Placing a nasogastric tube (NGT) is a frequent nursing technique in intensive care units. The gold standard for its correct positioning is the chest X-ray due to its high sensitivity but represents a radiation source for critically ill patients. Our study aims to analyze whether the ultrasound performed by an intensive care nurse is a valid method to verify the NGT’s correct positioning and to evaluate the degree of interobserver agreement between this nurse and an intensive care physician in the NGT visualization using ultrasound. Its correct positioning was verified by direct visualization of the tube in the stomach and indirect visualization by injecting fluid and air through the tube ("dynamic fogging" technique). 23 critically ill patients participated in the study. A sensitivity of 35% was achieved using direct visualization, increasing up to 85% using indirect visualization. The degree of interobserver agreement was 0.88. Therefore, the NGT indirect visualization by an intensive care nurse using ultrasound could be a valid method to check its positioning. However, the low sensitivity obtained by direct visualization suggests the need for further training of intensive care nurses in ultrasonography. According to the high degree of agreement obtained, ultrasound could be performed by both professionals.

Stress has various impacts on the health of human beings. Recent success in wearable sensor development, combined with advancements in deep learning to automatically detect features from raw data, opens several interesting applications related to detecting emotional states. Being able to accurately detect stress-related emotional arousal in an acute setting can positively impact the imminent health status of humans, i.e., through avoiding dangerous locations in an urban traffic setting. This work proposes an explainable deep learning methodology for the automatic detection of stress in physiological sensor data, recorded through a non-invasive wearable sensor device, the Empatica E4 wristband. We propose an Long-Short Term-Memory (LSTM) network, extended through a Deep Generative Ensemble of conditional GANs (LSTM DGE) , to deal with the low data regime of sparsely labeled sensor measurements. As explainability is often a main concern of deep learning models, we leverage Integrated Gradients (IG) to highlight the most essential features used by the model for prediction and to compare the results to state-of-the-art expert-based stress detection methodologies in terms of precision, recall and interpretability. Results show that our LSTM DGE outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithm by 3 percentage points in terms of recall, and 7.18 percentage points in terms of precision. More importantly, through the use of Integrated Gradients as a layer of explainability, we show that there is a strong overlap between model-derived stress features for electrodermal activity, and existing literature, which current state-of-the-art stress detection systems in medical research and psychology are based on.

We consider a system of two coupled parallel queues, queue 1 and queue 2, with infinite waiting rooms. The time setting is discrete. In either queue, the service of a customer requires exactly one discrete time slot. Arrivals of new customers occur independently from slot to slot, but the numbers of arrivals of both types within a slot may be mutually interdependent. Their joint probability generating function (pgf) is indicated as A(z1, z2) and characterizes the whole model. It is well-known that, in general, determining the steady-state joint probability mass function (pmf) u(m, n), m, n ≥ 0 or the corresponding joint pgf U(z1, z2) of the system contents (i.e., numbers of customers present) in both queues is a formidable task. Only in a number of isolated cases, for very specific choices of the arrival pgf A(z1, z2), explicit results are known in the literature. In this paper, we identify a multiparameter, generic class of arrival pgfs A(z1, z2), for which we can explicitly determine the system-content pgf U(z1, z2). We find that, for arrival pgfs of this class, U(z1, z2) has a denominator which is a product, say r1(z1)r2(z2) of two univariate functions. This property allows a straightforward inversion of U(z1, z2), resulting in a pmf u(m, n) which can be expressed as a finite linear combination of bivariate geometric terms. We also observe that our generic model encompasses most of the previously known results as special cases.

Our target point within this following steps, is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is classified structurally, by its Gleason Score. Phosphatases are implicated in differents cell alterations, including proliferation, differentiation and carcinogenesis. In specific life circumstances, proteins are regulators with implications in intracellular signaling pathways. Alterations in phosphatases functionality represent a key point in malignancy development. We try within our description, to focus on an important process refering to dysregulation of phosphatase activity. More than, we will discuss therapeutic key points refering to compounds that inhibits phosphatase proteins with implications in carcinogenesis. Researchers try to investigate and to conclude on prostate cancer using also genomic analyses, clinically useful biomarkers and imagistic methods. So finally after folowing describtion steps, purposed aim is to conclude on prostate cancer and different key points abordation.

The recent demand for reducing pollutant and CO2 emissions from internal combustion engines has created an urgent need for the development of ultra-lean burn engines that ensure combus-tion stability and reducing knocking tendency. One of the most promising methods is the Pre-chamber Spark Ignition (PCSI) system, where a jet of high-energy reactive gases, produced by pilot combustion in a pre-chamber, ignites the main combustion event in the cylinder. Given the intricate phenomena inherent to PCSI systems, conducting 3D CFD studies is imperative for a comprehensive analysis and optimal design. Furthermore, the detailed CFD model, combined with the calibrated 0-D/1-D model, is anticipated to yield a significant amount of new data that would be difficult to obtain through experimental approaches, making it essential for advancing our understanding and optimization of these systems. However, recently published papers re-port that some state-of-the-art models developed for conventional SI operation may not be pre-dictive under the challenging conditions of TJI systems, particularly under lean conditions. This review elucidates the reasons behind the widespread adoption of CFD in the optimal design of PCSI engines. It presents significant examples and delves into the potential and challenges of employing CFD not just as a predictive tool but also as a design instrument for enhancing PCSI engine performance.

This article provides a detailed analysis of non-invasive techniques for prediction and diagnosis of faults in internal combustion engines, focusing on the application of the Proknow-C and Methodi Ordinatio systematic review methods. Initially, the relevance of these techniques in promoting energy sustainability and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is discussed, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement. The systematic review conducted in the subsequent sections offers a comprehensive mapping of the state-of-the-art, highlighting the effectiveness of combining these methods in categorizing and systematizing relevant scientific literature. The results reveal significant advancements in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital signal processors (DSP) to enhance fault diagnosis, as well as underscore the crucial role of non-invasive techniques in minimizing interference in monitored systems. Finally, concluding remarks point towards future research directions, emphasizing the need to develop digital twins for internal combustion engines and identify gaps for further improvements in fault diagnosis and prediction techniques.

This study investigated the development of novel probiotic formulations specifically designed for rainbow trout aquaculture. The project evaluated the effects of two formulations containing potential probiotic strains isolated from rainbow trout itself. These effects were assessed on various parameters including growth performance, immune response, liver enzyme activity, gene expression related to immunity, and the composition of the bacterial gut microbiota in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In a completely randomized experimental design, a total of 450 rainbow trout were randomly divided into 70-liter fiberglass tank. The study included six treatments of three replicates (n=18 tanks). Six dietary treatments were included (A) and (B) containing three strains of Pediococcus sp P15, Lactococcus lactis ml3, Weissella cibaria ml6 at two dosages (300 and 500 mg/kg), treatments (C) and (D) containing five strains of P. sp P15, L. lactis ml3, W. cibaria ml6, Enterococcus faecium E10 and Lactobacillus curvatus 13A at two dosages (300 and 500 mg/kg), a commercial probiotic (E) at 300 mg/kg, and a control group (F) without probiotics. Treatments of (A), (B) and (E) resulted in the highest final weights in compared to control group. Fish fed treatments (A) and (B) had the lowest FCR than other groups. Treatments (A) and (D) showed a significant increase in immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentration compared to other groups. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was significantly lower in group (A) than the control. In contrast, the expression of interleukin 6 (IL6) and immunoglobulin T (IgT) was increased 4.4-fold and 41-fold, respectively, in group (A) compared to control group. Among the probiotic fed treatments, group (A) showed a significant higher number of lactic acid bacteria compared to other groups during the experiment. This study highlights the significant role of treatment (A) containing three strains of P. sp P15, L. lactis ml3, and W. cibaria ml6 at a dosage of 300 mg/kg as a potential probiotic product for the rainbow trout industry.

Mango industry played important roles in the economy of tropical and subtropical regions in China. Embryo abortion, flesh rotten, pericarp stain and so on always result in heavy loss. Transgenic breeding is a potential way for solving these problems. However, dependable protocol for mango transgene has not been reported until now. In this research, we found that after mango embryogenic callus were infected by Agrobacterium, most callus necrotized and died. No seedling was differentiated from the survived callus. Contents of 106 compounds in mango callus infected by Agrobacterium were found significantly different from those in control. The top 7 up-regulated compounds were gallic acid, phosphoenolpyruvic acid, dihydrotricetin, ubiquinone, dihydrokaempferol, D-erythrose-4-phosphate and cyanidin. The expressions of ROS-related genes, gallic acid synthesis genes, and defense related genes in callus infected by Agrobacterium were significantly higher than those in control. The growth of Agrobacterium on culturing plate pipetting gallic acid was inhibited. Mango callus infected by Agrobacterium transformed with type III secretion system gene cluster (T3SS) and effector gene AvrPto isolated from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 brown and necrotize slower than those infected by Agrobacterium transformed with net vector (NV). The contents of ROS in callus in-fected by Agrobacterium (T3SS-AvrPto) were less than those in callus infected by Agrobacterium (NV). The expressions of genes participated in immune responses in mango callus infected by Agrobacterium (T3SS-AvrPto) were also less than those in mango callus infected by Agrobacterium (NV). The transformation rate of mango callus infected with Agrobacterium (T3SS-AvrPto-gfp) was 1.6 %. No callus infected with Agrobacterium (NV-gfp) was transformed successfully. The efficiency of mango transformation can be improved by constructing Agrobacterium strains harboring type III secretion system gene cluster and its effector gene.

Castanopsis hystrix, a precious tree species in Southeast Asia, has the advantages of rapid growth and high-quality wood materials. However, there are problems such as long breeding cycle, time-consuming and low efficiency, which greatly restricts the industrial development of C. hystrix. To perform the genome selection (GS) for growth and wood traits and the early selection of superior progeny have great significance for the rapid breeding of new superior varieties of C. hystrix. The 226 clones in the main distribution and 479 progenies within 23 half-sib families were used as experimental materials in this study. Genotyping datasets were obtained by high-throughput re-sequencing technology, and GS studies were conducted on the growth (tree height (H), diameter at breast height (DBH)) and wood (wood density (WD), fiber length (FL), and fiber length-width ratio (LWR)) traits. The coefficient of variation (CV) of five phenotypic traits ranged from 10.1% to 22.73%, the average CV of growth traits was 19.93%, and the average CV of wood traits was 9.72%. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the five traits were almost significantly positive. Based on the Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP) model, the broad-sense heritabilities of growth traits were higher than those of wood quality traits, and the different number of SNPs had little effect on the heritability estimation. GS prediction accuracy first increased and then reached a plateau around 3K SNPs for all five traits. The broad-sense heritability of these five traits was significantly positively correlated with their GS predictive ability (r=0.564, P

This article examines experiments with elastic material, specifically the deformation of an elastic tube under hydrostatic pressure with a constant flow of fluid inside. This flow induces a pulsatile movement within the elastic tube. Preliminary results are compared with a theoretical model that combines longitudinal and transverse waves. During the experiment, images at various stages of deformation were captured and analyzed. The objective is to better understand the behavior of elastic materials under these conditions and validate the proposed theoretical model through detailed experimental observations, providing a deeper insight into the dynamics of deformation in deformable materials.

Mistreatment can adversely affect students’ academic performance and mental health. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mistreatment and its association with academic motivation among Thai medical students in clinical years. A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students throughout Thailand using the Composite Questionnaire of Mistreatment and Academic Motivation Scale (AMS). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, correlations, and regression analyses were conducted. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The sample included 399 students, with mean age of 23 ± 1.29 years old, and 61.5% were female. A total of 81% of participants experienced mistreatment. Twenty-nine percents of students thought that mistreatment occurred because the maltreaters did not consider mistreatment as inappropriate or serious. Students who experienced mistreatment exhibited lower AMS (B = -9.16, 95% CI: -15.37 to -2.95, p-value = 0.004) than those who did not. Moreover, students who experienced academic mistreatment exhibited a higher amotivation score (B = 1.50, 95% CI: 0.16 to 2.85, p-value = 0.029) than those who did not. The prevalence of mistreatment was unexpectedly high, and it associated with students' motivation to study. Educational institutions should prioritize addressing this issue and developing strategies to provide assistance, including the enhancement of reporting systems.

A novel five-surface phosphor-in-glass (FS-PiG) for high illumination and excellent color uniformity in larger-scale LEDs for sensor light source application is demonstrated. YAG phosphor (Y3Al5O12:Ce3+) was uniformly mixed with ceramic and sintered at 680°C to form a phosphor wafer. A sophisticated laser engraving was employed on the phosphor wafer to form a saddle-shaped large-scale FS-PiG LEDs. The performance of the FS-PiG LEDs exhibited the illumination of 401lm, average color temperature (CCT) of 5488K±110K, and color coordinates (CIE) of (0.3179±0.003, 0.3352±0.003). In contrast to convention single-surface phosphor-in-glass (SS-PiG) LEDs, the performance exhibited the illumination of 380lm, average CCT of 5830K±758K, and CIE of (0.3083±0.07, 0.3172±0.07). These indicated that the performance of the FS-PiG LEDs was higher than the SS-PiG LEDs for illumination, CCT, and CIE of 1.7, 7, and 23 times, respectively. Furthermore, the FS-PiG LEDs demonstrate lower lumen loss of 2% and less chromaticity shift of 5.4x10-3 under accelerated aging at 350°C for 1008 hours, owing to the high ceramic melting temperature of up to 510°C. In this study, the proposed FS-PiG larger-scale LEDs having excellent optical performance and high reliability may be the promising candidates to replace the convention phosphor-in-organic silicone material used in high-power LEDs for the next generation of sensor light sources, display, and headlight applications.

Seedling emergence is crucial for the establishment and growth of crops and is influenced by topsoil temperature and moisture. Mulching has been widely used to promote seedling emergence in areas with a cold spring. This study was conducted to determine and simulate the effects of transparent plastic film mulch on surface soil moisture, temperature, and seedling emergence of spring maize in Northwest China. Four treatments were used: no mulching (CK), full plastic film mulch (PMF), and partial plastic film mulch, 60 cm in width (PM60, 40 cm uncovered between rows of mulch) or 30 cm in width (PM30, 20 cm uncovered between rows of mulch). The effects of soil water conservation and temperature enhancement gradually decreased as the plastic film width decreased, but there was little difference between PMF and PM60 treatments. Soil-water-modified growing degree days (WGDD) described the beneficial effects of soil moisture and temperature with respect to seedling emergence under mulching conditions. Plastic film mulching markedly accelerated seedling emergence and increased final seedling emergence rate because mulching can shorten the autotrophy duration and maintain surface soil moisture, which leads to increased germination. The effects of seedling emergence improvement decreased as the plastic film width decreased. The relationship between WGDD and cumulative relative seedling emergence (CRE) was adequately described by a Gompertz function.

Digital transformation is revolutionizing inventory management practices within supply chains, offering unprecedented opportunities and challenges for businesses worldwide. This study explores the impact of digital technologies on inventory management, focusing on the adoption of IoT sensors, RFID tags, AI-driven analytics, and cloud-based systems. Through a qualitative research approach encompassing interviews with industry professionals and secondary data analysis, the study examines key themes including enhanced inventory visibility, improved accuracy, advanced demand forecasting, and streamlined supply chain collaboration. Findings reveal that digital technologies significantly enhance inventory visibility by providing real-time tracking and data integration capabilities. This facilitates accurate inventory monitoring and decision-making, reducing errors and optimizing inventory levels to meet fluctuating demand effectively. AI-driven analytics and machine learning models emerge as pivotal tools for predictive demand forecasting, enabling businesses to anticipate market trends and adjust inventory strategies accordingly. Additionally, cloud-based systems and electronic data interchange (EDI) foster improved communication and coordination among supply chain partners, enhancing overall operational efficiency. Despite these benefits, challenges such as system integration complexities, high implementation costs, data quality management, cybersecurity risks, and regulatory compliance issues are prevalent. Successful adoption of digital inventory management solutions requires strategic planning, investment in technology infrastructure, and organizational readiness to navigate these challenges effectively. This study contributes to the understanding of how digital transformation reshapes inventory management practices, offering insights for researchers and practitioners alike to leverage digital technologies for enhanced supply chain performance and competitive advantage

Although WHO declared the end of the pandemic based on the report by International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on May 4th 2023 the health authorities stresses that COVID-19 is still an ongoing health issue and especially the populations in the high-priority risk need booster doses to sustain the gains. However the vaccination rates decrease all around the world according to WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Expert’s on Immunization (SAGE). One of the main reasons of this dramatic decrease can be vaccine hesitancy or refusal. Vaccine hesitancy is defined as refusal or delay in vaccination, although there is a sufficient supply available (SAGE working group, 2014). MacDonald (2015) stated that vaccine hesitancy is higher among the people who has lack of confidence or trust both to the vaccines themselves and health authorities within the country. However hesitancy can be towards specific vaccines or selective. One of the most salient selective vaccine hesitancy is the childhood vaccine hesitancy. In the current study we examined the predictors of vaccine hesitancy for children and their parents. A total of 199 parents (age range: 26-58; Mean Age: 35) have been recruited by using an online survey. Seventy six percent of the parents who responded were mothers. Education level of the sample was relatively high; 48% of the participants had bachelor degree while %32 had postgraduate degrees. Results indicated that ruminative thinking about Covid-19 was the strongest predictor and decreased the risk for childhood vaccine hesitancy. Surprisingly, lower poor supervision predicted higher vaccine hesitancy/refusal for children. On the other hand conspiracy thoughts about the pandemic increased the refusal of COVID-19 vaccines three times. For parents conspiracy thoughts and ruminative thinking predicted vaccine hesitancy/refusal similar to the previous model. Positive parenting was found to be negatively related with vaccine hesitancy/refusal for the parents themselves. One unit increase in this variable decreased the vaccine hesitancy/refusal for almost five-folds.

The concentrations and ratios of plant C, N, and P serve as important indicators of ecological processes. However, how plant and soil C:N:P relationships and ratios change with forest stand types remain unclear. Here, we analyzed the ecological stoichiometric characteristics by measuring leaf and soil organic C, total N and P contents in four stand types in Liaocheng, including Populus tomentosa pure forest, Populus tomentosa-Robinia pseudoacacia mixture forests, Platanus orientalis pure forest, and Salix matsudana pure forests. We find that: (1) The N and P leaf contents varied significantly across the four forest stands, with Populus tomentosa-Robinia pseudoacacia mixture forests having higher P levels. Platanus orientalis pure forests had lower C and N but higher P levels compared to others. (2) Uncoupled cycling of P in leaf-soil systems due to environmental influences, but C and N elements showed coupled cycles in some forest stands. (3) All forest stand types were limited by N and P elements. Overall, environmental factors, in addition to species variations, influence the C, N, P, and C:N:P ratios in leaves and soils of different forest stand types. Enhancing conservation and efficient use of N and P elements is crucial for sustainable plantation forest management to promote optimal growth in the region.

Background: Peloids are therapeutic agents used in thermal and thalasso centers for curative, preventive, and skin care purposes. Marine peloids are those that include seawater and algae, both macro and/or microalgae. The aim of this study is to investigate the suitability of a marine peloid composed by seawater, clay and microalgae for thalasso-wellness and dermocosmetic uses; Methods: the thermophysical properties of the marine peloid were determined and compared with a non-marine peloid using different techniques as densimetry, conductimetry, calorimetry, and viscometry; skin hydration was also measured by means of Corneometry; Results: marine peloid has been shown to be suitable for thermotherapy and thalaso-wellness treatments as its thermophysical properties were similar to other peloids used for this purpose; marine peloids also showed to improve skin hydration after seven days of treatment; Conclusions: this research provides a comprehensive study of the thermophysical properties of a marine peloid composed by clay, seawater and microalgae for thalasso-wellness and cosmetic uses, as well as its moisturizing properties, highlighting its potential as a valuable natural product for skin care applications as well as for wellness treatments in form of cataplasm, poultices and/or wraps.

Vibration problems have become one of the most important factors affecting robot performance. To this end, a terminal residual vibration suppression method based on joint trajectory optimization is proposed to improve the accuracy and stability of robot motion. Firstly, based on the characteristics of the friction nonlinearity due to joint coupling and physical feasibility of dynamic parameters, a semidefinite programming method is used to identify dynamic parameters with actual physical meaning, thereby obtaining an accurate dynamic model. Then, based on the result of the residual vibration time domain analysis, a joint trajectory optimization model with the goal of minimizing joint tracking error is established. The Chebyshev collocation method is used to discretize the optimization model. The dynamic model is used as the optimization constraint, and barycentric interpolation is used to obtain the optimized joint motion trajectory. Finally, industrial robot experiments prove that the vibration suppression method proposed in this article can reduce the maximum acceleration amplitude of residual vibration by 62% and the vibration duration by 71%. Compared with the input shaping method, the method proposed in this paper can reduce the terminal residual vibration more effectively and ensure the consistency of running time and trajectory.

This paper brings to fruition recently found \cite{migdal2023exact} exact reduction of decaying turbulence in the Navier-Stokes equation in $3 + 1$ dimensions to a Number Theory problem of finding the statistical limit of the Euler ensemble. We reformulate the Euler ensemble as a Markov chain and show the equivalence of this formulation to the \textbf{quantum} statistical theory of $N$ fermions on a ring, with an external field related to the random fractions of $\pi$. We find the solution of this system in the turbulent limit $N\to \infty, \nu \to 0$ in terms of a complex trajectory (instanton) providing a saddle point to the path integral over the density of these fermions. This results in an analytic formula for the observable correlation function of vorticity in wavevector space. This is a full solution of decaying turbulence from the first principle without approximations or fitted parameters. The energy spectrum decays as $k^{-\frac{7}{2}}$. We compute resulting integrals in \Mathematica{} and present effective index $n(t) = -t\partial_t \log E $ for the energy decay as a function of time Fig.\ref{fig::NPlot}. The asymptotic value of the effective index in energy decay $n(\infty) = \frac{5}{4}$, but the universal function $n(t)$ is neither constant nor linear.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) are used in products that are applied to the human body, such as cosmetics and food, but their biocompatibility remains controversial. Pycnogenol (PYC), a natural extract of pine bark, exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, we investigated whether PYC effectively alleviates pulmonary toxicity induced by airway exposure to TiO2NPs, and the beneficial effects of PYC were explained through the analysis of changes to the mechanism of cytotoxicity. TiO2NPs induced pulmonary inflammation and mucus production, increased the levels of malondialdehyde, and upregulated thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) and cleaved-caspase 3 (Cas3) in the lungs of mice. However, PYC treatment reduced the levels of all toxicity markers of TiO2NPs and restored glutathione levels. These antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of PYC were also demonstrated in TiO2NP-exposed human airway epithelial cells by increasing the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes and decreasing the expression of TXNIP, cleaved-Cas3, and inflammatory mediators. Taken together, our results showed that PYC attenuated TiO2NP-induced lung injury via TXNIP downregulation. Therefore, our results suggest the potential of PYC as an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent against TiO2NP-induced pulmonary toxicity.

This study examines the influence of digital marketing on brand awareness within the multinational Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, focusing on how various digital strategies contribute to overall marketing effectiveness. Utilizing a sample of 277 respondents, the research employs descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses to explore the relationships between digital marketing strategies, brand awareness outcomes, and perceived digital marketing effectiveness. The findings reveal that digital marketing strategies significantly enhance brand awareness and overall marketing effectiveness, underscoring the pivotal role of activities such as social media engagement, content marketing, and search engine optimization. Specifically, the regression analysis shows that digital marketing strategies have a positive and statistically significant impact on overall effectiveness, indicating that companies investing in these areas are better positioned to achieve higher levels of brand recognition and marketing success. However, the study also uncovers a complex relationship between brand awareness outcomes and overall effectiveness, where increased brand awareness does not directly correlate with enhanced digital marketing effectiveness. This suggests that while brand awareness is critical, its influence on marketing success is nuanced and may involve diminishing returns or additional mediating factors. The regression model explains a modest portion of the variance in marketing effectiveness, highlighting the need for a holistic evaluation approach that incorporates a broader set of performance metrics and contextual factors. The high reliability of the measures used affirms the robustness of the findings, which emphasize the importance of a strategic and integrated approach to digital marketing in the FMCG sector. Companies must continuously adapt and optimize their digital marketing strategies to align with dynamic market conditions and achieve sustainable success.

Fusing data from many sources helps to achieve higher results of analysis. In this work, we present a new algorithm to fuse data from multiple cameras with data from multiple lidars. This algorithm was developed to increase the sensitivity and specificity of autonomous vehicle perception systems, where the most accurate sensors measuring the vehicle’s surroundings are cameras and lidar devices. Perception systems based on data from one type of sensor do not use complete information and have lower quality. The camera provides two-dimensional images; lidar produces three-dimensional point clouds. We developed a method for matching pixels on a pair of stereoscopic images using dynamic programming inspired by an algorithm to match sequences of amino acids used in bioinformatics. We improve the quality of the basic algorithm using additional data from edge detectors. We also improve the algorithm performance by reducing the size of matched pixels determined by available car speeds. We perform point cloud densification in the final step of our method, fusing lidar output data with stereovision output. We implemented our algorithm in C++ with Python API, and we provided the open-source library named Stereo PCD. This library very efficiently fuses data from multiple cameras and multiple lidars. In the article, we present the results of our approach to benchmark databases in terms of quality and performance. We compare our algorithm with other popular methods.

The treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is complex and impacted by the location of the primary tumor (LPT). Our study aims to emphasize the importance of LPT as a prognostic and predictive marker, as well as to examine the significance of HER2 overexpression in patients with mCRC, particularly in relation to response to anti-EGFR therapy. In this study, 181 patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC who received anti-EGFR therapy were included. Among them, 101 had left colon cancer (LCC) and 80 had right colon cancer (RCC). Results demonstrated that patients with KRAS wild-type LCC had better median overall survival (OS) (43 vs. 33 months, p = 0.005) and progression-free survival (PFS) (6 vs. 3 months, p < 0.001) compared to those with RCC. Multivariate analysis identified mucinous adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001), RCC location (p = 0.022), perineural invasions (p = 0.034), and tumors at the resection margin (p = 0.001) as independent predictors of OS, while mucinous adenocarcinoma (p = 0.001) and RCC location (p = 0.004) independently correlated with significantly shorter PFS. In addition, HER2 positive expression was significantly associated with worse PFS compared to HER2 negative results (p < 0.001). In conclusion, LPT is an important marker for predicting outcomes in the treatment of wild-type mCRC using anti-EGFR therapy, since patients with RCC have a statistically significantly shorter PFS and OS. Further investigation is needed to understand the role of HER2 overexpression in wild-type mCRC, as these patients also exhibit shorter survival.

This study aimed to develop a state-of-the-art method for assessing chemical risks. The method combined desk research findings and the authors' practical knowledge to identify the major shortcomings in performing risk assessments at the workplace. Data were collected from nine SMEs across three sectors: agriculture, laboratory research, and conservation and restoration laboratories. The results of the discussions with the workers and on-site observations were used to develop the method to assess chemical risks. The method uses numerical factors to account for the level of conformity and the duration of exposure to support an estimation of the probability of an incident. The developed method was designed to enhance risk assessment practices and tackle common issues encountered by enterprises, including SMEs.

Although there are numerous available immunomodulators, those of natural origin would be preferable based on their safety profile and effectiveness. The research and clinical interest in immunomodulators have increased in the last decades, especially in the immunomodulatory properties of plant-based therapies. Innovative technologies and extensive study on immunomodulatory natural products, botanicals, extracts, and active moieties with immunomodulatory potential could provide us with valuable entities to develop as novel immunomodulatory medicines to enhance current chemotherapies. This review focuses on plant-based immunomodulatory drugs that are currently in clinical studies. However, further studies in this area are of utmost importance to obtain complete information about the positive effects of medicinal plants and their chemical components and molecules as an alternative to combatting various diseases and/or prevention.

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive depigmentation of the skin caused by the selective destruction of melanocytes. Although its etiopathogenesis remains unclear, multiple factors are believed to be involved, including genetic and metabolic factors linked to cellular oxidative stress, melanocyte adhesion defects, innate and adaptive immunity. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the role of different cellular mechanisms, including cytokines and chemokines interactions in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Although there is no definitive cure for vitiligo, excessive progress has been made and several treatments have shown favourable results. A thorough understanding of the basis of the disease, uncover promising drug targets for future research, providing clinical researchers with valuable insights for developing improved treatment options.

Here, we consider a closed composite system consisting of a primary system where the chemical reaction occurs and is located in a p, T reservoir. In the ideal isentropic case (thermodynamic process), the change in the internal energy of the composite system (due to a chemical reaction) is wholly converted into useful work - maximum useful work. Irreversibility - a measure for the degradation of useful work - in a closed system generates entropy, i.e., the thermodynamic process is no longer isentropic. Applying the principle of maximum entropy and minimum internal energy to a part of the system's total volume and applying the elements of the system's volume for which the law of local equilibrium applies useful work and irreversibility can be defined. Suppose the primary system is viewed as a set of black box volume elements in which a chemical reaction occurs. In that case, the criterion of an isentropic process or a process with entropy generation becomes the Gibbs-Duham equation. It has been proven that De Donder's equation of entropy production of a chemical reaction is a particular form of Calen's equation –TdST = dUT where dST is the differential change of total entropy and dUT is the differential change of total internal energy of the composite system.

Commercial protein supplements are the main sources for the sports nutrition. Nowadays, those protein supplements mainly differ in the ingredients and formulations, possibly affecting the digestion behavior and protein absorption during gastrointestinal digestion. Herein, this work aimed to investigate the gastric digestion behavior and protein hydrolysis of commercial protein supplements by using an in vitro dynamic digestion model. Five commercial protein supplements were selected, including three protein powders and two liquid protein beverages. The results indicated that liquid protein beverages had smaller particle size than protein powder dispersions, and one of the protein powders existed as the microcapsules. During gastric digestion, all samples tended to form aggregates as the pH decreased, and the degree of aggregation was more pronounced in liquid protein beverages than in protein powders, where the intact structure of the microcapsules was gradually disrupted. Protein hydrolysis degree in liquid protein beverages was higher than that in protein powders. One of the liquid products (M20) had the highest protein hydrolysis degree of around 35.74% after 120 min gastric digestion and a half-empty time of 37.82 min. These findings suggest that the formulation and ingredients of commercial protein supplements will affect their digestion behavior, resulting in varying degree of protein hydrolysis. Hence, sports supplements should be carefully designed to provide precise nutrition for the athletes and exercisers.

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer, with a poor prognosis and high number of uterine cancer-related deaths. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an immunotherapy approach to antigen specific of cancer cell, thereby enhancing the immune system's ability to target and destroy cancer cells. This study aims to investigate the potential of targeting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) as a novel therapeutic strategy using CAR T-cell technology in LMS. Genome datasets were obtained from NCBI-GEO database, Of the five datasets, genes that experienced significant overexpression in at least three datasets were categorized as DEGs, and DEGs were evaluated for protein localization, Gene Ontology, bioactivity, interaction, and overexpression. The results identified 25 DEGs, with ten of them expressed on the plasma membrane; four of them—HMMR, KIF20A, PRC1, and ZWINT—were part of the main protein network derived from the 25 DEGs. The dominant bioactivity of these PMGs involves influencing the cell cycle, particularly processes related to chromosome segregation. In conclusion, HMMR, KIF20A, PRC1, and ZWINT are high-potential DEGs as candidates for tumor-associated antigen CAR T-cell therapy. Further research, both in vitro and in vivo, is needed to enhance the validity of these findings.

Seeds of Arazá and Acai, in addition to the byproduct of the Sacha inchi seed, after the extraction of the oil known as Sacha Inchi oil press-cake (SIOPC), are considered wastes and often discarded; however, they have valuable potential as sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds. We aimed to analyze, the bromatological, and chemical composition of these three byproducts of the fruit industry. Further cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antihypertensive activities of extracts ethanol: water were evaluated through in vitro tests. The Bromatological test showed that SIOPC had a low protein content (8.1%), while AS had a high fiber content (48.9%), however, were poorest in nutrients Ethanol: water extracts from all seeds exhibited diverse profiles of secondary metabolites, with significant concentrations of polyphenols (155.88 µg gallic acid/100 mg dry weight), flavonoids (411.69 µg quercetin/100 mg dry weight), and carotenoids in AS (43.66 µg ß-carotene/100 mg dry weight). AS and ACS extracts excelled in ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays, and AS showed high α-glucosidase inhibition, previously unreported in the literature. The results suggest that both seeds and extracts are sources of nutritional and bioactive metabolites with high antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity. that could be used in the food industry and the health sector. These by-products underline the importance of sustainable harnessing these sources of the native Amazonian Region

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plasma treated metal contaminated water, used for irrigation, on plant growth. Zinc (Zn) is one of the more commonly used metals. It can enter the environment from industrial processes as particles released into the atmosphere or as wastewater discharged into waterways or the ground. Exposure to large amounts of zinc, even for a short time, can seriously affect human health. In this experiment, three different DBD O2 plasma treated zinc contaminated water and a control (tap water) were used, with Arabidopsis thaliana as the model plant. The treatments were: i) Control, ii) Zn water, iii) Zn+O3(30 min), and iv) Zn+O3(60 min). Arabidopsis plant exhibited maximum growth in the Zn+O3(30 min) treatment. All growth parameters, except leaf area, followed this trend: Zn+O3(30 min) > Control > Zn water > Zn+O3(60 min). Gene expression analysis revealed that reduced metal ion stress and controlled oxidation due to active oxygen species contributed to favorable/improved growth of Arabidopsis in the Zn+O3(30 min) treatment. Therefore, 30 minutes of DBD O2 plasma treated zinc contaminated water [Zn+O3(30 min)] can mitigate the adverse effects of excess zinc ions and promote the growth of Arabidopsis plants.

Hypophthalmichthys nobilis are widely distributed in the Yangtze River basin and its related lakes. They are an important economic fish species and are a famous cultured species known as the "Four Famous Domestic Fishes" in China. Currently, with the fishing ban in the Yangtze River basin, fishing for H. nobilis in natural water bodies of the Yangtze River basin has been completely prohibited. In order to identify the sources of H. nobilis appearing in the market, further control and accountability, it is necessary to trace the sources of H. nobilis in the Yangtze River basin and its related water bodies. Therefore, this study identified and traced different sources of H. nobilis through muscle element fingerprint analysis (EFA). The results show that H. nobilis from different stations have characteristic element compositions. The characteristic element of H. nobilis from Wuhan (WH) is Pb, which is significantly higher than that in other stations; the characteristic element from Anqing (AQ) is Hg, which is significantly higher than that in other stations; and the characteristic element from Taihu (TH) is Al, which is significantly higher than that in other water areas. Multivariate analysis selected different spatial distribution patterns of 4 discriminant elements ratios (Pb/Ca, Cr/Ca, Na/Ca, Al/Ca) in the muscle of H. nobilis in the Yangtze River basin and its related lakes. The study suggests that the screened discriminative elements can be used to visually distinguish different sources of H. nobilis, and to quickly trace and verify the origin of newly emerging samples. Therefore, the use of selected discriminant element fingerprint features to trace the origin of new samples has been proven to be feasible. By further discriminating and verifying the muscle element fingerprints of new samples, the discrimination rate is high. Therefore, Multivariate analysis for muscle element fingerprint can be used for origin traceability of samples of unknown origin in market supervision.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-induced climate change, particularly occurring since the mid-20th century has been considerably affecting short-term weather conditions, such as increasing weather variability, and incidence of extreme weather-related events. Milk production is sensitive to such changes. In this study, we use spatial panel econometric models, Spatial Error Model (SEM) and Spatial Durbin Model (SDM), with a panel dataset at the state-level varying over seasons, to estimate the relationship between weather indicators and milk productivity, in an effort to reduce the bias of omitted climatic variables that can be time-varying and spatially correlated and cannot be directly captured by conventional panel data models. We find an inverse U-shaped effect of summer heat stress on milk production per cow (MPC), indicating that milk production reacts positively to a low-level increase in summer heat stress, and then MPC declines as heat stress continues increasing beyond a threshold value of 72. Additionally, fall precipitation exhibits an inverse U-shaped effect on MPC, showing that milk yield increases at a decreasing rate until fall precipitation rises to 14 inches and then over that threshold milk yield declines at an increasing rate. We also find that, relative to conventional panel data models, spatial panel econometric models could improve prediction performance by leading to smaller in-sample and out-sample root mean squared errors. Our study contributes to the literature by exploring the feasibility of promising spatial panel models and resulting in estimating weather influences on milk productivity with high model predicting performance.

This paper proposes a relativistic model of the Universe in which the geometry describes a 4D version of the 2-sheeted hyperboloid that is isotropic, homogeneous in space at a given time and inhomogeneous in time. The radius of this metric is temporal as opposed to spatial. It predicts both a Universe and Anti-Universe moving in opposite directions of time undergoing an expansion phase, followed by a collapsing phase. Using only the current age of the Universe and transition redshift, it predicts the accelerated expansion and it is shown that its Hubble diagram fits currently available supernova and quasar data as well as predicting a Hubble constant $H_0\approx71.6km/s/Mpc$. The angular term of the metric describes time dilation caused by the relativistic kinematic precession effect known as Thomas Precession which can be interpreted as spin about the time dimension. The model also makes two novel predictions: that the early Universe should have structures older than expected due to an increased amount of proper time relative to coordinate time in that era and that the background Universe should appear brighter than current models predict.

This qualitative study explores the intricate impact of cultural differences on global procurement practices within multinational supply chains. Cultural dimensions profoundly influence communication dynamics, negotiation strategies, decision-making processes, and supplier relationship management in diverse global contexts. Effective cross-cultural communication is crucial for fostering trust and clarity across different cultural norms, while negotiation strategies vary based on cultural preferences for collaboration or competition. Decision-making processes are shaped by cultural attitudes towards risk tolerance, time orientation, and decision authority, influencing procurement agility and resilience. Strategic implications of cultural diversity include opportunities for innovation and localized adaptation in procurement practices, tempered by challenges such as adaptation costs and regulatory compliance. Emotional intelligence (EI) emerges as pivotal in navigating cultural complexities, enhancing stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution, and collaborative partnerships critical for sustainable procurement practices in multicultural settings. Economic factors, including stability, currency fluctuations, and market volatility, impact procurement strategies and supply chain resilience, necessitating proactive risk management and adaptive approaches. Barriers to growth in global procurement, such as regulatory complexities and geopolitical risks, require strategic planning, stakeholder collaboration, and infrastructural investments for operational continuity. By understanding and addressing cultural influences, multinational corporations can enhance cross-cultural competence, strategic decision-making, and capitalize on global market opportunities. This study contributes insights and recommendations to enhance procurement effectiveness and competitiveness in an interconnected global economy, supporting ongoing efforts to optimize global procurement practices.

The study analyzes how graduate students in economics, administration and accounting perceive their managerial skills for employability. It focuses on the importance of developing transferable skills that meet current and future job demands. To measure the perception of skills, a structured and duly validated questionnaire (Employability Skills 2000+) was used, answered by 225 graduate students in Economics, Administrative and Accounting Sciences in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The data obtained from the application were analyzed using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) method with the FACTOR software. The CFA generated an adaptation of the original scale with 21 variables. The resulting scale determined three predominant factors: Personal Management Skills, Fundamental Skills and Teamwork Skills, which presented good consistency and validity, allowing us to conclude regarding employability skills in the context studied. The findings show the existence of a correlation between fundamental skills and variables such as work experience, employment status and gender, as well as a high correlation between teamwork skills and work experience and employability conditions.

The safety of lithium-ion batteries is critical to the safety of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The purpose of this work is to develop a method to predict battery thermal runaway in full electric vehicle crash simulation. The thermal-electrical-mechanical coupled finite element analysis is used to model an individual lithium-ion battery cell, a battery module, a battery pack, and a battery electric vehicle with 24 battery modules in a live circuit connection. The lithium-ion battery is modeled using a representative approach, with each battery internal component individually modeled to represent its geometric shape and realistic thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. A resistance heating solver and Randles circuit model built with generalized voltage source are used to simulate the battery electrical behavior. The thermal simulation of the battery accounts for the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of various cell component materials, as well as heat conduction, radiation, and convection at their interfaces. The mechanical property of battery cell and battery module models is validated using spherical punch tests. The electrical property of the battery cell and battery module models is verified against CircuitLab simulation in an external short circuit test. The simulation result of battery module’s internal resistance agrees with the experimental data and the literature value. The multi-physics coupling phenomenon is demonstrated with a cylindrical compression simulation on the battery module. The multi-physics BEV model with 24 live battery modules is used to simulate the external short-circuit test and the side pole impact test. The simulations run time is less than 24 hours. The results demonstrated the feasibility of using representative battery model and multi-physics analysis to predict battery thermal runaway in full electric vehicle crash analysis.

Tunable hydrogels have gained significant attention in the bioengineering field due to their designer preparation approach. Towards this end, gelatine stands out as a promising candidate owing to the desirable attributes, such as biocompatibility, ability to support cell adhesion and proliferation, biodegradability, along with being cost-effective. This study presents the preparation of a robust gelatine hydrogel employing sacran dialdehyde (SDA) as a natural crosslinker. The resulting SDA-crosslinked gelatine hydrogels (GSDA) display an optimal compressive stress of 0.15 MPa at 50% strain, five times higher as compared to pure gelatine hydrogel. As SDA crosslinking concentration is increased, swelling capacity of GSDA declines. Probing further with FTIR spectroscopy and SEM at the micron-scale unveiled a dual-crosslinking mechanism within the hydrogels. This mechanism encompasses both short- and long-range covalent crosslinking, along with thermo-reversible physical crosslinking, resulting in a significant enhancement of the load-bearing capacity of the fabricated hydrogels.

The transition to cleaner energy sources, particularly in hard-to-abate industrial sectors, often requires gradual integration of new technologies. Hydrogen, crucial for decarbonization, is explored as a fuel in blended combustions. Blending or replacing fuels impacts combustion stability and heat transfer rates due to differing densities. An extensive literature review examines blended combustion, focusing on hydrogen-methane mixtures. While industrial burners claim to accommodate up to 20% hydrogen, theoretical support is lacking. A novel thermodynamic analysis methodology is introduced, evaluating methane-hydrogen combustion using the Wobbe index. Findings highlight practical limitations beyond 25% hydrogen volume, necessitating a shift to "totally hydrogen" combustion. Blended combustion can be proposed as a medium-term strategy, acknowledging hydrogen's limited penetration. Higher percentages require burner and infrastructure redesign.

Background: Recent studies have found forward head posture (FHP) to be associated with altered physiology, however, there is a lack of research into whether FHP is associated with altered gait parameters when cognitively challenged. The current study was undertaken to investigate the changes in gait parameters in asymptomatic individuals with FHP when a cognitive dual task is introduced during walking. Methods: Ninety asymptomatic participants were recruited, 45 having FHP defined as having a craniovertebral angle (CVA) < 50, and 45 sex and age-matched controls having normal head posture (NHP) defined as CVA > 55. All participants walked along a 10 meter platform under a control condition (no cognitive load) with 3 consecutive trials while an optical motion-capture system consisting of 8 infrared cameras was used to assess gait kinematics. Secondly, participants were assessed under a dual task cognitive load condition (3 trials while performing simple addition, counting backwards, and answering yes or no questions) to identify the impact on gait kinematics compared to the control condition. Results: Under the single task condition, there were no significant differences for any gait parameter, however, under the dual task condition, 12/13 gait parameters were significantly altered for the FHP group compared to the NHP group (p < .01). A calculation of dual task cost (DTC) percentage showed significant increases in all gait parameters in participants with FHP (p < .02). Correlations between the CVA and gait parameters were not significant for the single task condition, but all gait parameters were correlated to CVA for the dual task condition (p < .01). The correlation between CVA and DTC for all gait variables were also significant (p < .04). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that FHP significantly increases the cognitive cost during walking, highlighting the importance of proper postural alignment for maintaining cognitive function under a dual task condition. Addressing FHP through targeted interventions could improve both physical and cognitive health, enhancing overall well-being and daily functioning.

Many risk-modifying factors affect cancer incidence and mortality rates. We present an ecological study of incidence and/or mortality rates for cancers during 2007–2016 of 17 anatomical sites with respect to solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) doses and obesity prevalence. Solar UVB reduces cancer risk by producing vitamin D, which has many mechanisms to reduce risk of cancer incidence, progression, and metastasis. Obesity increases cancer risk through several mechanisms, including increased systemic inflammation. Data were averaged for 12 geographical regions. Solar UVB doses were significantly inversely correlated with mortality rates for five cancers for males and four for females. Obesity prevalence was directly correlated with mortality rates for three cancers for males and seven for females. The population attributable fraction of cancer mortality rates ascribed to low solar UVB dose was 0.03 for both males and females, whereas that for obesity prevalence was 0.05 for males and 0.08 for females. Thus, cancer mortality rates in France could be reduced through vitamin D supplementation and reducing the prevalence of obesity. Doing so also could reduce risk of other adverse health outcomes.

Cancer cells are believed to be recognized and controlled by the immune system of the host, especially the adaptive immune system. Cancers may be initiated by a single gene defect in stem cells or regenerating cells during the replacement of old or injured tissue cells, and additional gene defect(s) then occur. To compensate for missing proteins intracellular homeostasis systems, such as proteostasis, may work with activation of new genes. The risk or predisposing factors in cancers may be related to the number of tissue cell renewals (the turnover time) and the probability of gene defect(s). Oncological symptoms may be associated with substances that are derived from antigens expressed on cancer cells and those derived from damaged cancer cells with corresponding immune reactions. In patients with cancers or other conditions, inadequate immune components to control these substances may result in chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. Cancer cells communicate with host cells, including the immune cells such as T cells, for survival and proliferation and may need assistance from immune cells against intracellular infections or physicochemical insults. T cell-based immune therapeutics have been developed and clinically used in some cancers, especially in advanced cancers. We further discuss the oncogenesis, pathophysiology of cancers, and unresolved issues in tumor immunology and reinterpret the effectiveness of T cell-based therapies under the protein-homeostasis-system hypothesis.

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the common adverse events associated with cancer treatment that decreases quality of life and affects treatment outcome. However, the medications used to manage OM are generally only palliative, and our knowledge of the syndrome is limited. The etiology of the syndrome is thought to be complex and multifactorial. We investigated the trends and characteristics of OM and estimated molecular initiating events (MIEs) associated with the development of the syndrome using FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. The study of trends and characteristics suggested that OM is significantly more likely to occur in females and nonelderly patients and is likely to be induced by protein kinase inhibitors such as afatinib and everolimus. Next, we used Toxicity Predictor, an in-house quantitative structure–activity relationship system, to estimate OM-associated MIEs. The results revealed that agonist activity of human pregnane X receptor, thyroid-stimulating hormone-releasing hormone receptor, and androgen receptor may be associated with OM development. Our study findings are expected to help avoid the risk of OM induction during the drug discovery process and clinical use of antineoplastic agents.

For quantitative determination of honokiol (HNK) and metformin hydrochloride (M-HCl) by HPLC from formulations and from dissolution studies, a QbD approach using three factors - three levels design was implemented to optimize the chromatographic conditions. To study the impact of each variable on the peak area of both compounds and retention time of last compound eluted, the 3D response surface plots were developed. HNK and M-HCl were separated on a Thermoscientific ODS Hypersyl TM (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column mantained at 30 C, using 0.02 M acetate buffer (pH = 3) / methanol (15 / 85, v / v) as mobile phase with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The injected volume was 20 L, and the detection wavelengths were 256 nm for HNK and 236 nm for M-HCl. The validation of proposed method showed a linearity range of 4 – 1200 μg/mL for M-HCl (r2 = 0.9992) and 1 – 300 μg/mL for HNK (r2 = 0.9998), good precision (RSD < 2% for both HNK and M-HCl, in intra- and inter-day studies) and accuracy (mean recovery = 100.09% in the range 99.80 – 100.43% for M-HCl and mean recovery = 100.12% in the range 99.70 – 100.38% for HNK). The environmentally friendly nature of the method was confirmed by the evaluation of the method’s greenness. The proposed method was applied for the determination of HNK and M-HCl from oral dosage forms and in dissolution studies.

Invasive Candida infections represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), with a particular impact on preterm and low birth weight neonates. In addition to prematurity, several predisposing factors for Candida colonization and dissemination during NICU hospitalization have been identified, including prolonged exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, central venous catheters, parenteral nutrition, corticosteroids, H2 antagonist administration and poor adherence to infection control measures. According to the literature, the implementation of antifungal prophylaxis, mainly fluconazole, in high-risk populations has proven to be an effective strategy in reducing the incidence of fungal infections. This review aims to provide an overview of risk factors for Candida invasive infections and current perspectives regarding antifungal prophylaxis use. Recognition and reduction of exposure to these modifiable risk factors, in conjunction with the administration of antifungal prophylaxis, has been demonstrated to be an effective method for preventing invasive candidiasis in susceptible neonatal populations.

The exponential growth of user-contributed data provides a comprehensive basis for assessing collective perceptions of landscape change. A variety of possible public data sources exist, such as geospatial data from social media or Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). Key challenges with such ‘opportunistic’ data sampling are variability in platform popularity and bias due to changing user groups and contribution rules. In this study, we use five case studies to demonstrate how intra- and inter-dataset comparisons can help to assess the temporality of landscape scenic resources, such as identifying seasonal characteristics for a given area, or testing hypotheses about shifting popularity trends observed in the field. By focusing on the consistency and reproducibility of temporal patterns for selected scenic resources and comparisons across different dimensions of data, we aim to contribute to the development of systematic methods for disentangling the perceived impact of events and trends from other technological and social phenomena included in the data. The proposed techniques may help to draw attention to overlooked or underestimated patterns of landscape change, fill in missing data between periodic surveys, or corroborate and support field observations. Despite limitations, the results already provide a comprehensive basis for developing indicators with a high degree of timeliness for monitoring perceived landscape change over time.

The promoter of the RECEPTOR-LIKE CYTOPLASMIC KINASE VI_A2 gene contains nine binding sites for the REPLUMLESS transcription factor. In agreement, the expression of the kinase gene was strongly downregulated in the rpl-4 mutant. Comparing phenotypes of loss-of-function mutants, it was revealed that both genes are involved in stem growth, phyllotaxis, organization of the vascular tissues, and the replum, highlighting potential functional interactions. Expression of the RLCKVI_A2 gene from the constitutive 35S promoter could not complement the rpl-4 phenotypes, but exhibited a dominant positive effect on stem growth and affected vascular differentiation and organization. The results also indicated that the number of vascular bundles is independently regulated from stem thickness. Although our study cannot demonstrate the direct link between the RPL and RLVKVI_A2 genes, it highlights the significance of the proper developmental regulation of the RLCKVI_A2 promoter for balanced stem development.

ABSTRACT：Background: Diagnosing rhabdomyolysis has usually defined at least five or ten times the upper limit creatine kinase level; but it is conservative for Exertional rhabdomyolysis. The aim was to analysis the biomarkers during a military operation in an extreme environment with high physical demand. Material and Methods: Seventeen male military personnel (age: 27.83 ± 2.96 years; weight: 76.31 ± 7.67 kg; and height 174.92 ± 5.91 cm) participated for this investigation. The creatine kinase (CK); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); creatinine (Cr); sodium (Na); potassium (K); aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) were analyzed. Urine specific gravity (USG) the hydration status was monitored. The Generalized Linear Models for repeated measures and the Friedman’s two-way test were used to comparative moments. Results: The BUN; Cr; Na; and K mean values showed a nonsignificant. The statistical significance of the test was found in CK and AST. There was considerable variability of CK between subjects during the operation. The moderate correlation between CK and Cr was found during study. Conclusion: Elevated CK levels after the operation were characterized as physiological pattern. These results reinforce that CK values are not predictors of renal function in activities with intense and continuous physical demand

Chitosan is a biodegradable polymer derived from chitin, that is a versatile material for various biological applications for its attractive properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. Furthermore, chitosan possesses Second Harmonic Generation properties, that are useful for bio-sensing applications. In this work we explored the possibility to exploit chitosan-based nanospheres as SHG-based bio-sensors, and also as carriers of 89Sr radionuclide, an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient for radiopharmaceutical treatments in cancer therapy. To load opportunely the Sr ion on the nanospheres, we used a fructose-based Metal Organic Framework, of formula [Sr(C6H12O6)2(H2O)2]Cl2·H2O, because the sugar was able to drive the Sr ions on the chitosan matrix. The Sr-loaded chitosan nanospheres were synthetized, characterized, and their SHG response was measured. The results encouraged us to propose the nanospheres for theranostic purposes, i.e. at the same time valuable for both therapy and diagnostic applications.

Between 2019 and 2023, sixteen universities increased their research output by more than fifteen times the global average, alongside significant changes in authorship dynamics (e.g., decreased first authorship, increased numbers of hyperprolific authors, increased numbers of multiaffiliations, and increased numbers of authors per publication). Using bibliometric methods, this study detected patterns suggesting a reliance on unconventional authorship practices, such as gift, honorary, and sold authorship, to inflate publication metrics. This study underscores the need for reforms by universities, policymakers, funding agencies, ranking agencies, accreditation bodies, scholarly publishers, and researchers to maintain academic integrity and ensure the reliability of global ranking systems.

Photonic circuits find applications in biomedicine, manufacturing, quantum computing and communications. Photonic waveguides are crucial components, typically having cross-sections orders of magnitude inferior compared with other photonic components (e. g. optical fibers, light sources and photodetectors). Several light coupling methods exist, consisting of either on-plane (e. g. adiabatic and end-fire coupling) or off-plane methods (e. g. grating and vertical couplers). The grating coupler is a versatile light transference technique which can be tested at wafer level, not requiring specific fiber terminations or additional optical components, like lenses, polarizers or prisms. This study focuses on fully-etched grating couplers without bottom reflector, made from hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), deposited over a silica substrate. Different coupler designs were tested, of these we highlight two: superimposition of two lithographic masks with different periods and an offset between them to create a random distribution and a technique based on the quadratic refractive index variation along the device’s length. Results were obtained by 2D-FDTD simulation. The designed grating couplers achieve coupling efficiencies for the TE-like mode over -8 dB (mask overlap) and -3 dB (quadratic variation), at a wavelength of 1550 nm. The coupling scheme considers a 220 nm a-Si:H waveguide and an SMF-28 optical fiber.

With the rapid developments that have been made in computer vision and computer technology, semantic segmentation of high-resolution images has emerged as a mainstream and challenging task. The, segmentation of water areas remains a complex task due to the similar features between water areas or between water areas and other land objects. Meanwhile, since coastlines and riverbanks are typically presented in irregular shapes, it is difficult to obtain the categories of pixels at boundaries. This paper proposed the use of a Water-Land Boundary Attention Network (WLBANet) to improve the accuracy of pixels at boundaries between water and land. This network also reinforced the performance of contextual information extraction into distinguishing between water areas and other land objects. To prove the validity of this proposed network, WLBANet was performed on the Water Land Dataset (WLD), which is also by this paper, and which contains water areas and other land objects categories. The results demonstrates that the proposed method has significant effectiveness.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Patient treatment and management pose a challenge for healthcare systems. The prognosis of these patients may be influenced by factors such as sex. This study aims to describe the clinical parameters of patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Spanish hospital due to Trauma Brain Injury and to establish differences based on sex. Methodology: An observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study was conducted from March 2015 to December 2019. All patients admitted to the ICU during this period who presented isolated significant Traumatic Brain Injury, defined as an abbreviated injury scale (AIS) ≥ 3, were included. Data on baseline characteristics, mechanism of injury, substance use, and acute management in the prehospital and hospital stages (including the need for hospitalization) were recorded. A descriptive and in-ferential analysis was conducted using the chi-square test. Results: A total of 950 patients were ultimately included. The majority of the patients were men (723) with a mean age of 45.16 (± 17.55). There were statistically significant differences in terms of the mechanism of injury (p

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive, invasive, and growth-factor-independent grade IV glioma. Survival following the diagnosis is generally poor, with a median survival of approximately 15 months, and it is considered the most aggressive and lethal central nervous system tumor. Conventional treatments based on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy only delay progression, and death is inevitable. Malignant glioma cells are resistant to traditional therapies, potentially due to a subpopulation of glioma stem cells that are invasive and capable of rapid regrowth. Methods: Systematic retrieval of information was performed on PubMed. Specified keywords were used in PubMed and the articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals were associated with brain GBM cancer, sodium iodide symporter (NIS). Additionally, the words 'radionuclide therapy', 'radioiodine', 'iodine-131', 'molecular imaging', 'gene therapy', and 'translational imaging' were used. Other keywords such as ‘glioblastoma', 'targeted', 'theranostic', 'symporter', 'virus', 'solid tumor', 'combined therapy', 'pituitary', or 'plasmid' were also used in appropriate literature databases and search engines. 19 articles were found in this search on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sodium Iodide Symporter and GBM. \ These articles were from the years 2000 to 2024. Appropriate studies were isolated, and important information from each of them was understood and entered into a database from which the information was used in this article. Results: For as long as they express functional NIS, mesenchymal stem cells systemically repress T and B cells; however, after that, they are largely replaced by mesenchymal stem cells generated from embryonic stem cells that are functionally competent. As a result of their natural capacity to identify malignancies, MSC are employed as tumor therapy vehicles. Because MSCs may be transplanted in several methods, they have been proposed as ideal vehicles for NIS gene transfer. Conclusion: Non-invasive imaging-based detection of glioma stem cells presents an alternate means to monitor the tumor and diagnose and evaluate recurrence. The sodium iodine symporter gene is a specific gene in a variety of human thyroid disease that functions to move iodine into the cell. In recent years, an increasing number of studies related to the sodium iodide symporter gene have been reported in a variety of tumors and as therapeutic vectors for imaging and therapy. Gene therapy and nuclear medicine therapy for GBM provide a new direction.

In recent years, the research community has been interested in members of the Acinetobacter genus mainly because of their role as causative agents of nosocomial infections. However, this rich-in-species genus has been proven to play a significant role in different biotechnological processes, such as bioremediation and fermented foods production. To partially fill the lack of information on Acinetobacter’s dualistic nature, in this review, based on literature data, we attempt to summarize the available information on the different roles the members of the genus play by considering their genetic constitution and metabolic properties. We found pieces of evidence of genetic divergence between the pathogenic and non-pathogenic species and strains, which can be explained by their high adaptability to the different ecological niches. In turn, this adaptability could result from intrinsic genetic variability due to mechanisms of horizontal genetic transfer, as well as high mutability determined by the expression of error-prone DNA polymerases. Yet, further studies are needed, especially whole-genome sequencing of non-pathogenic isolates, which for the moment are relatively scarce.

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) affects 1-2% of women, and its triggering factors are unclear. Several studies have shown the vaginal, endometrial, and gut microbiota may play a role in RPL. A decrease in the quantity of Lactobacillus crispatus in local microbiota has been associated with an increase in local (vaginal and endometrial) inflammatory response and immune cell activation that leads to pregnancy loss. The inflammatory response may be triggered by gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), viral infections, mycosis, or atypia (tumor growth). Bacterial structures and metabolites produced by microbiota could be involved in immune cell modulation and may be responsible for immune cell activation and molecular mimicry. Gut microbiota metabolic products may increase the amount of circulating pro-inflammatory lymphocytes, which, in turn, will migrate into vaginal or endometrial tissues. Local proinflammatory Th1 and Th17 subpopulations along with a decrease in Treg and tolerogenic NK cells are accountable for the increase in pregnancy loss. Local microbiota may modulate the local inflammatory response increasing pregnancy success. Analyzing local and gut microbiota may be necessary to characterize some RPL patients. Although oral supplementation of probiotics has not been shown to modify vaginal or endometrial microbiota, the metabolites produced by it may benefit patients. Lactobacillus crispatus transplantation into the vagina may enhance the required immune tolerogenic response to achieve a normal pregnancy. The effect of hormone stimulation and progesterone to maintain early pregnancy on microbiota has not been adequately studied, and more research is needed in this area. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to ascertain the benefit of microbiota modulation in RPL.

Training artificial intelligence (AI) for reasoning presents significant challenges due to the lack of clear objectives and reward functions. In structured environments such as chess and Go, objectives are well-defined, and the optimal moves can be determined through search algorithms that maximize the reward function. This clarity enables AI to learn and improve autonomously through random trials and recursive calculation of rewards, mirroring human learning processes that depend on prior experiences and state-dependent actions. However, in real-world applications, AI lacks access to direct interaction and feedback, making it difficult to define proper reward functions. This limitation is particularly evident in the training of large language models (LLMs), where the quality of the output is constrained by the training data and the absence of a dynamic reward system. Simulated environments offer some utility but are inherently limited by their design and scope. Achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) requires AI to function and receive feedback in real-world settings, similar to human cognitive and strategic development through interactive experiences. This paper explores the critical role of clear objectives and reward functions in AI training, the limitations posed by the current lack of real-world interaction, and the implications for future advancements in AI reasoning capabilities.

Receptor–ligand interactions at cell interfaces initiate signaling cascades essential for cellular communication and effector functions. Specifically, T cell receptor (TCR) interactions with pathogen-derived peptides presented by the major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) molecules on antigen-presenting cells are crucial for T cell activation. The binding duration, or dwell time, of TCR–pMHC interactions correlates with downstream signaling efficacy, with strong agonists exhibiting longer lifetimes compared to weak agonists. Traditional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) methods quantify 3D affinity but lack cellular context and fail to account for factors like membrane fluctuations. In the recent years, single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) has been applied to measure 2D binding kinetics of TCR–pMHC interactions in a cellular context. Here, we introduce a rigorous mathematical model based on survival analysis to determine exponentially distributed receptor–ligand interaction lifetimes, verified through simulated data. Additionally, we developed a comprehensive analysis pipeline to extract interaction lifetimes from raw microscopy images, demonstrating the model’s accuracy and robustness across multiple TCR–pMHC pairs. Our new software suite automates data processing to enhance throughput and reduce bias. This methodology provides a refined tool for investigating T cell activation mechanisms, offering insights into immune response modulation.

Enterococcal bacteraemia (EB) is on the rise both in Sweden and globally. While Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is susceptible to ampicillin and piperacillin/tazobactam (pip/taz), Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) is not. The use of pip/taz has increased dramatically in Sweden, but it is unknown if this has affected the relative incidence of E. faecalis/E. faecium bacteraemia. Here we investigate whether the number and proportion of E. faecium bacteraemia (EfmB) cases have increased. Additionalle, risk factors associated with EfmB with focus on prior antibiotic exposure are analyzed. Medical journals of 360 patients with EB admitted to Sahlgrenska University Hospital were reviewed. The proportion of EfmB cases increased from 41% in 2015 to 51% in 2021. Hospital-acquired infection, previous exposure to pip/taz, and carbapenems were identified as independent risk factors for EfmB. There were considerable patient related differences between the EfmB and EfsB groups but there was no difference in mortality rates. In conclusion, the increasing proportion of EfmB cases is concerning and was seen parallell to the expanding use of pip/taz, one possible contributing factor. Our findings suggest that a cautious approach to antibiotic use is essential to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Milk consumption is crucial for a balanced diet, yet recent trends indicate a decline, especially in Italy. A significant factor in this decline is the altered perception of milk quality among consumers, creating a communication gap between them and other stakeholders. This study aimed to explore the discourse on social media and sentiment towards the concept of milk quality among consumers, farmers, and processors. The research adopted a Social Media Analysis to examine online community messages. A sample of 19,906 Italian comments and posts mentioning keywords Milk, Quality, Cow, and Vaccine was collected and categorized using term frequency analysis, correspondence analysis, and sentiment analysis. Results highlighted gaps in the perceptions of milk quality: farmers focused on economic issues, consumers on animal welfare and health, and processors on lactose content. For farmers, almost all comments were negative, while for processors, nearly all comments were positive. Consumers presented a more mixed picture. This work contributes to the literature by expanding research on milk quality using social media as a source of information. The findings suggest that enhancing communication and understanding among these groups could lead to more effective strategies for addressing consumer concerns, potentially reversing the declining of milk consumption.

In this study the impact of climate change on drought conditions in Serbia is investigated trough the multifractal analysis of standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). The SPEI time series for accumulation time scale of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months were calculated using the high resolution meteorological gridded dataset E-OBS with a resolution of 0.10 in regular latitude/longitude coordinates and time span from 1961 to 2020. The multifractal analysis was performed for two standard climatic periods (1961−1990 and 1991−2020) using multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis method (MFDFA) which is suitable for nonstationary temporal series. In each of 1278 grid cells that cover Serbian territory we analyzed 4 SPEI time series for two 30 years periods (which totals 10224 MFDFA runs) and calculated multifractal spectrum parameters that describe persistence, degree of multifractality and the influence of small/large fluctuations. We found that all the analyzed SPEI series show multifractal properties with the dominance of small fluctuations. The short and medium drought conditions described by SPEI-1, SPEI-3 and SPEI-6 are persistent (the position of maximum of multifractal spectrum is in the range 0.5<α0<1), stronger persistence is found at higher accumulation time scales, while SPEI-12 time series are antipersistent (0<α0-1<0.5). The degree of multifractality (width of multifractal spectrum W) increases from SPEI-1 to SPEI-6 and decreases for SPEI-12. For all series multifractal spectrum is right skewed (skew parameter r>0) indicating that small SPEI temporal fluctuations contribute more to multifractality than large fluctuations. In the second period SPEI-1 SPEI-3 and SPEI-6 series become more persistent with weaker multifractality, indicating that short and medium drought conditions (which are related to soil moisture and crop stress) become easier to predict, while SPEI-12 changed toward random regime and stronger multifractality in eastern and central part of country, indicating that long term drought conditions (related to streamflow, reservoir levels, and groundwater levels) become more difficult for modeling and prediction.

We will try to use the approach of labeled cycle cover sum to count the number of hamiltonian cycles in a special type of bipartite graphs, with 4k + 2 vertices which can also be considered as an alternative method to check hamiltonicity in such bipartite graphs. This graph is such that, there exists at least 1 vertex which is not a part of any cycle of size 4m + 2 where m < k, in O∗(1.414n) time. The algorithm is inspired by Bjorklund’s approach where instead of working on the field of GF(2k), we will be working on C.

The rapid growth of the global population is causing a significant increase in waste production, leading to serious environmental and public health challenges. To address these issues, waste management systems are incorporating advanced technologies. Machine learning and computer vision are used to predict waste patterns, optimize collection schedules, and improve sorting accuracy. Deep learning automates the sorting process, provides predictive analytics, and enhances recycling rates. Robotics, combined with AI and computer vision, improves sorting efficiency, while the Internet of Things (IoT) monitors waste levels and optimizes collection routes. Despite these benefits, challenges such as data scarcity, high computational demands, and the need for substantial infrastructure investments must be addressed. This research explores the integration of advanced technologies into waste management and evaluates their effectiveness using waste datasets. It highlights the potential to tackle environmental challenges and lay the groundwork for more intelligent waste management solutions.

In order to explore the yield-increasing mechanism of mechanized potato planting with corn straw mulching, a two-year ( 2021 and 2022 ) field experiment was conducted to study the effects of mechanized no-tillage with straw mulching on potato yield and water use efficiency. This experiment included corn straw mulching potato mechanized no-tillage planting ( JG ), plastic film mulching ( HM ) and open flat planting ( CK ). The results showed that mechanical no-tillage with straw mulching had significant effects on soil water content, yield and water use efficiency in 0-100 cm soil layer (p&lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in yield between JG and HM, but it was significantly higher than that of CK. The yield of JG was 3.09 %~12.27 % higher than that of CK. The yield increase was mainly achieved by increasing the potato weight per plant ( 0.697 ~ 0.862** ) and the average single potato weight ( 0.048 ~ 0.631 ). The tuber weight per plant was positively correlated with the plant height at seedling stage ( 0.03 ~ 0.92** ), and positively correlated with the dry weight of stems and leaves at tuber expansion stage and starch accumulation stage ( 0.74** ~ 0.95**). It was negatively correlated with the number of branches at tuber formation stage ( -0.33 ~ -0.88** ). Compared with CK, JG could significantly improve the water use efficiency of potato and reduce the water consumption during the whole growth period of crops. In 2021, JG was 6.5 % higher than CK, and HM was 6.88 % lower than CK. In 2022, JG and HM increased water use efficiency by 26.17 % and 14.50 % compared with CK. It can be seen that JG is a green and efficient mechanized potato cultivation technology suitable for dry farming areas.

: Optical coherence tomography is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides three-dimensional visualization of subsurface tissue structures. OCT has been proposed and explored in literature as a tool to assess oral cancer status, select biopsy sites, or identify surgical margins. Our endoscopic OCT device can generate widefield (centimeters long) imaging of lesions at any location in the oral cavity – but it is challenging for raters to quantitatively assess and score large volumes of data. Leveraging a previously developed epithelial segmentation network, this work develops quantifiable biomarkers that provide direct measurements of tissue properties in three-dimensions. We hypothesize that features related to morphology, tissue attenuation, and contrast between tissue layers will be able to provide a quantitative assessment of disease status (dysplasia through carcinoma). This work retrospectively assesses seven biomarkers on a lesion-contralateral matched OCT dataset of lateral and ventral tongue (40 patients, 70 sites). Epithelial depth and loss of epithelial-stromal boundary visualization provide the strongest discrimination between disease states. The stroma optical attenuation coefficient provides distinction of benign lesions from dysplasia and carcinoma. The stratification biomarkers visualize subsurface changes which provides potential for future utility in biopsy site selection or treatment margin delineation.

Food fortification with micronutrients was initially justified in developed countries by lack of availability of micronutrients in staple crops, mainly due to soil exhaustion. However, in Sub-Saharan arable lands soil fatigue is not predominant and communities consume mostly home-grown organic non-processed crops. African food systems are nevertheless deeply entwined with food insecurity, driver of illnesses. Family production can promote subsistence, food stability and self-sufficiency, the main African setback being the vicious cycle of poverty and the lack of dietary variety, contributing to malnutrition. Poverty reduction, and women's education, are significant strategies for reducing child and adolescent undernourishment. Fortification of foods consumed daily by individuals makes sense and can minimize if not entirely eliminate deficiencies. Mass fortification in Sub-Saharan Africa with single micronutrients is however controversial working in synergy among each other and the food matrix, for optimal absorption and metabolism. Since the causes of malnutrition are many, caused by diverse, unequal and unjust food distribution, interrelated with political, social, cultural or economic factors, education status of the population, season and climatic changes, and effectiveness of nutrition programmes, just food fortification cannot solve the composite of these elements. Further, compulsory fortification is excessive, unproductive and likely harmful to human health, while many challenges remain in accessing quality of premixes. However, aiming at dietary diversification is the best approach of increasing trace elements intake from commonly accessible and easily available food sources.

This qualitative study explores the intricacies of building sustainable supplier relationships in the e-commerce sector, focusing on best practices and strategic approaches. Through in-depth interviews with procurement managers, supply chain experts, and supplier representatives, the research identifies four critical themes: trust, technology integration, ethical practices, and performance measurement. Trust is found to be the foundation of effective supplier relationships, fostering open communication and collaboration, which are essential for addressing challenges and co-creating solutions. The integration of digital technologies such as supply chain management software, blockchain, and the Internet of Things significantly enhances transparency, decision-making, and operational efficiency, providing a competitive edge. Ethical practices, including adherence to fair labor standards and environmental sustainability, are increasingly crucial as consumer and regulatory expectations evolve, necessitating alignment between e-commerce companies and their suppliers. Performance measurement and continuous improvement are vital for maintaining quality and efficiency, with clear metrics and regular evaluations driving constructive feedback and optimization of supply chain processes. The study underscores the interdependence of these elements in fostering resilient and adaptable supplier relationships. The findings offer practical guidance for e-commerce businesses and suppliers, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to supplier management that balances trust, technology, ethics, and performance. This approach not only enhances operational effectiveness but also ensures the long-term sustainability of supplier relationships in the dynamic e-commerce landscape. The research contributes to the theoretical understanding of supplier relationship management, providing a comprehensive framework for future studies and practical applications in the e-commerce industry.

While the history of Lough Derg is extremely well-documented, there have been com-paratively fewer ethnographic reports. Given the highly elaborate Lough Derg websites and multiple postings by Lough Derg pilgrims, this researcher anticipated that Lough Derg – like many other Irish pilgrimages - would attract mostly recreational tourists. It does not. Pilgrims to Lough Derg do not see the site as primarily a tourist destination. Instead, they see Lough Derg primarily as a locus of intense religious experience. Lough Derg 3-day pilgrimages are rigorous and entail considerable self-sacrifice: fasting, sleep deprivation, cold, bare feet, prayer, no cell phones, and exposure to jagged rocks. Lough Derg’s 3-day pilgrimages closely follow patterns established centuries ago. Lough Derg is both "modern" and "timeless." It selectively incorporates ancient ritual and 21st century technology. This paper looks at the impact of the covid19 epidemic on Lough Derg pilgrimages. The site was closed to pilgrims during the 2020-2021 season and an on-line virtual pilgrimage was offered as a substitute. One unintended consequence of this virtual pilgrimage is that many pilgrims to Lough Derg now give greater prominence to what Corin Braga has categorized as fisi (ecstatic revelations) than to the physical journey itself (i e. somanodias). Post-covid pilgrims highlight the Internet: production of virtual texts and Internet vlogs. As in most pilgrimages worldwide, contemporary pilgrims to Lough Derg arrive with varied expec-tations and myriad motives. This ethnographic report examines these motives and offers a critique of James L. Smith (2016), who, like Edith and Victor Turner (1978) before him – saw Lough Derg as a symbol of Irish nationalism. Smith highlighted Lough Derg’s “moral geography” which, he argued, stems from its long history of isolation. But Post- covid Lough Derg is no longer isolated. The site has become more accessible through organized bus tours, improved public transportation, and development of a commercial tourist infrastructure.

In the fast-evolving landscape of web services, success relies on optimizing efficiency, reliability, and user satisfaction. Decision-making in real-world applications demands a blend of quantitative (numerical values of quality of Service factors) and qualitative data of experts’ ratings of the quality of service factors. This paper proposes an optimization technique that integrates Hesitant and Intuitionistic Fuzzy Linguistic Terms with TOPSIS, leveraging Entropy Objective weights. There is limited research on Hesitant Intuitionistic Fuzzy Linguistic terms and the need to model fuzziness, haste and intuition in data precisely from experts rating. Thus, this article introduces an Entropy-based model tailored for web service optimization. Using the WS-DREAM dataset, quantitative data was extracted and objective weights were determined through the Entropy algorithm and qualitative evaluations from five experts, employing Hesitant Intuitionistic Fuzzy Linguistic Terms, were integrated. The process involved computing criteria weights and experts' assessment of Quality of Service factors for four services (S1, S2, S3, and S4) to form the Fuzzy Decision Matrix using modified Online output software. Applying the proposed technique to a web service optimization problem validated its effectiveness. The results indicated optimal selection of S1 as the best web service, supported by Coefficient Index values (0.785). This study introduces a novel approach, Entrop – Hesitationistic - Fuzz-TOPSIS, for web service optimization, integrating quantitative and qualitative data through an Entropy-based model. The effectiveness of the proposed technique, validated through application on the WS-DREAM dataset, underscores its potential in addressing real-world decision-making challenges. The optimal selection of S1 as the best web service suggests practical utility. The study encourages further exploration of this technique's applicability to diverse Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problems, opening avenues for future research and application.

This manuscript reviews three case studies from Brazil, Panama, and Portugal that illustrate Nature-based Solutions. The Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro is a remarkable story of centuries of forest management that today is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Panama Canal Watershed produces water for Canal operations, electricity generation, and drinking water for half the country´s population. Traditional windmills and weirs near streams in the Alentejo Region, Portugal, have largely been abandoned due to the damming of the Guadiana River. Yet today, weirs are increasingly recognized for their important contribution to water provisioning in this dry region. All have a primary goal related to water provisioning, yet their ecosystem benefits are multiple. The cases offer important lessons for adaptation to climate change, cultural benefits from traditional human activities, and concerns about social equity.

Rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries focuses on reestablishing and monitoring muscle activation patterns to accurately produce force. The aim of this study is to explore the use of a novel low-powered wearable distributed Simultaneous Musculoskeletal Assessment with Real-Time Ultrasound (SMART-US) device to predict force during an isometric squat task. Participants (N=5) performed maximum isometric squats under two medical imaging techniques; clinical musculoskeletal motion mode (m-mode) ultrasound on the dominant vastus lateralis and SMART-US sensors placed on the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, medial hamstring, and vastus medialis. Ultrasound features were extracted, and a linear ridge regression model was used to predict ground reaction force. The performance of ultrasound features to predict measured force was tested using either the Clinical M-mode, SMART-US sensors on the vastus lateralis (SMART-US: VL), rectus femoris (SMART-US: RF), medial hamstring (SMART-US: MH), and vastus medialis (SMART-US: VMO) or utilized all four SMART-US sensors (Distributed SMART-US). Model training showed that the Clinical M-mode and the Distributed SMART-US model were both significantly different from the SMART-US: VL, SMART-US: MH, SMART-US:RF, and SMART-US:VMO models (p<0.05). Model validation showed that the Distributed SMART-US model had an R² of 0.80 ±0.04 and was significantly different from SMART-US: VL but not from the Clinical M-mode model. In conclusion, a novel wearable distributed SMART-US system can predict ground reaction force using machine learning, demonstrating the feasibility of wearable ultrasound imaging for ground reaction force estimation.

Exploiting the van der Waals model of liquids, it is possible to derive analytical formulas for the thermodynamic functions governing solvation, the transfer of a solute molecule from a fixed position in the ideal gas phase to a fixed position in the liquid phase. The solvation Gibbs free energy change consists of two contributions: (a) the high number density of all liquids and the repulsive interactions due to the basic fact that each molecule has its own body lead to the need of spending free energy to create a cavity suitable to host the solute molecule; (b) the ubiquitous intermolecular attractive interactions lead to a gain in free energy for turning on attractions between the solute molecule and surrounding liquid molecules. Also the solvation entropy change consists of two contributions: (a) there is an entropy loss in all liquids because the cavity presence limits the space accessible to liquid molecules during their continuous translations; (b) there is an entropy gain in all liquids, at room temperature, due to the liquid structural reorganization as a response to the perturbation represented by solute insertion. The latter entropy contribution proves to be balanced by a corresponding enthalpy term. This scenario emerged from the van der Waals model is in qualitative agreement with experimental results.

The development of novel ionic liquid crystals for energy storage applications has gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to develop the field of energy storage. Ionic liquid crystals represent a unique class of materials with high ionic conductivity and thermal stability, making them ideal candidates for use in advanced energy storage devices. This research aims to explore the fundamental properties, structure and liquid crystals performance of these novel materials, with the goal of advancing their practical application in next-generation energy storage technologies. By understanding the structure-function relationship of ionic liquid crystals, researchers can tailor their properties to meet specific energy storage requirements, such as high energy density, fast charging capabilities, and long cycle life. This study seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field of energy storage by investigating the potential of novel ionic liquid crystals as efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions. The two ionic liquid crystals show mesomorphic behavior and typical zwitterion characteristics that revealed by the cyclic voltammetry techniques. These materials uploaded with lithium ions for more stability and higher ionic conductivity.

The nozzle is the key element of the water jet generator for energy conversion. In order to explore the influence of the nozzle diameter on the pressure characteristics of the supercharged pulsed water jet plenum chamber, a supercharged pulsed water jet pressure acquisition system was established, and the Equations of motion and theoretical pressurization ratio equations of the supercharged pulsed water jet generator were established. The pressurization chamber pressure acquisition experiments under different nozzle diameters were carried out. The research results indicate that there is a critical nozzle diameter. When the nozzle diameter is less than the critical diameter, the pressure in the boost chamber is equal to the product of the driving pressure and boost ratio. As the nozzle changes, there is no significant change in the peak pressure and frequency of the boost chamber; When the nozzle diameter is greater than the critical diameter, there is a non-linear relationship between the boost chamber pressure and the driving pressure. As the nozzle diameter gradually increases, the actual boost ratio gradually decreases, and the peak pressure of the boost chamber further decreases. The nozzle diameter can no longer provide a load for the establishment of fluid pressure in the boost chamber. The research results provide a research basis for further controlling the pressure characteristics of the boost pulse water jet.

Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has recently gained prominence. We investigated the clinical significance of mucin 5 AC (MUC5AC), which exists in two major glycoforms, a less-glycosylated immature isoform (IM) and a heavi-ly-glycosylated mature isoform (MM), as a biomarker in resected PDA. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 100 resected PDAs to evaluate the expression of IM and MM isoforms of MUC5AC using respective monoclonal antibodies CLH2 (NBP2-44455) and 45M1 (ab3649). MUC5AC localization (cytoplasmic, apical, and extra-cellular, EC) was determined, and H-scores were calculated. Univariate and multivariate (MVA) Cox regression models were used to estimate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Of 100 resected PDA patients, 43 received NAT, and 57 were treatment-naïve with upfront surgery (UpS). In the study population (N=100), IM expression (objective response vs. no response vs. UpS = H-scores 104 vs. 152 vs. 163, p=0.01) and MM-MUC5AC detection rates (56% vs. 63% vs. 82%, p=0.02) were significantly different. In the NAT-group, MM-MUC5AC-negative patients had significantly better PFS on MVA (Hazard Ratio, 0.2, 95 % CI: 0.059-0.766, p = 0.01). Similar results were noted in a FOLFIRINOX sub-group (N=36). We established an association of MUC5AC expression with treatment response and outcomes.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) plays a pivotal role in enhancing delivery performance within the e-commerce sector, yet understanding its nuanced impacts remains crucial for optimizing operational efficiencies and customer satisfaction. This qualitative research explores the intricate dynamics of SRM in e-commerce, focusing on strategic alignment, technological integration, trust, collaboration, and risk management as key determinants of delivery reliability. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the study reveals that strategic alignment of supplier capabilities with firm objectives is fundamental for maintaining a responsive and synchronized supply chain. Technological integration, including AI-driven analytics and blockchain applications, emerges as critical for real-time monitoring and adaptive decision-making, thereby improving delivery accuracy and efficiency. Trust and collaboration are identified as essential pillars for building resilient supplier relationships, fostering transparent communication and joint problem-solving. Effective risk management practices, such as supplier diversification and contingency planning, mitigate disruptions and ensure consistent delivery performance. Despite these benefits, challenges such as technological adoption barriers, cultural differences, communication complexities, resource constraints, and supplier reliability issues persist, necessitating strategic interventions. Recommendations include investing in advanced SRM technologies, promoting cultural understanding, enhancing communication protocols, allocating adequate resources, and fostering collaborative initiatives with suppliers. These strategies aim to overcome challenges and optimize SRM practices, ultimately enhancing delivery performance and competitiveness in the e-commerce landscape.

In the ongoing shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) primarily utilizing lithium-ion battery technology, a significant population of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) remains operational, reliant on established NiMH battery systems. Over the last twenty years, these HEVs have generated a substantial quantity of NiMH batteries that are either inoperable, experiencing performance degradation, or approaching the end of their service life. This results in a twofold challenge: a growing volume of environmentally hazardous waste due to the difficulty of NiMH battery reclamation, and escalating maintenance costs for HEV owners necessitated by replacement battery purchases. Patent WO2015092107A1, published in 2015, proposed a "Method for regenerating NiMh batteries." This method claims the ability to restore NiMH batteries to their original functionality. However, a comprehensive review of relevant scientific literature fails to identify any empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of the regeneration technique detailed in the patent. Within this context, this paper presents a detailed analysis and evaluation of the feasibility of the aforementioned patented method. To achieve this objective, the authors propose a prototype constructed utilizing NiMH battery cells sourced from a Toyota Prius. The experimental results obtained from this prototype demonstrate the potential for battery regeneration using the proposed method. These findings offer a promising solution for mitigating the challenges associated with NiMH battery disposal and maintenance within the HEV domain.

We estimate general public’s willingness to pay (WTP) for agricultural soil quality protection and improvement in Spain (n=1000) and the UK (n=984) using data from a cross-sectional survey via Qualtrics panels in March-April 2021. We use a double bound dichotomous choice contingent valuation approach to elicit the individuals’ WTP. We investigate the effect of uncertainty on the success of policies aiming at achieving soil protection. In addition, to understand the heterogeneity in individuals’ WTP for agricultural soil quality protection and improvement we model individuals’ WTP through individual’s awareness and attitudes toward agricultural soil quality protection and the environment, trust in institutions; risk and time preferences; pro-social behavior and socio-demographics in Spain and the UK. We found that there is significant public support for agricultural soil quality protection and improvement in Spain and the UK. We also found that the support does not vary significantly under uncertainty of success of policies aiming at achieving soil protection. However the individual’s reasons for supporting agricultural soil quality protection and improvement are found to depend on the level of uncertainty and country. Hence, promoting public support for soil protection needs to be tailored according to the level of general public’s perceived uncertainty and geographic location.

In the fast-changing world of software development, the protection of software products has emerged as an imperative requirement. This paper presents a new way to increase the maturity of development teams to reach the highest level of software security. Based on these, the framework uses the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP) to systematically evaluate and enhance the people maturity of software development projects. The essence of the fuzzy logic and AHP technique interaction is to handle the uncertainty and complexity of human factors and team dynamics in the evaluation framework. Using the decision-making model allows the project managers and stakeholders to determine the appropriate areas for improvement and develop the right strategies and actions to nurture a secure and mature development culture. The paper identifies 24 human success factors (HSFs) and human security vulnerabilities (HSVs) and 38 practices for addressing these HSFs and HSVs. Furthermore, we discuss the local and global ranks of each HSF and HSV practice and categorize the identified practices into 9 categories to determine the ranks and weight of each category. Based on collected data, FAHP prioritized these practices; the category “C4: Skill Development and Stakeholder Engagement” is ranked highest at rank-1 and possesses the most significant weight of 0.12435. Similarly, the highest global weight is 0.051506, and the global ranked (rank-1) HSF and HSV practice is “P15: Hands-On Practice and Stakeholder Communication”. Research evidence and case discussions show how the described framework assists in building secure software development (SSD) practices, which can be considered evidence of the application of team maturity to improve cybersecurity in organizations. Additional research directions include improving the framework, especially using highly developed learning techniques and applying the framework to other forms of development.

Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) caused by piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV) has emerged in aquaculture of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The lack of cell culture has hampered studies of the infection. In this study samples from naturally PMCV infected Atlantic salmon from commercial farms were collected and used. In situ hybridization revealed intense staining for PMCV RNA in myocard in the spongiform layer of the heart, but almost no staining in the compact layer. In kidneys only sporadic staining was seen. Viral RNA was present in all organs, with the highest loads in the heart, kidney, and spleen. The high viral PMCV RNA loads in the heart were caused by extensive viral mRNA transcription. The high ratio of viral mRNA to viral genomic dsRNA, indicated active transcription but limited production of new viral particles. This suggests that the histopathological changes of the heart are caused by viral mRNA and corresponding viral proteins. The production of full-length transcripts is regulated, with a reduction in the relative amount of ORF3-containing transcripts at high transcription rates. Efforts to identify alternative hosts, such as fungi, were inconclusive, as fungal sequences were found inconsistently in salmon tissue samples. The results reinforce the need for further research to fully understand PMCV’s life cycle and potential alternative hosts and its whereabouts when it is not infecting the heart of the At-lantic salmon.

This qualitative study explores collaborative supplier relationships within the context of e-commerce, aiming to uncover the dynamics, challenges, strategies, impacts, and future trends shaping these partnerships. Through thematic analysis of interviews with e-commerce platform managers, supplier representatives, and industry experts, the study identifies three primary types of relationships: transactional, relational, and strategic. Critical factors influencing these relationships include trust, effective communication, technological integration, and regulatory compliance. Challenges such as information asymmetry, cultural differences, logistical complexities, and competitive pressures are examined, alongside strategies for enhancing collaboration, including clear communication protocols, performance evaluations, and technological advancements. The findings highlight the significant impact of collaborative supplier relationships on business performance, including cost efficiencies, supply chain resilience, innovation capacity, customer satisfaction, and market competitiveness. Looking forward, trends in digital transformation, sustainability initiatives, global supply chain networks, resilience-building strategies, and industry collaboration are discussed as shaping the future landscape of e-commerce partnerships. Embracing these trends presents opportunities for organizations to innovate, adapt, and sustain growth in the competitive digital marketplace.

In order to further control the equivalent circulating density,a new type of annular pres-sure-reducing downhole tool for high temperature and high pressure wells-liquid-absorbing ECD tool is designed.Through this tool,the bottom hole pressure of the equivalent circulating drilling fluid can be close to its hydrostatic pres-sure,therebyachieving a deeper drilling depth.The tool is mainly composed of screw mo-tor,vortex blade,annular seal,universal joint and drill string.Its working principle is mainly to use the liquid absorption effect of the tool and the hydraulic energy of the circu-lating fluid extracted by the screw motor to convert it into mechanical energy,and to gen-erate suction force to improve the flow energy of the drilling fluid in the bottom hole an-nulusand reduce the equivalent circulation density.Based on ANSYS-FLUENT analysis andsimulation,the change of pressure drop characteristics under different drilling fluid density,displacement and tool size was simulated.The simulation results show that thedepressurization effect is 1.0MPa when the drilling fluid density is 1.2g/cm3. When the drilling fluid density is 1.5g/cm3,the depressurization is about 1.7MPa,and when thedrill-ing fluid density is 1.8g/cm3,the depressurization is about 1.9MPa.When the drilling fluid density is 2.0g/cm3,the pressure drop is about 2.3MPa.When the flow rate is from 1500-2500L/min,the maximum pressure can be reduced by 2.3MPa.When the viscosity is 40mPa•S and 60mPa•S,the pressure drop almost does not change.The increase of viscosi-ty has little effect on the pressure drop,and it is mainly affected by the flow rate under equal displacement.

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition that significantly affects the daily life of those who suffer from it, requiring complex and personalized management with active participation of the patient in the management of their disease. Objective: to describe the design and development process of a mobile application, using the Design Thinking method, for the follow-up of patients with atopic dermatitis. Methods: User-centered design and prototype creation method, differentiating the phases of the empathize, define, idea, prototype, and test. A purposive snowball sampling was used to recruit patients with atopic dermatitis, family members, and health professionals. Three two-hour workshops were held, attended by 25 people. Results: the parameters to be monitored will include objective data (physical, behavioral, treatments, environmental, integration of daily routines) and subjective data (user experience). On the other hand, it will figure out behavior patterns, set up rewards, foster a feeling of community, and use notifications and a chatbot. Conclusion: The active integration of all stakeholders at each stage of the design and development of the digital solution has improved its relevance and acceptance, resulting in a tool that is expected to significantly improve the management of atopic dermatitis.

This paper presents Double Database Decomposition Framework, which integrates vertical and horizontal table decompositions to minimize data leakage due to intrusions. Vertical decompositions segregate sensitive attributes, while horizontal ones partition data based on user access patterns. In this way, the framework ensures that users access only the data necessary for their operations, adhering to the principle of least privilege. This double decomposition approach improves the robustness of the original database against impersonation attacks and limits the blast radius of potential intrusions. Furthermore, the framework significantly mitigates the risks associated with data breaches by confining unauthorized access to specific data subsets and restricting the exposure of sensitive information. Performance analysis highlights the trade-offs between robustness and overhead offered by distinct allocation strategies of the output of the decompositions to, among other, physical machines, virtual machines, and containers, to balance security and resource efficiency. We present a case study in a healthcare environment that confirms both the effectiveness of the framework and its applicability in complex systems where data security is paramount. By integrating advanced security measures and optimising data access, the framework results in a scalable and adaptable solution for enhancing database security and performance in various domains.

Student leadership prepares students for responsibilities such as taking on specific tasks, assuming leadership roles in their future personal and professional lives. Developing students' leadership profiles is among the important goals of educational systems aiming for future generations to take responsibility and advance their countries. With this perspective in mind, the PISA assessment includes items to measure students' leadership behaviors. This study aims to extract student leadership profiles from the leadership-related items in the PISA 2022 application, using data from Cambodia, Peru, Paraguay, and Guatemala, which have different governance systems and cultural characteristics. The second purpose of the research is to determine the distribution of the identified leadership profiles in these countries and explain them in the context of governance and cultural characteristics. Latent class analysis was used to determine student leadership profiles. Accordingly, 2-class and 3-class latent models were found to be the most suitable models to explain student profiles. While the distinction between student profiles is more pronounced in the 2-class model, the 3-class model provides more detailed information about student profiles. In this respect, 2-class and 3-class latent models are reported comparatively. In the 2-class latent model, students are labeled as the "Shy or Lack of Self-Confidence Group" and the "Active Leader or Influential Group." In the 3-class latent model, students are labeled as the "Moderate or Passive Leader Group," the "Strong Leader or Influential Group," and the "Avoidant or Leadership-Uncomfortable Group." In both models, it is one of the striking findings that Cambodian students are in the low leadership profile, and Peruvian students are in the high leadership profile.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) tools play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and competitiveness within e-commerce supply chains. This qualitative research explores the effectiveness of SRM tools in optimizing procurement processes, mitigating risks, and fostering collaborative partnerships with suppliers. The study employs semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in diverse e-commerce sectors to gather insights into the implementation and outcomes of SRM tools. Findings reveal that technological advancements, including AI, blockchain, and data analytics, facilitate real-time communication, decision-making, and supply chain visibility, thereby enabling organizations to achieve cost savings and operational efficiencies. Enhanced supplier relationships through SRM tools contribute to collaborative innovation, faster product development cycles, and improved customer satisfaction. However, challenges such as technological complexity, regulatory compliance, and supplier resistance necessitate strategic management and investment in cybersecurity and compliance frameworks. The research underscores the importance of executive sponsorship, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement in driving successful SRM implementations.

The artificial general intelligence (AGI) industry, represented by ChatGPT, has impacted social order during its development, and also brought various risks and challenges such as ethical con-cerns in science and technology, attribution of liability, intellectual property monopolies, data se-curity, and algorithm manipulation. The development of AI is currently facing a crisis of trust. Therefore, the governance of AGI industry must be prioritized and the opportunity of the imple-mentation of the Interim Administrative Measures for Generative Artificial Intelligence Services should be taken. It is necessary to enhance the norms for the supervision and management of scien-tific and technological ethics within the framework of the rule of law. Additionally, it is also es-sential to continuously improve the regulatory system for liability, balance the dual values of fair competition and innovation encouragement, and strengthen data security protection systems in the field of AI. All of these will enable coordinated governance across multiple domains, stakeholders, systems, and tools.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) pregnant women are under more psychological stress than healthy pregnant women. The objectives of the current study were to examine: (1) The differences in anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization levels between women diagnosed with GDM and healthy pregnant women. (2) The differences in anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization levels among women with well-controlled blood sugar levels compared to those who are not well-controlled. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 103 women who had been pregnant at least once, including 40 women diagnosed with GDM and 63 healthy pregnant women. An online questionnaire was distributed and included three parts: a socio-demographic parameters, the DASS-21 questionnaire assessing anxiety, depression, and stress, and the BSI (Brief Symptom Inventory) questionnaire assessing somatization. Results: Differences in anxiety (t=14.470, <.001), depression (t=8.17, <.001), stress (t=16.354, <.001), and somatization (t=13.679, <.001) levels between women diagnosed with GDM and healthy pregnant women were found. Women diagnosed with GDM reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization compared to those without GDM. Additionally, Women with better blood sugar control, indicated by lower glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, reported lower levels of anxiety. (t (38) = -2.04, p<0.05), depression (t(38)= -2.88, p<0.01), stress (t(38)= -1.88, p<0.05), and somatization (t(38)= -1.88, p<0.05) compared to women with poorer blood sugar control. Conclusion: Pregnant women diagnosed with GDM report higher levels of negative personality traits such as anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization compared to healthy pregnant women.

Background : Drug treatments for gait disorders in post-stroke patients aim to reduce muscular hyperactivity. Analysis of muscle activity is essential to help clinicians understand these disorders. The aim of this study was to quantify changes in muscle synergies before (PRE) and after (POST) rectus femoris nerve block. Methods : Gait analysis of 8 post-stroke patients before and immediately after nerve block. Muscle synergies were quantified from electromyographic signals. We have selected: the account for variance indicating the robustness of the synergies, the recruitment selectivity index indicating the degree of multiplexing of the synergies, and the recruitment consistency index indicating the variability of the synergies. Results : A decrease in VAF is observed, suggesting a reduction in gait pattern robustness. We also note that spatial and temporal primitives are slightly different (IRC, IRS) in PRE vs. POST, and that their activation is more nested in POST than in PRE. Conclusions : The motor nerve block has not created new muscle synergies of the paretic limb during gait, but indicates that there is flexibility in motor organization. This method of quanti-fication may enable clinicians to assess the motor adaptation potential of their post-stroke patient.

Individuals may exhibit altered foot mechanics, in this case foot pronation, only when fatigue sets in. Therefore, a more evidence-based understanding of these fatigue-induced changes may be helpful for future gait analysis and return to play tests, since fatigue could provide new insights that might explain a person’s complaints. Methods: 25 healthy test persons (24.3±2.7 years, BMI: 22.7±2.8) participated in this controlled non-randomized study of unilateral fatigue of the right foot stabilizing muscles with regard to the pronation of the foot, measured by navicular drop (ND) in a static (statND) und dynamic (dynND) state. The left foot served as a control. Surface electromyography was used to verify fatigue. Results: While statND didn’t change, the dynND increased significantly by 1.44±2.1 mm (= 22.3 %) after fatigue of the foot stabilizing muscles. No correlation was found between statND and dynND. Conclusion: Muscular fatigue can affect foot pronation. The dynND appears to be more representative of the loads in everyday life, whereby most studies work with the statND.

Micro (nano) plastics are emerging pollutants and their gradual accumulation in soil due to factors such as improper wastewater processing, plastic film abuse and atmospheric deposition could pose a significant threat to the environment. However, there is limited research on the uptake and transposition of micro (nano) plastics by terrestrial plants and the effects of microplastics on terrestrial plant growth. Therefore, the sources of plastics in soil as well as the uptake and transposition pathways of micro (nano) plastics in terrestrial plants are systematically summarized in this study. The effects of micro (nano) plastics on plants and their mechanisms are thoroughly discussed, which mainly affect the growth and development of plants by blocking roots, triggering oxidative damage and altering the nature of the soil and the microbial community as well as the combined toxic effects with other pollutants. Future research should strengthen the in-situ experiments to study the mechanisms by which soil micro (nano) plastics affect the uptake and transposition of individual plants and plant growth. It should also focus on the factors affecting the uptake of micro-(nano) plastics, the behaviour of micro-(nano) plastics in soil and plant uptake, transposition processes and their mechanisms and combined effects of micro-(nano) plastics and pathogens on plants. Moreover, new detection technologies should be developed to monitor their impacts on ecosystems to better manage their potential risks to the environment.

Both cementless and cemented stems have exhibited favorable long-term outcomes in total hip arthroplasty. Nonetheless, in elderly patients, cemented hips offer an advantage because of their reduced risk of periprosthetic fractures. The present study aimed to assess the initial outcomes of 28 patients who underwent unilateral cemented total hip arthroplasty utilizing the calcar-guided A2 stem (Artiqo GmbH, Lüdinghausen, Germany). Various types of antibiotic-loaded cement were employed. Demographic data, comorbidities, and standardized clinical assessment tools, including the Harris Hip Score, were utilized during the follow-up. Radiographic assessments included preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up imaging to evaluate subsidence, osteolysis, and bone resorption. The results indicated that among the 28 patients, 5 withdrew consent, and 2 patients passed away from unrelated causes. Additionally, one prosthesis was explanted because of undersizing of the cement stopper, resulting in an inadequate cement mantle. As a result, 20 patients underwent a 1-year follow-up, revealing noteworthy enhancements in clinical scores, with no instances of radiolucent lines or osteolysis. In summary, our short-term experience with this particular cemented short-stem design yielded promising results, exhibiting excellent functional outcomes and no aseptic loosening attributable to the stem. Further clinical studies and registry data are essential to corroborate these findings.

This qualitative research explores Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies within the context of e-commerce customization, aiming to understand how businesses effectively manage relationships with suppliers to meet personalized consumer demands. Through semi-structured interviews with industry professionals, key themes such as trust, communication, technological integration, strategic alignment, sustainability, and collaboration emerged as critical factors influencing SRM effectiveness. Trust was found to be foundational, fostering cooperation and commitment between e-commerce businesses and suppliers through transparent interactions. Effective communication and the integration of advanced technologies like AI and blockchain enhanced operational efficiency and innovation capabilities, enabling businesses to deliver tailored customer experiences. Strategic alignment between businesses and suppliers proved essential for shared success and mutual benefit, while sustainability practices increasingly shaped consumer preferences and brand reputation. Collaboration facilitated joint innovation and accelerated product customization, underscoring the importance of partnerships in achieving strategic goals. However, challenges including supply chain complexity, managing consumer expectations, and regulatory compliance highlighted the need for continuous improvement and adaptive strategies. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights for e-commerce businesses seeking to optimize SRM strategies, enhance supply chain efficiency, and navigate the complexities of customization in a competitive digital marketplace. By leveraging trust, communication, technology, strategic alignment, sustainability, and collaboration, businesses can effectively meet evolving consumer demands and achieve sustainable growth.

This project aims to simulate and analyze population dynamics in evolutionary systems, using stochastic differential equations and probabilistic rules for crossbreeding and benefits. The study employs advanced computational techniques to model the evolution of populations over an extended period. Specifically, we explore a scenario with ten distinct groups, each starting with an equal population and evolving under defined genetic and cooperative behaviors. The simulation spans 1000 years, incorporating individual lifespans, stochastic updates, and probabilistic interactions. To ensure robustness and reliability, the study includes detailed statistical analysis, encompassing descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, and ANOVA tests. We further visualize the temporal behavior of populations and subpopulations, providing insights into the evolutionary dynamics and stability of the system. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of balanced cooperation and genetic diversity in maintaining stable population distributions. The project showcases the integration of mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, and computational simulations, contributing valuable insights into evolutionary biology and complex systems. It highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding and predicting population behaviors, with implications for both theoretical research and practical applications in fields such as ecology, genetics, probability and social sciences.

In this study, we demonstrate a high luminous efficacy of 118 lm/W and high reliability through 450°C thermal aging of white LEDs (WLEDs) utilizing four-inch YAG: Ce3+ phosphor-in-glass (PiG) plates designed for vehicle headlights. The sintering process of mixing glass and phosphor typically generates pores, which can scatter light and reduce the luminous efficacy of the fabricated PiG. In this study, we produced four-inch PiG plates under four different fabrication conditions to evaluate their luminous efficacy. Our results revealed that the PiG plate with a thin thickness of 0.08 mm exhibited a 16.83% increase in luminous efficacy compared to the 0.15 mm plate, attributed to reduced light interaction with the pores. Unlike silicone-based phosphor WLEDs, which offer high performance but lower reliability due to the silicone resin's low transition temperature (150°C), our novel thin PiG plate achieves high performance and reliability. This advancement suggests that the proposed thin PiG plate could replace traditional silicone-based phosphors, enabling the development of high-quality WLEDs for vehicle headlights in automotive applications.

Methylation in the estrogen receptor alpha (ESRα) promoter is an epigenetic abnormality in breast cancer (BCa) and hypermethylation results in the loss of ER expression. We used pyrosequencing to investigate if there is a direct link between P0/P1 promoters of ESRα aberrant methylation and risk of progression of benign tumors to BCa. Results showed a significant elevated level of DNA methylation in ESRα P1 promoter (p = 0.0001) in fibroadenoma than ER-negative BCa tissues, and a 2-fold increased ESRα expression in fibrocystic, and fibroadenoma. In addition, the methylation level of HIN-1 and RASSF1A promoters were elevated in ER-positive when compared to ER-negative BCa (p-value <0.5). ANOVA Mixed Model revealed a significant interaction between RASSF1A with fibroadenoma and ER-positive BCa (p = 0.004). Tumors with unclassified molecular subtype (ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2-negative) had elevated levels of methylation (p = 0.046) in the P0 promoter compared with luminal B (ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive) tumors. Tumors with grade 3 showed a borderline association with ESRα P1 promoter methylation when compared with grade 2 tumors (p = 0.056). These results showed a highly methylated ESRα P0 promoter in the initial stages of breast carcinogenesis while the methylation in the P1 promoter occurs at later stages of BCa with poor prognosis. Therefore, methylation of ESRα promoter and tumor-related genes could serve as potential biomarker for prediction of fibroadenoma that are at elevated risk of progressing to BCa.

(1) Background: Depressional wetlands are highly vulnerable to changes in temperature and rainfall, affecting littoral vegetation, thus HydroGeoMorphic (HGM) wetland types. This study aimed to assess the utility of Sentinel-2A vegetation indices in enhancing delineation and sub-classify depressional HGM types. (2) Methods: We sampled 84 pairs of four vegetation indices from 10x10m plots along 14 belt transects in eight depressional wetlands in Mpumalanga, South Africa. We evaluated vegetation index differences between and within wetlands, focusing on lit-toral gradients. (3) Results: Significant differences (Bonferroni p

This study explores the efficacy of using EEG-based parameters to diagnose bipolar disorder. A synthetic dataset was generated, including both correctly diagnosed and misdiagnosed cases, simulating realistic clinical conditions. EEG features such as theta-alpha mean, beta band mean, and coherence measures were used to train a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model. The model achieved a validation accuracy of 92%, demonstrating strong potential for EEG-based diagnostics. However, challenges such as standardization of electrode configurations and addressing equipment differences are crucial for broader applicability and validity of the findings in diverse clinical settings.

Purpose of research was to determine changes in optical quality for monthly disposable soft contact lenses (SCL) wearers with new and monthly worn SCL. Retinal straylight was assessed in SCL wearers using a C-Quant straylight meter. The study included 33 participants (age 22 ± 1.4 years) who wore monthly disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Measurements were taken with month-old SCL that had been worn for no more than 4 hours. Participants then replaced the old lenses with new ones. After a 15-minute adaptation period, straylight measurements were taken with the new SCL. A questionnaire was administered to all participants, inquiring about vision complaints and the type of contact lens material used. The decimal logarithm of the stray-light parameter, log(s), was notably higher with month-old SCL (log(s) = 0.97±0.17) than with brand-new SCL (log(s) = 0.86±0.15), p < 0.001. The average increase in retinal straylight after a month of SCL use was log(s) = 0.11 ± 0.08. The questionnaire revealed that 35% of participants observed a reduction in visual quality after wearing the contact lenses for a month. Results showed that monthly disposable soft contact lenses could reduce visual quality when scheduled replacement time has been reached.

The present study evaluated the effect of Prosthechea karwinskii leaves extract on antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in a model of obese rats with insulin resistance to know its nutraceutical potential on insulin resistance and oxidative stress. Obesity and insulin resistance were induced in rats by administering 40% sucrose in water. Once the model was established, four groups were evaluated (control, obese, obese administered with extract, and obese administered with metformin), and the indices of insulin resistance and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were measured. In addition, compounds in the extract were identified with UHPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS. The glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and insulin resistance indicators (HOMA-IR and TyG) increased in obese rats. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes evaluated increased in the obese group, apparently as an adaptive response to oxidative stress to inhibit reactive oxygen species formed by hyperglycemia. Administration of P. karwinskii extract and metformin reduced glucose, insulin, triglyceride levels, insulin resistance indicators and antioxidant enzymes to values like those of the control group. This study shows the nutraceutical potential of P. karwinskii extract as an ingredient in the formulation of food supplements or functional foods to help treat diseases related to insulin resistance and oxidative stress.