showed that 11% of the total variation could be attributed to differences between groups, while the remaining 89% of the variation was likely due to differences within groups. The study suggests that the population structure and genetic relatedness should be considered when working with the core collection of 116 rice germplasm lines for association mapping, aiming to establish marker-trait associations.

: Considering that Einstein's relation between the diffusion coefficient and the drift mobility of the free randomly moving charge carriers in homogeneous materials including metals is always valid, it is shown that the effective electric force acting on free electrons in metal depends on the ratio between the kinetic free electron energy at the Fermi surface to the classical particle energy 3kT/2. The electrical resistivity of elemental metals dependence on very low temperatures has the quadratic term, which has been explained by electron-electron scattering. In this paper, it is shown that the quadratic term of the electrical resistivity at low temperatures is caused by scattering of the free RM electrons by electronic defects due to linear effective free electron scattering cross-section dependence on temperature, but not by electron-electron scattering.

Background. Gene rearrangements affecting KMT2A are frequent in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and are often associated with a poor prognosis. KMT2A gene fusions are often detected by chromosome banding analysis and confirmed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization. However, small intragenic insertions, termed KMT2A partial tandem duplication (PTD), are particularly challenging to detect using standard molecular and cytogenetic approaches. Methods. We have validated the use of a custom hybrid capture based next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel for comprehensive profiling of AML patients seen at our institution. This NGS panel targets the entire consensus coding DNA sequence of KMT2A; to deduce the presence of a PTD we used the relative ratio of KMT2A exons coverage. We sought to corroborate the KMT2A-PTD NGS results using (1) multiplex-ligation probe amplification (MLPA) and (2) optical genome mapping (OGM). Results. We analyzed 932 AML cases and identified 41 individuals harboring a KMT2A-PTD. MLPA, NGS and OGM confirmed the presence of a KMT2A-PTD in 22 of the cases analyzed where orthogonal testing was possible. Two false positive PTD calls by NGS could be explained by the presence of cryptic structural variants impacting KMT2A and interfering with PTD analysis. OGM revealed the nature of these previously undetected gene rearrangements in KMT2A, while MLPA yielded in-conclusive results. MLPA analysis for KMT2A-PTD is limited to exon 4, whereas NGS and OGM resolved KMT2A-PTD sizes and copy number levels. Conclusion. KMT2A-PTDs are complex gene rearrangements that cannot be fully ascertained using a single genomic platform. MLPA, NGS panels and OGM are complementary technologies applied in standard of care testing for AML patients. MLPA and NGS panels are designed for targeted copy number analysis; however, our results show that integration of concurrent genomic alterations is needed for accurate KMT2A-PTD identification. Unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements overlapping with KMT2A can interfere with the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of copy number based KMT2A-PTD detection methodologies.

Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in males and in females, representing 8% of estimated new cases and the third cause of cancer-related death in both sexes, accounting for 9% of cancer deaths in men and 8% in women. About 20% of patients diagnosed with CRC present metastatic disease. Although lung metachronous or synchronous metastatic spread without other involved sites has been reported in only a small proportion of patients, considering that this tumor is frequently diagnosed, the clinical approach to CRC pulmonary metastases represents a major issue for thoracic surgeons and CRC oncologists. Among patients diagnosed with pulmonary metastases from CRC, about 9 – 12% are eligible for local treatments with radical intent, including surgical resection, SBRT and ablation therapy. Due to the lack of randomized controlled trials among different local strategies, there is no definitive evidence about the optimal approach, although surgical resection is considered the most effective therapeutic option in this clinical scenario. Oncological achievement of primary radical resection, the biology of primary tumor and metastatic sites, disease free interval and or progression free survival are independent prognostic factors which make it possible to define a cohort of patients which might significantly benefit from pulmonary metastasectomy.

Biochar (BC) is a carbonaceous material obtained by pyrolysis at 200−1000 °C in the limited presence of O2 of different vegetable and animal biomass feedstocks. BC has demonstrated great potential, mainly in environmental applications, due to its high sorption ability and persistent free radicals (PFRs) content. These characteristics enable BCs to carry out the direct and PFRs-mediated removal/degradation of environmental organic and inorganic contaminants. The types of PFRs possibly present in BC depend mainly on the pyrolysis temperature and the kind of pristine biomass. Since they also can cause ecological and human damage, a systematic evaluation of the environmental behavior, risks, or management techniques of BC-derived PFRs is urgent. PFRs generally could consist of a mixture of carbon- and oxygen-centered radicals, and of oxygenated carbon-centered radicals, depending on the pyrolytic conditions. Here, to promote a more productive and beneficial use of BC and related PFRs and stimulate further studies to make them environmentally safer and less hazardous to humans, we have first reviewed the most common methods used to produce BC, its main environmental applications, the primary mechanisms by which BC remove xenobiotics, as well as the reported mechanisms for PFRs formation in BCs. Secondly, we have discussed the PFRs environmental migration and transformation; we have reported the main PFRs-mediated applications of BCs to degrade inorganic and organic pollutants, the correlated environmental potential risks, and the possible strategies to limit them.

The Simulation analogy presented in this work enhances the accessibility of abstract quantum theories, specifically the stochastic hydrodyanimc model (SQHM), by relating them to our daily experiences. The SQHM incorporates the influence of fluctuating gravitational background, resembling dark energy, into quantum equations. This model successfully addresses key aspects of Objective-Collapse Theories, including resolving the 'tails' problem through the definition of quantum potential length in addition to the De Broglie length, beyond which coherent Schrödinger quantum behavior and wavefunction tails cannot be maintained. The SQHM emphasizes that an external environment is unnecessary, asserting that the quantum stochastic behavior leading to wave-function collapse can be an inherent property of a system in a spacetime with fluctuating metrics. Embedded in relativistic quantum mechanics, the theory establishes a coherent link between the uncertainty principle and the constancy of light speed, aligning seamlessly with finite information transmission speed. Within a fluctuating quantum system, the SQHM derives the indeterminacy relation between energy and time, offering insights into measurement processes impossible within a finite time interval in a truly quantum global system. Experimental validation is found in confirming the Lindemann constant for solid lattice melting points and the transition from fluid to superfluid states. The SQHM's self-consistency lies in its ability to describe wavefunction collapse and the measure process. Additionally, the theory resolves the Pre-existing Reality problem by showing that large-scale systems naturally decay into decoherent states stable in time. Continuing, the paper demonstrates that the physical dynamics of SQHM can be analogized to a computer simulation employing optimization procedures for realization. This perspective elucidates the concept of time in contemporary reality and enriches our comprehension of free will. The overall framework introduces an irreversible process impacting the manifestation of macroscopic reality at the present time, asserting that the multiverse exists solely in future states, with the past comprising the formed universe after the current moment. Decoherence at the present time functions as a reduction of the multiverse to a single universe. The macroscopic reality, characterized by fractal consistency where microscopic domains with quantum properties coexist, provides insights into how our consciousness apprehends dynamic reality, the spontaneous emergence of gravity in discrete spacetime evolution, and the attainment of the classical General Relativity limit in Quantum Loop Gravity and Causal Dynamical Triangulation. The Simulation Analogy highlights a strategy focused on minimizing information processing, facilitating the universal simulation in solving its predetermined problem. From within, reality becomes the manifestation of specific physical laws emerging from the inherent structure of the simulation devised to address its particular issue. In this context, the reality simulation appears to employ an entropic optimization strategy, minimizing information loss while efficiently compressing data in line with the simulation's intended purpose.

In this paper we present two ways to solve the Jacobian conjecture. The first way is an equivalent statement to the Jacobian conjecture using idempotent ideals. The second way is to use an equivalent thesis to the thesis of the Jacobian conjecture. In both cases we will show that the Jacobian conjecture is true.

We study Einstein's gravity coupled to nonlinear electrodynamics with two parameters in Anti-de Sitter spacetime. Magnetically charged black holes in an extended phase space is investigated. We obtain the mass and metric functions, their asymptotic and corrections to the Reissner--Nordstr\"{o}m metric function when the cosmological constant vanishes. The first law of black hole thermodynamics in extended phase space is formulated and the magnetic potential and the thermodynamic conjugate to the coupling are obtained. We proved the generalized Smarr relation. The heat capacity and the Gibbs free energy are computed and phase transitions are studied. It was shown that the electric field of charged objects at the origin and electrostatic self-energy are finite within the nonlinear electrodynamics proposed.

German noise action plans aim to reduce negative health outcomes from noise exposure and identify quiet areas free of noise pollution. Quiet area identification in German noise action plans is based primarily on noise mapping and spatial analysis and not empirical or qualitative data about acoustic environments, thus leaving a gap in the understanding of the quality of formally recognized quiet areas in noise action plans. This work presents a comparative empirical case study in Dortmund, Germany, with the aim to describe the diurnal dB(A) and biophonic properties of quiet areas versus noise 'hot spots'. Sound observations were collected (n=282,764) in five different natural or recreational land use patch types larger than four acres within 33 proposed quiet areas in Dortmund (n=70) and 23 noise hot spots between April 27^th, 2022 and March 2^nd, 2023. We find that quiet areas are on average more than 20 dB(A) quieter than noise hot spots almost every hour of the day. Forests, managed tree stands, cemeteries, and agriculture diel patterns are dominated by dawn dusk chorus in spring and summer, whereas sport and recreation as well as noise hot spots are dominated by traffic and human noise. A novel composite biophony mapping procedure is presented that finds distinct temporal distribution of biophony in forested and agriculture peri-urban locations positively associated with patch size, distance away from LDEN > 55, proximity to water, and the number of vegetation layers in the plant community. Anthrophony distribution dominates urban land uses in all hours of the day, but expands during day and evening and contracts at night and in dusk hours. The procedures presented here illustrate how qualitative information regarding quiet areas can be integrated into German noise action planning.

Ambitious biodiversity goals to protect 30% or more of the Earth’s surface by 2030 (30x30) require strategic near-term targets. To define areas that must be protected to prevent the most likely and imminent extinctions, we propose Conservation Imperatives—16,825 unprotected sites harboring rare and threatened species and spanning ~164 Mha of the terrestrial realm. We estimate that protecting the Conservation Imperatives would cost approximately US$169 billion [90% probability: $146 — $228 billion]. Globally, 38% of the 16,825 sites are either adjacent to or within 2.5 km of an existing protected area, potentially reducing land acquisition and management costs. These sites should be prioritized for conservation action over the next five years as part of a broader strategy to expand the global protected area network. The expansion of global protected areas between 2018–2023 incorporated only 7% of sites harboring range-limited and threatened species, highlighting a renewed urgency to conserve these habitats. Permanently protecting only 0.74% of land found in the tropics, where Conservation Imperatives are concentrated, could prevent the majority of predicted near-term extinctions once adequately resourced. We estimate this cost to be US$29 billion to US$46 billion per year over the next five years. Multiple approaches will be required to meet long-term protection goals: providing rights and title to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) conserving traditional lands, government designation of new protected areas on federal and state lands, and land purchase or long-term leasing of privately held lands.

Recent advancements in molecular diagnostics have highlighted the potential of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) as a biomarker in various diseases. This study aims to explore the role of ccfDNA in the early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring of diseases, with a focus on oncology. We conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of current literature, combined with experimental approaches involving advanced genomic sequencing and bioinformatics techniques. Our research systematically characterizes the molecular composition of ccfDNA, including its origins, size distribution, and methylation patterns, across different disease states. Furthermore, we investigate the dynamics of ccfDNA release and clearance in the bloodstream, elucidating mechanisms that could influence its diagnostic accuracy. In the context of cancer, we analyze the correlation between tumor-derived ccfDNA and disease progression, response to therapy, and overall survival. Our findings indicate that ccfDNA holds promise as a non-invasive biomarker for early disease detection, real-time monitoring of treatment efficacy, and potentially, predicting relapse. This study contributes to the growing field of liquid biopsies and opens new avenues for personalized medicine, emphasizing the need for standardized protocols in ccfDNA analysis to maximize its clinical utility. The implications of our findings extend beyond oncology, suggesting potential applications of ccfDNA in other pathological conditions.

This comprehensive review traces the transformative journey of genomic mapping, ushering in the era of "Genomic Atlas 2.0," characterized by advanced strategies and cutting-edge technologies. Beginning with a historical overview, it highlights the evolution from early linkage analysis to the current landscape shaped by high-throughput sequencing. Key breakthroughs are emphasized, showcasing the pivotal role of platforms such as Illumina and Oxford Nanopore in accelerating the identification of genetic variations. Long-read sequencing technologies, including PacBio and Oxford Nanopore, are explored as transformative elements overcoming limitations associated with short-read sequencing. The review delves into spatial genomics and chromatin conformation capture techniques, revealing the three-dimensional intricacies of the genome, with a particular focus on the revolutionary impact of Hi-C in understanding chromatin interactions. CRISPR technologies emerge as indispensable tools in Genomic Atlas 2.0, enabling targeted genome editing and the generation of precise genetic models. Functional genomics screens, utilizing RNA interference and CRISPR-based techniques, are discussed for their scalable precision in deciphering genome functions. Navigating challenges, the review addresses complexities in data integration and ethical considerations, offering strategies to ensure the robustness and ethical conduct of genetic mapping. Looking optimistically towards the future, it explores opportunities such as improved sequencing accuracy and novel applications of CRISPR technologies. Envisioning the expansion of genomics into personalized medicine, agriculture, and conservation biology, the review serves as a guiding resource for researchers, scientists, and students navigating the intricate terrain of Genomic Atlas 2.0.

Color centers in diamond and nanodiamonds can be utilized as quantum sensors for measuring various physical parameters, particularly magnetic and electric fields, as well as temperature. Due to its small size and possible surface functionalization, fluorescent nanodiamonds are attractive systems for biological and medical applications since they can be used for intracellular experiments. This review focuses on fluorescent nanodiamonds for thermometry with nanoscale spatial resolution for living systems. The current state of the art, possible further development, and potential limitations will be discussed here.

Abstract: Toxicity of emerging organic pollutants to photosystems of aquatic plants are still not well clarified. This study aimed to develop a novel ecotoxicological experimental protocol based on nanoscale electrochemical mapping of photosynthetic oxygen evolution of aquatic plants by SECM (scanning electrochemical microscopy). The protocol was also checked by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), the traditional Clark oxygen electrode method and chlorophyll fluorescence technique. The typical persistent organic pollutant 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in water environment and the common aquatic Microsorium pteropus (M. pteropus) were chosen as the model organic pollutant and tested plant, respectively. It was found that the SECM method could well discriminated the responses of stoma micromorphology and spatial pattens of photosynthetic oxygen evolution on single stoma. The shape of stoma blurred with increasing 2,4-DCP concentration, which was in good agreement with the CLSM images. The dose-response curves and IC50 values obtained from the SECM data were verified by the data measured by the traditional Clark oxygen electrode method and chlorophyll fluorescence test. The IC50 value of single stoma oxygen emission of 24 h exposed plant leave, which was derived from the SECM current data (32535 μg L-1), was close to those calculated from the maximum photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) measured by chlorophyll fluorescence test (33963 μg L-1), and the Clark oxygen electrode method photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate (32375 μg L-1). The 72 h and 96 h 2,4-DCP exposure data further confirmed the reliability of the nanoscale stoma oxygen emission mapping methodology for ecotoxicological assessment. In this protocol, the procedures for how to collect effective electrochemical data and how to extract useful information from the single stoma oxygen emission pattern were well established. This study showed that SECM is a feasible and reliable ecotoxicological tool for evaluation of toxicity of organic pollutants to higher plants with unique nanoscale visualization advantage over the conventional methods.

The purpose of this study is to show an automated laser vision correction (LVC) with the transep-ithelial refractive keratectomy (TransPRK) surgery technique. Since more surgical steps have been automated over the years, we have standardized the TransPRK technique. We have been using it since 2010. This paper aims to illustrate the processes that are readily applicable to automation. To meet the patient's expectations and ensure that the patient has uncorrected visual acuity at least equal to the preoperative corrected vision with glasses, patient selection is crucial in refractive surgical procedures. One major benefit of automating the surgery is that it can be performed in a similar way by each surgeon or laser correction centre, so once the standard and results are good, these can be per-formed by different surgeons.

Patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) and favorable survival prognoses may benefit from radiation doses exceeding 10 x 3.0 Gy. In a multi-center phase 2 trial, patients receiving 15 x 2.633 Gy (41.6 Gy10) or 18 x 2.333 Gy (43.2 Gy10) were evaluated for local progression-free survival (LPFS), motor/sensory functions, ambulatory status, pain, distress, toxicity, and overall survival (OS). They were compared (propensity score adjusted Cox regression) to a historical control group (N=266) receiving 10 x 3.0 Gy (32.5 Gy10). In the phase 2-cohort, 50 (of 62 planned) patients were evaluable for LPFS. Twelve-month rates of LPFS and OS were 96.8% and 69.9%, respectively. Motor and sensory functions improved in 56% and 57.1% of patients, and 94.0% were ambulatory following radiotherapy. Pain and distress decreased in 84.4% and 78.0% of patients. Ten and two patients experienced grade 2 and 3 toxicities, respectively. Phase 2 patients showed significantly better LPFS than the control group (p = 0.039) and a trend for improved motor function (p = 0.057). Ambulatory and OS rates were not significantly different. Radiotherapy with 15 x 2.633 Gy or 18 x 2.333 Gy was well tolerated and appeared superior to 10 x 3.0 Gy.

We presented unusual case of double left ventricular false aneurysm complicating late presentation AMI successfully treated with the combination of urgent surgical drainage of tamponade, staged PCI of non-culprit lesion, preventive implantation of ICD-DR, guideline directed heart failure medical therapy and delayed but effective reconstructive operation.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a pivotal role in cellular function, and their overproduction contributes to oxidative stress, fatigue, aging, and diseases. To counteract these effects, incorpo-rating antioxidant-rich nutrients is recommended. Functional waters, including electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW), are gaining attention for potential antioxidant effects through daily in-take. This study employs aquaphotomics and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind the antioxidant activity of EHW. Previous investigation reported a 100% loss in antioxidant functionality through autoclaving, and a 40% decrease with hydrogen gas removal, prompting the current investigation into the mechanisms of antioxidant effects and especially the role of water molecular structure in it. Aquaphotomics analysis of near infrared (NIR) spectral data revealed that the primary characteristic of EHW associated with anti-radical function is presence of water solvation shells. Autoclaving and degassing led to loss of these water molecular species and a significant increase in free water molecules. The study suggests that water shells (solvation shells) in EHW play a crucial role in neutralizing ROS, although the specific ions or nanoparticles responsible for creating these shells remain unidentified. This concept aligns well with existing proposals of the crucial role of water solvation shells in ROS neutralization.

A theoretical account of development in mesocortical anatomy is derived from the free energy principle, operating in a neural field with both Hebbian and anti-Hebbian neural plasticity. An elementary structural unit is proposed, in which synaptic connections at mesoscale are arranged in paired patterns with mirror symmetry. Exchanges of synaptic flux in each pattern form coupled spatial eigenmodes, and the line of mirror reflection between the paired patterns operates as a Markov blanket, so that prediction errors in exchanges between the pairs are minimized. The theoretical analysis is then compared to the outcomes from a biological model of cortical neurodevelopment, in which neuron precursors are selected by apoptosis for cell body and synaptic connections maximizing synchrony and also minimizing axonal length. It is shown that this model results in patterns of connection with the anticipated mirror symmetries, at micro-, meso- and inter-arial scales, among lateral connections, and in cortical depth, explaining the spatial organization and functional significance of neuron response preferences, and compatible with features of both columnar and noncolumnar cortex. Multi-way interactions of mirrored representations provide a preliminary anatomically realistic model of cortical information processing.

Study design: Technical note. Objectives: To present a new technique of treatment for a patient with thoracolumbar focal kyphosis due to osteoporotic verte-bral fracture (OVFs). Background : OVFs are common among the elderly population. Following a severe wedged fracture, patients often experience low back pain and disruptions in activities of daily living. Reconstruction surgeries, such as corpectomy, are among the treatment options for this condition. However, corpectomy requires longer surgical times and involves a significant amount of blood loss. Materials and Methods : An 80-year-old woman presented to our hospital with severe low back pain and gait disturbance. She had experienced an L2 OVF six years prior. Although she had no neurological deficit, she could not walk more than 200m due to pain. Preoperative spinal radiographs revealed severe sagittal malalignment, with the L2 vertebra collapsed and focal kyphosis of L1-3 measuring 34 degrees. Results: The patient underwent anterior and posterior surgery in the right decubitus position using a C-arm free technique. The surgical time was 133 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 100 ml. Hyperlordotic cages were inserted in the upper and lower disc space via a lateral approach, while percutaneous pedicle screws (PPS) were inserted from a posterior approach. These procedures were performed simultaneously under navigation guidance only. Post-operative images showed excellent spinal alignment, with local kyphosis reduced from 34 to 14 degrees, and no major or severe complications occurred. At one-year follow-up, the patient was able to walk smoothly, with her visual analogue scale for low back pain improving from 73mm to 13mm, and her Oswestry Disability Index improving from 53.3% to 13.3%. Conclusions/Level of Evidence : The simultaneous use of hyperlordotic cages and PPS is an effective and innovative navigation technique that yields promising outcomes for thoracolumbar focal kyphosis resulting from OVFs. This approach not only reduces surgical time but also minimizes intraoperative blood loss. Level V.

Byers Peninsula is considered one of the largest ice-free areas in Maritime Antarctica. Since 2006, the Spanish Polar Program has taken part in a large number of environmental studies involving effects of climate changes in lives cycles, limnology and microbiology. Soils from maritime Antarctica are generally weakly developed and have chemical, physical and morphological characteristics strongly influenced by the parent material. However, biological activity during the short Antarctic summer promotes intense transference of nutrients and organic matter in areas occupied by different species of birds and marine mammals. To mapping and monitoring those areas with high biological occupation, could be very useful to have models of edaphic properties prepared from satellite images. In this approach, Deep Learning and Linear Regression models of soil properties and spectral indexes as explicative variables were performed. We training models of soil properties closely related to biological activity such as Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and the iron fraction associated with organic matter (Fe). We tested the best approach to model the spatial distribution of DOC, Fe and pH by training models of Linear Regression and Deep Learning over Sentinel2 and WorldView2 images. The most robust models were used to track possible areas with ornithogenic soils as well as areas of the Byers Peninsula that could support the highest biological development.

Structural variations (SVs) play a key role in the pathogenicity of hematological malignancies. Optical genome mapping (OGM) is an emerging technology that enables genome-wide detection of all classes of SVs at a high resolution and sensitivity. Identification of cryptic SVs leading to gene disruption or predicted novel gene fusions could be important drivers for cancer development and/or portend a prognostic relevance, which could be used to modify the treatment plan. A cohort of 106 consented cases that had a successful OGM analysis performed were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and treatment data were collected. Routine diagnostic and prognostic testing were done on the peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate as indicated. Additional samples of peripheral blood and/or bone marrow were sent for OGM testing. OGM led to a change in risk stratification in 17/66 (25.75%) of patients with hematological malignancies, the majority of these patients (15/66, 22.72%), having their risk stratification upgraded with a resulting change in treatment of 14 patients. This study highlights the ability of OGM to detect rare, cryptic and clinically relevant variants that potentially impact disease diagnosis, risk stratification and actionable treatment targets.

Nucleosomes are non-uniformly distributed across eukarytic genomes, with stretches of ‘open’ chromatin strongly associated with transcriptionally active promoters and enhancers. Understanding chromatin accessibility patterns in normal tissue and how they are altered in pathologies can provide critical insights to development and disease. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing, a variety of strategies have been devised to identify open regions across the genome, including DNase-seq, MNase-seq, FAIRE-seq, ATAC-seq, and NicE-seq. However, the broad application of such methods to FFPE (formalin-fixed paraffin embedded) tissues has been curtailed by the major technical challenges imposed by highly fixed and damaged genomic material. Here we review the most common approaches for mapping open chromatin regions, recent optimizations to overcome the challenges of working with FFPE tissue, and a brief overview of a typical data pipeline with analysis considerations.

A regional modern river-sand geochemical mapping study in the majority of the Timor-Leste territory, including the research area, has not been previously reported. This study demonstrated the potential of modern river sand geochemical mapping as an effective method for lithological mapping, particularly in areas that face challenges in conducting efficient geological fieldwork and have limited geological information. A total of 53 modern river sand samples were collected and analyzed. Before examining the samples using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence for ten major elements, the loss-on-ignition method was employed. In the Clerec drainage basin, SiO2, CaO, and K2O showed positive correlations, and CaO was positively correlated with MnO. Similarly, in the Sahe River catchment, a positive relationship was observed between CaO, MnO, and TiO2. These findings suggested the presence of quartz, manganese, secondary K-bearing minerals, and secondary Ti-bearing minerals in carbonate rocks that have undergone silicification and other alteration processes. The principal component analysis results corroborated the SiO2/Al2O3 and K2O/Na2O ratios and the ICV findings. PC1 was related to the variations in Ca-poor and Ca-rich rocks; PC2 indicated notable inputs from SiO2-rich and SiO2-poor rocks; and PC3 revealed the possibility of contributions from secondary mineral assemblages related to silicification and low-grade metamorphic processes.

Genetic enhancement of grain production and quality is a priority in wheat breeding projects. In this study, we assessed two key agronomic traits - grain protein content (GPC) and thousand kernel weight (TKW) - across 179 Bulgarian contemporary and historic varieties, and landraces in three growing seasons. Significant phenotypic variation existed for both traits among genotypes and seasons, and no discernible difference was evident between the old and modern accessions. To understand the genetic basis of the traits, we conducted a genome-wide association study with MLM using phenotypic data from the crop seasons, best linear unbiased estimators, genotypic data from the 25K Infinium iSelect array, and a Bonferroni-adjusted p-value. As a result, 776 significant quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) organized into quantitative trait loci were discovered, including 25 loci associated with GPC, and 35 loci linked to TKW. Additionally, 14 environmentally stable QTNs were identified for TKW. Certain loci on chromosomes 2A, 3A, and 6B favorably in-fluenced GPC, while the locus on chromosome 6D impacted TKW positively. These loci may reflect novel associations to the two traits. Annotations for proteins involved in the remobilization of carbon and nitrogen from vegetative tissues to developing grain during senescence, as well as in the following buildup of resources required for seed germination, have been found for selected pu-tative candidate genes. These include genes coding for 11S globulin seed storage protein, glutamine synthetase, metalloendopeptidase, components of the ubiquitin/proteasome system, sucrose transporter, alpha-amylase, NAC and bZIP transcription factors. Our findings highlight promising genomic regions for targeted breeding programs aimed at improving grain yield and protein content.

Recognition, decoding and tracking of vortex patterns is of increasing importance in many fields reaching from astronomical observation of distant galaxies to turbulence phenomena in liquids or gases. Currently, coherent light beams with orbital angular momentum (OAM) are of particular interest for optical communication, metrology, micro-machining or particle manipulation. One common task is to identify characteristic spiral patterns in pixelated intensity maps at real-world signal-to-noise ratios. Recently, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was applied to the quantitative analysis of spiral interference patterns of OAM beams. Our study considers this approach in more detail. It is demonstrated that specific information can be extracted by combining conformal mapping by polar transform with determining one- or two-dimensional angular frequency spectra either in spatially fixed or scanning mode. Results of proof-of-principle experiments are presented.

In this paper we investigate some properties of square-free numbers. In particular, we study a function that counts the number of square-free numbers no larger than the given number n. We show that this function has asymptotics consistent with the predictions of the Riemann hypothesis and use this to obtain new and better estimates of the density of square-free numbers. Finally, we present a well-known generalization of the concept of a square-free number to monoids and research on square-free factorizations.

Study design: Technical note. Objectives: To present a novel technique of treatment for patient with basilar invagination. Background : Basilar invagination (BI) is considered a congenital condition and can compress the cervicomedullary junction, causing neurologic deficit. Severe neurological deficit due to BI should be treated surgically. However, there is controversy regarding whether an anterior or posterior approach should be used. Anterior approach is optimal for decompression of cervicomedullary junction, but this approach has high complication rates. Posterior reduction has a high risk of occipital screws backout and/or instrument failure. Materials and Methods : A 15-year-old boy with severe myelopathy was referred to our hospital. He had neck pain, muscle weakness of bilateral upper limbs, gait disturbance appeared 3 months before he visited our hospital, he drops a cup several times recently. In the examination, he had hyperreflexia of upper and lower limbs and muscle weakness of bilateral arms (MMT 4), hypoesthesis was observed bilaterally below elbow and both legs. He also had clumsiness of bilateral hands, mild urinary and bowel incontinence, and spastic gait. His 10 second grip and release test was 16 in both hands. His grip power was 20 kg in right and 17 kg in left. Radiograms showed severe BI and spinal cord was severely compressed with odontoid process.. Results : The patinet underwent posterior surgery with C-arm free technique. All screws including occipital screws were inserted adequate position under navigation guidance. Reduction was achieved with skull rotation and distraction. A follow-up at one year we have these results : Manual muscle testing results and sensory function tests showed almost full recovery, bilateral arms (MMT 5) ,walking smoothly. Cervical Japanese orthopedic association score of the patient has improved from 9/17 to 16/17. Post-operative images showed an excellent spinal cord decompression, and no major or severe complications has occured . Conclusions/Level of Evidence : Basilar invagination with Klippel-Feil syndrome is relatively rare condition. Posterior approach and occipito-cervical fixation for BI treatment with navigation technique is a safe method to treat severe myelopaty with reducible odontoid. This novel navigation technique provides an excellent results for a patient with BI. Level V.

Flooding is one major environmental problem facing urban cities causing varying degree of damages to properties and disruptions to socio-economic activities. Nigeria is the most populated African country and Kano metropolis is the second largest urban center in Nigeria and the most populated in Northern Nigeria. The aim of the paper is to conduct flood risk assessment of Kano metropolis. The city is divided into two hydrological basins; Challawa and Jakara Basins. Flood frequency analysis for 2 to 100-year return periods were carried out for both the basins using Log-Pearson Type III distribution and flood inundation and hazard mappings were carried out. Social vulnerability to flood of both basins were carried out using MOVE framework. Assessment of flood risk were carried out using map algebra spatial analyst tool in ArcGIS 10.7. The result shows that an area of 50.91 and 40.56 km2 were vulnerable to a 100-year flood. The flood risk map for the two basins show that 10.50 km2 and 14.23 km2 of land in Challawa and Jakara basins respectively are affected by the risk of a 100-year flood out of which 11.48 km2 are built-up area. As the city is densely populated, with a population density of well over 20,000 persons per square kilometer in the highly built-up locations, this means that much more than 230,000 persons will be affected by the flood risk in the two basins

This study assessed the impact of counter-mapping on university students' perception and knowledge of their cities, focusing on cultural diversity, urban dynamics, and social challenges. Using a quasi-experimental design with pretests and posttests in the province of Alicante, Spain, changes in the understanding of urban geography, everyday life, and cultural diversity were analyzed among 54 Geography Didactics students. Likert scale surveys and open-ended questions were employed, complemented by statistical and qualitative analyses, to measure knowledge and perceptions before and after the counter-mapping project. The results indicate that although quantitative correlations did not show statistically significant significance, qualitative analysis revealed significant and profound learning. Participants uncovered the hidden layers of their urban environments and gained a better understanding of the complexities and challenges of their cities. The project promoted the development of critical skills such as analytical thinking, active research, and effective communication, proving to be a valuable pedagogical tool that surpasses the limitations of traditional teaching methods and encourages active and committed citizenship. This inclusive and multidimensional approach enriches the diversity of experiences and knowledge, significantly contributing to the teaching of urban subjects, community engagement, and social responsibility, laying the groundwork for proper tourist, cultural, social, or urban planning of city spaces.

This paper introduces a novel multi-strategy enhanced dung beetle optimization (MSDBO) algorithm that is designed to address several issues identified in the standard dung beetle optimization algorithm. Specifically, the MSDBO aims to enhance convergence speed, reduce susceptibility to local optima, and increase search accuracy. By incorporating three strategies: tent chaotic mapping for population initialization, the golden sinusoidal strategy for position updating, and the Lévy flight strategy for balancing exploration and exploitation, the standard dung beetle optimization algorithm is enhanced. The MSDBO algorithm is evaluated using twelve benchmark test functions and compared against five state-of-the-art algorithms. The results consistently show that MSDBO exhibits faster convergence speeds and more accurate solutions than the other algorithms across most of the test functions. In addition, MSDBO is also applied to optimize the parameters of a valve plate, including the close angle, cross angle, triangle groove sizes, and wrap angle. The optimization outcomes reveal that MSDBO effectively minimizes pressure ripples in the piston chamber, resulting in reduced flow rate fluctuations and noise emission compared to the initial design. This study highlights the potential of the MSDBO algorithm in tackling complex nonlinear engineering optimization problems.

This study investigates the prevalence, causes, and spatial distribution of Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gears (ALDFGs) in the Gulf of Gabès, a critical fishing area in Tunisia. Five main fishing gear types—benthic trawls, encircling nets, longlines, gillnets, and trammel nets were analyzed for their loss rates and contributing factors. The study involved extensive surveys among local fishermen using geographic information system (GIS) tools for spatial mapping. The findings reveal varying loss rates among different gear types, with longlines experiencing the highest losses (59%), followed by trammel nets (45%), gillnets (40%), trawls (38%), and encircling nets (36%). Causes of gear loss include entanglement on obstructions, conflicts with other fishing gears, entanglement with marine animals, adverse weather conditions, and intentional dumping at sea. The study highlights the challenges posed by the consistent increase in regional fishing efforts. Spatial distribution mapping indicates two significant concentrations of ALDFGs, correlating with specific fishing activities and depths. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing gear losses as a threat to marine biodiversity and ecosystem health. Recommendations for mitigation include improving boat equipment, raising awareness among fishermen, implementing effective waste management, and exploring economic incentives for ALDFG recovery. This research contributes essential insights for fisheries management, environmental conservation, and sustainable practices in the Gulf of Gabès. Collaborative efforts are crucial to developing and implementing strategies that minimize the impact of ALDFGs on the marine environment while supporting the socio-economic interests of fishermen.

Cavitation bubbles are commonly existing in shipbuilding engineering, ocean engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical industry, and aerospace. Asymmetric deformation of bubble occurs near the boundary, and the non-spherical cavitation bubbles have strong destructive effects, inducing high amplitude loading at the nearby boundary. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the laser-induced of cavitation bubble, non-spherical collapse behavior near the boundary. In this study, experimental data such as bubble pulsation process and bubble surface velocity distribution were obtained by high-speed camera technique and full-field velocity calculation. The results show that the bubble appeared non-spherical collapse shapes, near different boundaries, with near-hemispherical, near-ellipsoidal, near-cone and near-pea shapes, and the bubble surface velocity distribution is not uniform. When bubble near the free surface or rigid boundary, the smaller the stand-off r is, the more obvious the repulsive effect of the free surface and the attractive effect of the rigid boundary are. As the stand-off r decreases, the larger the Bjerknes force and the bubble surface velocity difference, the more pronounced the non-spherical shape.

This paper summarizes some works exploiting the ate-type addition of electron-withdrawing monomers to hydrogenosiloxane groups so as to generate new silicone materials. Two types of monomers were oligomerized onto silicone backbones, namely unsaturated phosphonate and sulfone monomers. Phosphonated silicones are thermally more resistant than conventional silicones and can be transformed into amphiphilic polymers after selective ester hydrolysis. Sulfoned silicones generate solid supramolecular elastomers thanks to the strong pseudo-ionic interactions in play between sulfone groups. Rheology and modulated DSC show a solid/viscoelastic transition around 175°C, which allows using these thermoplastic materials on a larger scale than conventional silicone urea copolymers. These results open new avenues in the generation of silicone block- and grafted-copolymers with unique functionality and properties.

Quercetin is a flavonoid with a low molecular weight that belongs to the human diet's phenolic phytochemicals and non-energy constituents. Quercetin has a potent antioxidant capacity, being able to capture Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), reactive nitro-gen species (RNS), and Reactive Chlorine Species (ROC), which act as reducing agents by chelating transition metal ions. Its structure has five functional hydroxyl groups, which work as electron donors and are responsible for capturing free radicals. In addition to its antioxidant capacity, it was described different pharmacological properties of Quercetin, such as carcinostatic properties, antiviral, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, protection of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, and inhibi-tion of angiogenesis are developed in this review.

Chromosome analysis (CA) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) have been successfully used to diagnose genetic disorders. However, many conditions remain undiagnosed due to limitations in resolution (CA) and detection of only unbalanced events (CMA). Optical genome mapping (OGM) has the potential to address these limitations by capturing both structural variants (SVs) resulting in copy number changes and balanced rearrangements with high resolution. In this study, we investigated OGM’s concordance using 87 SVs previously identified by CA, CMA, or Southern blot. Overall, OGM was 98% concordant with only three discordant cases: (1) uncalled translocation with one breakpoint in a centromere; (2) uncalled duplication with breakpoints in the pseudoautosomal region 1; and (3) uncalled mosaic triplication originating from a marker chromosome. OGM provided diagnosis for three previously unsolved cases: (1) disruption of the SON gene due to a balanced reciprocal translocation; (2) disruption of NBEA gene due to an inverted insertion; (3) disruption of the TSC2 gene due to a mosaic deletion. We show that OGM is a valid method for detection of many types of SVs in a single assay and is highly concordant with legacy cytogenomic methods; however, it has limited SV detection capabilities in centromeric and pseudoautosomal regions.

This is a retrospective chart review of outcomes of maxillofacial microvascular free flap reconstructions in pediatric and adolescent patients. A single head and neck surgical team performed all the included 136 procedures. Demographic and surgical patient data were recorded. Type of transfer performed in each recipient site and major complications were analyzed. Relevant influencing factors, such as age, gender and etiology of defect were determined using the ANOVA test and χ² test of independence. Results indicate a 90% success rate. No significant relation was found between the incidence of total flap loss and patient age, etiology or graft source. The maxillary reconstructions showed a higher incidence of total flap loss compared to mandibular ones (11 vs. 3 cases). Despite the high success rate, the findings underline the necessity for further research to validate these observations and enhance surgical methods for pediatric and adolescent patients.

To date, various chimeric lysins have been developed as efficacious antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria, but direct comparisons of their antibacterial activities have been difficult due to the preparation of multiple recombinant chimeric lysins. Previously, we reported an E. coli cell-free expression method to screen better chimeric lysins against Staphylococcus aureus, but we still needed to increase the amounts of expressed proteins enough to be able to detect them non-isotopically for quantity comparisons. In this study, we improved the previous cell-free expression system by adding a previously reported artificial T7 terminator and reversing the different nucleotides between the T7 promoter and start codon to those of the T7 phage. The new method increased the expressed amount of chimeric lysins enough for us to detect them using Western blotting. Therefore, the qualitative comparison of activity between different chimeric lysins has become possible via the adjustment of the amount variables between samples without protein purification. We applied it to select more active chimeric lysins derived from our previously reported chimeric lysin (ALS2). Finally, we compared the antibacterial activities of our selected chimeric lysins with reported chimeric lysins (ClyC and ClyO) and lysostaphin, and determined the rank orders of antibacterial activities on different S. aureus strains in our experimental conditions.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders globally, and leads to an excessive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain. Circulating cell-free DNA (ccf-DNA) are double-stranded DNA fragments of different sizes and origins that are released into the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) due to cell death (i.e., necrosis and apoptosis) or are actively released by viable cells via exocytosis and NETosis. Methods: Using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) we comprehensively analyzed and distinguished ccfDNA and ccf mtDNA in the serum and CSF of PD and control patients. Results: The quantitative analysis of serum ccf-DNA in PD patients demonstrated significant increase of ccf mtDNA and ccfDNA compared to healthy control patients and significantly higher copy of ccf mtDNA when compared to ccfDNA. Next, the serum ccf mtDNA levels significantly increased in male PD patients compared to healthy male controls. Furthermore, CSF ccf mtDNA in PD patients increased significantly compared to ccfDNA, and ccf mtDNA decreased in PD patients compared to healthy controls. These decreases were not statistically significant, but were in agreement with previous data. In-terestingly, ccf mtDNA increased in healthy control patients in both serum and CSF as compared to ccfDNA. Limitations: the small sample size of serum and CSF were the main limitations of this study. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study on serum and CSF of PD patients using ddPCR and indicating the distribution of the copy number of ccf mtDNA, as well as ccfDNA. If validated, we suggest that ccf mtDNA has greater than ccfDNA potential to lead the development of novel treatments for PD patients.

As breast cancer continues to take a devasting public health toll, most primary prevention approaches are targeted at individual actions. We have proposed, instead, developing systemic, population approaches to preventing the disease. We used a combined qualitative-quantitative methodology, Group Concept Mapping (GCM), to identify Importance and Feasibility ratings of systemic interventions across a wide spectrum of approaches and stakeholders. Participants (n=351) from across the state of California sorted 84 potential interventions into topical piles, and then rated each intervention on perceived Importance and Feasibility. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis identified eleven clusters or themes of interventions. Participants rated interventions on Importance and Feasibility differently depending on the region of the state in which they lived. The results of this study underscore the importance of sharing health information with and seeking public health solutions from community partners in general and from beyond the urban areas usually studied.

High temperature (HT) geothermal wells can provide green power 24h a day 7 days a week. Harsh environmental and operational conditions, long-term durability requirements of such wells require special cementitious composites for well construction. This paper reports a comprehensive assessment of geothermal cement composites in cyclic pressure function laboratory tests, field exposures in an HT geothermal well (300-350oC) as well as a numerical model to complement the experimental results. Performances of calcium-aluminate-cement (CAC)-based composites and calcium free cement were compared against reference Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)/silica blend. The stability and degradation of the tested materials was characterized by crystalline composition, thermo-gravimetric, and elemental analyses, morphological studies, water-fillable porosity, and mechanical properties measurements. All CAC-based formulations outperformed the reference blend both in the function and exposure tests. The reference OPC/silica lost its mechanical properties during the 9-month well exposure through extensive HT carbonation, while properties of the CAC-based blends improved over that period. The Modified Cam-Clay (MCC) plasticity parameters of several HT cement formulations were extracted from triaxial and Brazilian tests and verified against the experimental results of function cyclic tests. These parameters can be used in well integrity models to predict field-scale behavior of the cement sheath under geothermal well conditions.

In our increasingly urbanized world, precise and up-to-date maps of human settlements are essential for sustainable urban development policies. The availability of open-access Sentinel-2 data from the Copernicus program presents an opportunity to create a comprehensive global map of human settlements, offering a detailed view of built areas on a large scale. This study estimates large-scale built-up fractions using encoder-decoder deep learning architectures like U-net, Res-U-net, and Attention-U-net in the large and complex urban area of Delhi, India. Openly available datasets like Open Street Map (OSM) and Microsoft building footprint datasets are used to derive built-up fractions at 10×10m resolution cells for over 34,000 km2. Our results show that Attention-U-net with the Huber loss function performs the best in different built-up densities (i.e., urban, semi-urban or rural) with an R2 score of 0.631, while Res-U-net and U-net obtained an R2 score of 0.623 and 0.612, respectively. The investigated networks significantly improve the accuracy over the latest Global Human Settlement Layer product (GHSL-S2), which uses a deep-CNN and reaches an R2 of 0.387 in our case study area. The result of this study yields a valuable spatial layer for examining the spatial distribution of human settlements across the entire spectrum from rural to urban areas.

The C-C motif chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8) is highly and selectively expressed in regulatory T (Treg) cells and is associated with tumor progression. The massive accumulation of Treg cells into tumors suppresses the effector function of CD8⁺ cells against tumor cells. Therefore, selective depletion of Treg cells using anti-CCR8 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reinvigorates antitumor immune responses and improves responses to cancer immunotherapy. Previously, we developed an anti-mouse CCR8 (mCCR8) mAb, C₈Mab-2, using the Cell-Based Immunization and Screening (CBIS) method. In this study, the binding epitope of C₈Mab-2 was investigated using flow cytometry. The mCCR8 extracellular domain-substituted mutant analysis showed that C₈Mab-2 recognizes the N-terminal region (1–33 amino acids) of mCCR8. Next, 1×alanine (or glycine) scanning and 2×alanine (or glycine) scanning were conducted in the N-terminal region. The results revealed that the _17-DFFTAP_-22 sequence is important for the recognition by C₈Mab-2, and Thr20 is a central amino acid of the epitope. These results revealed the involvement of the N-terminus of mCCR8 in the recognition by C₈Mab-2.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease, causing loss of motor function, and in some instances, cognitive decline and dementia, in those affected. The quality of life can be improved, and disease progression delayed through early interventions, however, current methods of confirming a PD diagnosis are extremely invasive. This prevents their use as a screening tool for the early onset stages of PD. We propose a surface imprinted polymer (SIP) electroimpedance spectroscopy (EIS) biosensor for detecting α-Synuclein (αSyn) and its aggregates, a biomarker that appears in saliva and blood during the early stages of PD as the blood brain barrier degrades. The surface imprinted polymer stamp is fabricated by low temperature melt stamping polycaprolactone (PCL) on interdigitated EIS electrodes. The result is a low-cost, small footprint biosensor that is highly suitable for non-invasive monitoring of the disease biomarker. The sensors were tested with αSyn dilutions in deionized water, and in constant ionic concentration matrix solutions with decreasing concentrations of αSyn to remove the background effects of concentration. The device response confirmed the specificity of these devices to the target protein of monomeric αSyn. The sensor limit of detection was measured to be 5 pg/L and its linear detection range was 5 pg/L – 5 µg/L. This covers the physiological range of αSyn in saliva and makes this a highly promising method of quantifying αSyn monomers for PD patients in the future. The SIP surface was regenerated, and the sensor reused to demonstrate its capability for repeat sensing as a potential continuous monitoring tool for the disease biomarker.

Excessive body fat is a major contributor to obesity, which is related to high blood, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Lemons (Citrus limon) are renowned for their antioxidant and lipid-lowering properties. First, Sugar-free fermentation demonstrated better results lower sugar content and was identified as the preferred fermentation method. Next, the effect of two doses of sugar-free fermented lemon peel juice (SF-FLPJ) on obesity was investigated. Sprague Dawley (male rats) were randomly divided into 4 groups and fed a standard feed or high-fat diet (HFD) to induce fatness for eight weeks. The two groups of rats fed an HFD were administered SF-FLPJ at 0.45 or 0.9 g/kg body weight daily for eight weeks. The obese rats administered 0.9 g/kg (body weight/day) of SF-FLPJ exhibited significant reductions in body fat mass and percentage; they also had lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels than the other groups. Additionally, the rats displayed diminished liver fat accumulation. The results suggest that SF-FLPJ can be a supplement in managing body fat, contributing positively to addressing obesity within the context of health management, and reduce obesity-associated issues.

To address the large hysteresis and susceptibility to instability in high-speed deposition fusion moulding (FDM) 3D printing’s temperature control, this paper proposes an improved ant-lion optimization algorithm (OCALO) to optimize the PID parameters.The improvement aims to solve the problem that the traditional ant-lion optimization algorithm (ALO) reduces the population diversity and tends to fall into the local optimal solution when it is close to the global optimal solution.The generation of the initial solution is enhanced by the introduction of a new Tent-Logistic-Cotangent composite chaotic mapping. This integration into Elite Opposition-Based Learning aids in optimizing population diversity. Concurrently, the incorporation of cosine factors of a specified parameter into the elitist formula of the traditional ALO algorithm is aimed at reducing the tendency of ants to randomly gravitate towards ant-lions with lower fitness values. This adjustment helps in balancing the exploration-exploitation trade-off in the algorithmic process. Compared with two existing classical algorithms and three improved ALO algorithms, the algorithm improves the convergence speed, global search ability and the ability to jump out of the local optimal solution. The improved algorithm was combined with PID control to design an OCALO-PID temperature controller and simulated on a high-speed 3D printing temperature model identified by modelling. The results show that the method improves the transient and steady-state performance of reactor temperature control with good control accuracy and robustness. Finally, the proposed algorithm is applied to a physical experimental platform to verify the feasibility of the algorithm.

This paper is devoted to an accurate determination of the London dispersive and polar free energy of adsorption, the two Lewis acid γs+ and base γs- components of polar surface energy γsAB of 2D single-crystalline and polycrystalline covalent organic frameworks such as TAPPy-TPA-COFs. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution was used to quantify the different surface parameters of the different materials. From IGC measurements, one determined the net retention time of the adsorption of n-alkanes and several polar solvents on single-crystalline and polycrystalline covalent organic frameworks. The free surface Gibbs energy of adsorption was obtained for the various organic molecules at different temperatures from their net retention volume values. The separation between the London dispersive energy and the polar energy of adsorbed molecules was carried out by using a new thermodynamic parameter PSX chosen as new indicator variable and taken into account the deformation polarizability and the harmonic mean of the ionization energies of solvents and solid materials, derived from London dispersion equation. The obtained results are very promising for the accurate determination of the surface thermodynamic parameters of adsorption of organic solvents on solid surfaces.

In thermodynamic theory, free energy (i.e., available energy) is the concept facilitating the combined applications of the theory’s two fundamental laws, the first and the second laws of thermodynamics. The critical step was taken by Kelvin, then by Helmholtz and Gibbs— that in natural processes, free energy dissipates spontaneously. With the formulation of the second law of entropy growth, this may be referred to as the dissymmetry proposition manifested in the spontaneous increase of system/environment-entropy towards equilibrium. Because of Kelvin’s pre-entropy-law formulation of free energy, our concept of free energy is still defined, energy-centrally, as body’s internal energy or enthalpy, subtracted by energy that is not available within a framework on the premise of primacy of energy, in which free energy dissipates spontaneously and universally. This primacy of energy is called into question because the driving force to cause a system’s change is the purview of the second law. This paper makes a case for an engineering thermodynamics framework, instead, to be based on the premise of the primacy of dissymmetry over free energy. With Gibbsian thermodynamics undergirded with dissymmetry proposition and engineering thermodynamics with the dissymmetry premise, the two branches of thermodynamics are unified to become classical thermodynamics.

In this study, Raman spectroscopy is employed to investigate the chemical compounds of kumquat peels and compared that of orange. Kumquat is a citrus fruit belonging to the genus Fortunella in family Rutaceae. It is observed that kumquat peel has 3 main Raman active characteristic vibration modes specified to carotenoids, which is dominated by β-carotene at 1007, 1158 and 1526 cm-1, as it is well known for orange. The carotenoid distribution within the cross-section of kumquat is also investigated. The carotenoid-related Raman vibration modes are relatively stronger on the peel of kumquat, which is an important finding especially for the fruits that can be eaten with its peel. Our results pave the way to take an attention for the importance of kumquat as being a fruit that can be grown up in different climates compared to orange, which grow in warm climates.

In Korea, the underground silo structure for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facilities has been constructed and operated since 2014. Large-scale earthquakes occurred in 2016 and 2017, respectively, in Gyeongju and Pohang areas near the underground silo structures, and interest in the stability of the underground silo increased significantly. In this paper, one-dimensional free field analyses have been carried out before the three-dimensional silo dynamic analyses subjected to earthquake loadings. As an additional study, a new form of finite element equilibrium equation is derived in terms of relative motions, which is essentially the same equation as that expressed in terms of total motions where the base shear force is applied for earthquake load. The accuracy of conventional finite element solutions is evaluated by directly comparing them with closed-form solutions by frequency domain analysis such as SHAKE91.

(1) In order to study the influence of chaotic system on wheat image encryption, a method to find the optimal chaotic system encryption based on wheat image is proposed. (2) 10 different chaotic system schemes are combined to encrypt wheat images by 13 common chaotic maps, respectively. The best chaotic system scheme is obtained by considering the anti-attack capability of these encryption schemes, which analyzes 8 commonly used image encryption performance evaluation indexes. (3) The experimental results show that the new four-dimensional chaotic system has the best encryption effect, which is suitable for wheat image encryption. (4) The proposed scheme of wheat image encryption based on chaotic system provides a reference for other crop image encryption.

Heat stress is a serious threat to tomato production. The ultrastructure and element mapping of tomato chloroplast were investigated under different nitrogen levels to explore the regulatory effect of nitrogen on tomato chloroplast under heat stress. Experiments design two temperature treatments (25°C/15°C, as control, 40°C/30°C, as severe high-temperature, SHT ) and four nitrogen levels (0.0 kg hm-2, N1; 187.5 kg hm-2, N2; 250 kg hm-2, N3, as recommended nitrogen-application; 312.5kg hm-2 , N4) for a duration of 5 days in artificial climate chamber. The results showed that heat stress led to obvious damage to the ultrastructure of tomato chloroplast, including thylakoid stacking disorder, granum destruction, and starch grain aggregation and degradation. With the increase of nitrogen level, the ratio of long and short axes of tomato chloroplasts increased, the differentiation of chloroplasts was strengthened, the number of plastoglobuli was increased and aggregated, and the degree of damage to the ultrastructure of chloroplasts was reduced. The regulatory effect of nitrogen on the ultrastructure of tomato chloroplasts under heat stress was mainly reflected in the phosphorylation degradation process of starch granules in chloroplasts. There are obvious segmentation lines of Ca, P and Cl on both sides of the inner and outer chloroplasts, and enriched in the chloroplasts, which can outline the boundary of the chloroplasts. Element mapping analysis revealed that heat stress significantly increased the contents of calcium, phosphorus and chlorine in the chloroplast of tomato leaves, while the contents of potassium was decreased. The application of nitrogen fertilizer could significantly regulate the element distribution of tomato chloroplast under heat stress, especially the regulation of phosphorus, chlorine, calcium, magnesium. These results provide new insight into the role of nitrogen using TEM-EDX mapping in the protection of tomato chloroplast under heat stress and the mechanism of heat stress tolerance in plants.

Free-Living Amoebae (FLA) are widely distributed protozoa in both nature and artificial environments such as drinking water. Besides the ability of all FLA to transport various pathogenic microorganisms, certain species, Acanthamoeba spp. or Balamuthia mandrillaris, have intrinsic pathogenic abilities and cause severe cerebral infections. Previous work has shown an enrichment of FLA cysts in biofilm developed in upper levels of Drinking Water Storage Towers (DWST), suggesting that differences in densities of FLA cysts may play a role in their unequal distribution in the water column. To evaluate this hypothesis, a model of a water column was created for this study and used to analyze the vertical distribution of cysts of the FLA Acanthamoeba castellanii, Vermamoeba vermiformis and Balamuthia mandrillaris from 0 to 23 weeks. Interestingly, our data showed that the cysts of both A. castellanii and V. vermiformis were enriched in upper water levels during their aging. However, B. mandrillaris cysts were equally distributed in the water column during the entire study. These results showed that, besides the role of the water level variation in the DWST, some FLA cysts can become less dense during their aging, which contributes to their enrichment in upper water, and thus biofilm levels.

With the rapid advancements in remote sensing technology, the spectral information from hyperspectral remote sensing images has become increasingly rich, facilitating detailed spectral analysis of the Earth's surface objects. However, this abundance of spectral data poses significant challenges in data processing, such as the curse of dimensionality leading to the “Hughes” phenomenon, "strong correlation" due to high resolution, and "non-linear characteristics" caused by varied surface reflectance rates. Therefore, dimensionality reduction of hyperspectral data has become a crucial task. This paper, grounded in manifold theory and manifold learning techniques, and considering the non-linear structures and features in hyperspectral remote sensing data, elucidates the principles and processes of dimensionality reduction in hyperspectral remote sensing images using manifold learning, with a formalized expression of the process. This article introduces spectral information divergence (SID) into the nearest neighbor graph computation of manifold learning algorithms. The principles and computational processes of nearest neighbor graph algorithms based on Euclidean distance (ED), spectral angle mapping (SAM), and SID are studied, and a comparative analysis of the dimensionality reduction effects under these three metrics in hyperspectral data is conducted. Experiments on feature extraction under different metrics were performed using the publicly available Indian Pines hyperspectral dataset. The intrinsic features obtained post-dimensionality reduction were used as inputs for classification algorithms in ground objects classification experiments, with algorithm runtime, overall accuracy, and Kappa coefficient as evaluation metrics for dimensionality reduction quality. The results demonstrate that nearest neighbor graph computation based on SAM and SID outperforms traditional ED methods; SAM-based computation has the lowest time complexity, while SID-based manifold learning yields the highest accuracy in ground objects classification. Thus, manifold learning based on SAM and SID metrics proves to be an effective method for feature extraction in hyperspectral remote sensing data, underscoring the potential of manifold learning techniques in the dimensionality reduction of hyperspectral remote sensing images.

The implementation of a progressive rehabilitation training model to promote patients’ motivation efforts can greatly restore the damaged central nervous system function in patients. The patients’ active engagement can be effectively stimulated by assist-as-needed (AAN) robot rehabilitation training. However, its application in robotic therapy has been hindered by a simple determination method of robot assisted torque which focuses on the evaluation only of the affected limb's movement ability. Moreover, the expected effect of assistance depends on the designer, which deviates from the patient's expectations, and its applicability to different patients is deficient. In this study, we propose a control method with personalized treatment features based on the idea of estimating and mapping the stiffness of the patient’s healthy limbs. This control method comprises an interactive control module in the task-oriented space based on the quantitative evaluation of motion needs and an inner loop position control module for the pneumatic swing cylinder in the joint space. An upper limb endpoint stiffness estimation model is constructed and a parameter identification algorithm is designed. The upper limb endpoint stiffness which characterizes the patient's ability to complete training movements is obtained by collecting surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals and human-robot interaction forces during patient movement. Then the motor needs of the affected limb when completing the same movement are quantified based on the performance of the healthy limb. A stiffness mapping algorithm is designed to dynamically adjust the rehabilitation training trajectory and auxiliary force of the robot based on the actual movement ability of the affected limb, achieving AAN control. Experimental studies were conducted on a self-developed pneumatic upper limb rehabilitation robot, and the results showed that the proposed AAN control method can effectively estimate the patient's movement needs and achieve progressive rehabilitation training. The rehabilitation training robot that simulates the movement characteristics of the patient's healthy limbs drives the affected limb, making the intensity of the rehabilitation training task more in line with the patient's pre-morbid limb use habits, and also beneficial for the consistency of bilateral limb movements.

How Nature discovered genetic coding is a largely ignored question, yet the answer is key to explaining the transition from biochemical building blocks to life. Other, related puzzles also fall inside the aegis enclosing the codes themselves. The peptide bond is unstable with respect to hydrolysis. So, it requires some form of chemical free energy to drive it. Amino acid activation and acyl-transfer are also slow and call for catalysis. All living things must thus also convert free energy and synchronize cellular chemistry. Most importantly, functional proteins occupy only small, isolated regions of sequence space. Nature evolved heritable symbolic data processing to seek out and use those sequences. That system has three parts: a memory of how amino acids behave in solution and inside proteins, a set of code-keys to access that memory, and a scoring function. The code-keys themselves are the genes for cognate pairs of tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, AARS. I outline the surprising links between all these questions and the structural duality of the base-pairing that holds genes together and how those links arise from the experiments.

This manuscript employs a surface stress-driven nonlocal model to explore the combined effects of long-range interaction and surface energy on higher vibration modes of functionally graded nanobeams. The nanobeam theory, based on Bernoulli-Euler kinematics, incorporates surface effects such as surface elasticity, surface residual stresses, surface density, and rotary inertia. Hamilton's principle is applied to derive the governing equation with size-dependent considerations. The main outcomes of a parametric investigation, considering four different kinematic boundary conditions (Cantilever, Simply-Supported, Clamped-Pinned, and Doubly-Clamped) while varying the nonlocal parameter and material gradient index, are presented and discussed. Additionally, the normalized natural frequencies for the second, third, fourth and fifth modes of vibrations are provided and analyzed for each case under study. The results underscore the model's effectiveness in capturing surface energy effects on the overall dynamic behavior of functionally graded Bernoulli-Euler nanobeams, offering a cost-effective approach for designing and optimizing nano-scaled structures.

Space–air–ground integrated network (SAGIN) is considered as an enabler for the sixth-generation (6G) networks. By integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial (satellite, aerial) networks, SAGIN seem to be a quite promising solution to provide reliable connectivity everywhere and all the time. Their availability can be further enhanced if hybrid free space optical (FSO)/radio frequency (RF) links are adopted. In this paper, the performance of a hybrid FSO/RF communication system operating in SAGIN has been analytically evaluated. In the considered system, a high altitude platform station (HAPS) is used to forward the satellite signal to the ground station. Moreover, the FSO channel model assumed takes into account the turbulence, pointing errors and path losses, while for the RF links, a relatively new composite fading model has been considered. In this context, a new link selection scheme has been proposed that is designed to reduced the signaling overhead required for the switching operations between the RF and FSO links. The analytical framework that has been developed is based on the Markov chain theory. Capitalizing on this framework, the performance of the system has been investigated using the criteria of outage probability and the average number of link estimations. The numerical results presented reveal that the new selection scheme offers a good compromise between performance and complexity.

The influence of applied loads on free vibrations analysis of plates and shells panels made of functionally graded materials is analyzed in the present work. Formulations for the static analysis considering geometrically nonlinear behavior, as well as linear buckling and free vibrations analyses are considered. The calculation of the through-thickness stress distribution is also performed. A finite element model based on a higher order shear deformation theory and using a non-conforming triangular flat plate/shell element with 3 nodes, and 8 degrees of freedom per node is used in the numerical implementation. The results obtained with this numerical model are presented, discussed, and compared with alternative solutions published by other authors in some benchmark applications.

The aim of the study was to determine the occurrence and characteristics of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus strains in the carcasses of wild birds and aviary capercaillies in south-eastern Poland. Samples from capercaillies and wild birds belonging to 12 orders and 26 species were tested. The resistance of the strains and the presence of selected virulence genes were examined. Similarity analysis of the isolates was performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus strains accounted for 5.7% and belonged to the species: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus delphini. Among isolated strains, 15.8% were multidrug resistant. The most frequently detected virulence genes were hla in 58% of isolates and hlb and hld in 47.4% of isolates., The results of multiplex PCR showed the presence of genes responsible for the production of enterotoxins C, B, E, and J, in single isolates. It can be concluded that coagulase-positive Staphylococcus strains accounted for a small percentage of staphylococci isolated from free-living birds in the study area. The occurrence of multidrug-resistant coagulase-positive Staphylococcus strains in aviary capercaillies suggests that they play a role in the transmission and spread of resistant strains into the environment. Free-living birds may be also a significant reservoir of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus strains.

In the study, a lipid mixture was developed and optimized using a broad range of excipients of different po-larities. Initially, the excipients were classified according to their behavior in water. Then binary mixtures were prepared using cetyl palmitate (Crodamol™ CP pharma) as the solid lipid. The miscibility between the excipients was evaluated using Raman chemical images obtained by classical least squares (CLS). Based on the results, the excipients Crodamol™ CP pharma (cetyl palmitate, hydrophobic), Super Refined™ DMI (di-methyl isosorbide; hydrophilic) and Super Refined™ Lauryl Lactate (medium polarity) were chosen to com-pose the lipid core. The ideal proportion of these excipients was determined using a Mixture Design and the standard deviation of image histograms as responses. The main goal was to develop a versatile lipid core for ‘brick-dust type of drugs’. After statistical evaluation of the DOE results, the final composition was deter-mined and drugs with different logP (0 to 10) and physiochemical characteristics were evaluated in the opti-mized mixture. The drugs butamben, tacrolimus, atorvastatin calcium and resveratrol presented a homoge-neous distribution in the optimized lipid core, indicating that the core has indeed the capability to be used in NLC formulations of such type of drugs.

De-escalation is currently taking place both in surgical and systemic treatment of breast cancer. The introduction of trastuzumab, the first monoclonal antibody against the HER2 receptor over 20 years ago was a milestone in the treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer and marked the beginning of a new era in targeted tumor therapy. In the sense of de-escalation, omitting non-targeted cytotoxic chemotherapy altogether is often hailed as the ultimate goal of oncological research. Especially in case of small, node-negative, HER2 positive early breast cancer, it remains a challenge for clinicians to establish the safest and most efficient treatment plan while considering the significant potential for toxic side effects associated with chemotherapy and HER2 targeted therapy, and the generally excellent prognosis. In this context, several ongoing studies are currently assessing chemotherapy-free regimens as part of strategies aimed at de-escalating therapy in the field of HER2 positive early breast cancer. Despite promising early results from these studies, combination of anti-HER2 treatment with chemotherapy backbone remains standard of care.